Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane was born Martha Jane Canary in 1852, Princeton, Missouri. In 1865, she moved to Montanna with her family, but by 1867 she had become an orphan. During the trip, she became a sharp shooter and good rider.

She worked as a scout with Custer when she was 18, and began the habit of wearing mens clothing. She also gained a reputation as being a woman who could out-swear and out-spit any man. She also worked as a bullwhacker and a pony express rider.

In 1876, she settled in Deadwood, after travelling there in Charlie Utters wagon train. Wild Bill Hickock was also in Utters wagon train, and this may have been where the two met. After Wild Bill Hickock was shot, Calamity Jane claimed that the two of them had been married and that the daughter she had given up for adoption was Wi ld Bills. However, this seems unlikely as Wild Bill was recently married.

Despite dressing, swearing and spitting as a man, it seems Calamity Jane did have a tender streak (and also a very brave one). While in Deadwood, she nursed people that had smallpox. She also saved the lives of six passengers aboard a stagecoach while they were being chased by Indians. It is claimed that she got the nickname Calamity Jane after rescuing the life of Captain Egan while he was in a fight with Indians.

In 1885, Calamity Jane married Clinton Burke. They had a daughter in 1887. But the marriage did not last and they were formally separated in 1895.

She then became part of Buffalo Bills Wild West Show and attracted the attention of the public and the media. However, her drinking became a problem and eventually she was fired for drunkenness.

Before Calamity Janes death, she asked that she be buried next to Wild Bill Hickock. She died from complications related to pneumonia in 1903 and, as requested, was buried next to Wild Bill in Mount Moriah Cemetary, Deadwood.

Calamity still attracts the attention of the public. She has made an appearance in many books and movies. Calamity Jane, starring Doris Day, is probably one of the most famous (if the least Historically accurate) of these. Calamity Jane is also a character in the HBO television show, Deadwood.

Elizabeth Palmer is the owner of History Lass (htt p://geocities.com/Historylass), where you can find History articles, links, book and movie reviews and trivia. You can subscribe to the History Lass newsletter by sending an email to Historylass-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Author:: Elizabeth Palmer
Keywords:: History, Historical, Deadwood, calamity jane, wild bill hickock, american History, american west
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