Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane | Page 5

I rode along side of the coach and found
the driver John Slaughter, lying face downwards in the boot of the
stage, he having been shot by the Indians. When the stage got to the
station the Indians hid in the bushes. I immediately removed all
baggage from the coach except the mail. I then took the driver's seat
and with all haste drove to Deadwood, carrying the six passengers and
the dead driver.
I left Deadwood in the fall of 1877, and went to Bear Butte Creek with
the 7th Cavalry. During the fall and winter we built Fort Meade and the
town of Sturgis. In 1878 I left the command and went to Rapid city and
put in the year prospecting.
In 1879 I went to Fort Pierre and drove trains from Rapid city to Fort
Pierre for Frank Witc then drove teams from Fort Pierce to Sturgis for
Fred. Evans. This teaming was done with oxen as they were better
fitted for the work than horses, owing to the rough nature of the
country.
In 1881 I went to Wyoming and returned in 1882 to Miles city and took
up a ranch on the Yellow Stone, raising stock and cattle, also kept a
way side inn, where the weary traveler could be accommodated with
food, drink, or trouble if he looked for it. Left the ranch in 1883, went
to California, going through the States and territories, reached Ogden
the latter part of 1883, and San Francisco in 1884. Left San Francisco
in the summer of 1884 for Texas, stopping at Fort Yuma, Arizona, the
hottest spot in the United States. Stopping at all points of interest until I
reached El Paso in the fall. While in El Paso, I met Mr. Clinton Burk, a
native of Texas, who I married in August 1885. As I thought I had
travelled through life long enough alone and thought it was about time
to take a partner for the rest of my days. We remained in Texas leading
a quiet home life until 1889. On October 28th, 1887, I became the
mother of a girl baby, the very image of its father, at least that is what
he said, but who has the temper of its mother.
When we left Texas we went to Boulder, Colo., where we kept a hotel

until 1893, after which we travelled through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
Washington, Oregon, then back to Montana, then to Dakota, arriving in
Deadwood October 9th, 1895, after an absence of seventeen years.
My arrival in Deadwood after an absence of so many years created
quite an excitement among my many friends of the past, to such an
extent that a vast number of the citizens who had come to Deadwood
during my absence who had heard so much of Calamity Jane and her
many adventures in former years were anxious to see me. Among the
many whom I met were several gentlemen from eastern cities who
advised me to allow myself to be placed before the public in such a
manner as to give the people of the eastern cities an opportunity of
seeing the Woman Scout who was made so famous through her daring
career in the West and Black Hill countries.
An agent of Kohl & Middleton, the celebrated Museum men came to
Deadwood, through the solicitation of the gentleman who I had met
there and arrangements were made to place me before the public in this
manner. My first engagement began at the Palace Museum,
Minneapolis, January 20th, 1896, under Kohl and Middleton's
management.
Hoping that this little history of my life may interest all readers, I
remain as in the older days,
Yours,
Mrs. M. BURK
BETTER KNOWN AS CALAMITY JANE

Project Gutenberg Etext of Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane

Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane

A free ebook from http://www.dertz.in/