Montana oil and mining journal., 1939-03-04

upon, Captain Egan was shot. was
riding in advance and on hearing the
firing turned in my saddle and saw
the captain reeling in his saddle as
though about to fan.
Goes to His Rescue
I turned my horse and galloped back
with all haste to his side and got there
in time to catch him as he was falling
lifted him onto my horse in front of
me and succeeded in getting him safe
ly to the fort. Captain Egan on re-
covering, laughingly said:
81 name you Calamity Jane, the
heroine Of the plains"
I have borne that name up to the
present time. We were afterwards or
dered to Fort Custer, where Custer
City now stands, where we arrived in
the spring Of 1874; remained around
Fort Custer all summer and were or
dered to Fort Russell in fall of 1874,
where we remained until spring of
1875; was then ordered to the Black
Hills to protect miners, as that country
was controlled by the Sioux Indians
and the government had to send the
soldiers to protect the lives of the
miners and settlers in that section. Re-
manned there until fall of 1875 and
wintered at Fort Laramie. In spring
u 4OfOt VIC MCIC OA0Cl C4 &lOA III Will
General Crook to join Generals Miles,
Terry and Custer at Big Horn river.
During this march I swan the
Platte river at Fort Fetterman as I
was the bearer Of important dispatches.
I had 80 mile ride to make, being
wet and cold, contracted a severe
illness and was sent back In General
Crooks ambulance to Fort Fetterman
where laid in the hospital for IA
days. When able to ride I started for
Fort Laramie where I met William
Hickok, better known as Wild Bill, and
we started for DeadWood, where we
arrived about June.
During the month of June I acted
as pony express rider carrying the
United States mail between Deadwood
and Custer, a distance of so miles. over
one Of the roughest trails In the Black
Hills country. Many Of the riders
before me had been held up and robbed
Of their packages, mail and money that
they carried, for that was the only
means of getting mail and money be-
tween these points. 1t was considered
the most dangerous route in the hills,
but as my reputation as a rider and
quick shot was well known, was
molested very little, for the toll gath
ererS looked on me as being a good,
fellow, and they knew that 1 never
missed my mark. made the round
trip every two days which was con-
sidered pretty good riding in that
country.
Captures Jack Mccall
Remained around Deadwood all that
summer visiting all the camps within
an area of 100 miles. My friend, Wild
Bill, remained In Deadwood during the
summer with the exception of occa-
sional visits to the camps. On the I'd
Of August, while sitting at gambling
table IN the Bell Union saloon, In
Deadwood, he was shot in the back Of
the head by the notorious Jack Nc
Call, a desperate. / was in Deadwood
at the time and on hearing of the
killing made my way at once to the |
my friend had been killed by Mccall. |
I at once started to look for the as
saSsin and found him at Shurdy's |
butcher shop and grabbed meat |
cleaver and made him throw up his |
hands; through the excitement on |
hearing of Bills death, having left my |
on the post of my bed. He |
was then taken to q log cabin and /
locked up. well secured as every one
thought. but he got away and was
caught at Fagan's ranch
on Horse Greek, on the old Cheyenne
road and was then taken TO Yankton,
md hanged.
I remained around Deadwood. locat-
ng claims, going from camp to camp
morning I Saddled my horse and rode
owards Crook City. had gone about
2 miles from Deadwoods at the mouth