For crimes against the State
Martha Jane Canary-Burke, known as Calamity Jane, was born on 1 May 1852 in Princeton, and died on 1 August 1903 in Terry. Was an American frontier defender and professional scout, renowned for fighting against the Native Americans.
When Calamity was 8 years old, her mother died of pneumonia and the whole family moved to Montana. At the age of 15, the young cowgirl was all alone and her legend began. She had to make a living and she was willing to do anything to do it. She had grown up in a hostile territory where she learned all the chores of the countryside.
She worked as a laundress, a dancer and a prostitute while the Wyoming Railroad was being built.
She was legally married once in 1888, but slept with several men she called "husband". She also gave birth twice: in 1882 to a son, who died shortly after birth, and in 1887 to her daughter Jessie Elizabeth, however, what happened to her daughter remains a matter of debate.
She was a great nurse, and she cared for others and was always willing to help others.
Johnston's own grandmother used to tell the story of Calamity Jane helping her family recover from illness. To thank her, her great-great-grandmother made her a beautiful shirt. A few days later, however, onlookers found her in the street, intoxicated, her shirt covered in mud.
Now that you know a little about Calamity Jane, let's do some little interactive activities.
3 Letters | 6 Letters | 7 Letters | 9 Letters |
May |
Jessie August |
Cowgirl Montana |
Princeton pneumonia |