Calamity Jane in Hamilton

Calamity Jane was once a "Bitterrooter". Calamity Jane was Jane Burke, born Mary Jane Canary in Missouri in 1852. An article from the Bitter Root Times of 1896 recounts that Jane Burke and her husband ran a cafe on Main Street. A few days before leaving town Calamity had a good fill of whiskey and got involved in a big fight where she broke windows, kicked over tables and blackened both eyes of her cook. She boasted that she wanted to take on the strongest and biggest "Bitter Rooter!"

About Calamity Jane

Martha Jane Canary (1848-1903) was born in Princeton, Missouri. This hard drinking woman wore men's clothing, used their bawdy language, chewed tobacco and was handy with a gun. She traveled from Arizona through the Dakota territories during her rough life. At her death, the "White Devil of the Yellowstone" was remembered as a saint by the citizens of Deadwood, where she helped nurse the sick during a smallpox plague. She is buried near Wild Bill Hickock at Deadwood, South Dakota.

Her old nickname was received in 1872 in a peculiar way. She was at that time at Goose Creek Camp, S.D., where Captain Egan and a small body of men were stationed. The Indians were giving a lot of trouble, and there was much fighting.

"One day Captain Egan was surrounded by a large band. They were fighting desperately for their lives, but were being steadily, but surely slaughtered. Captain Egan was wounded and had fallen off his horse.

"In the midst of the fighting, it is said, the woman rode into the very center of the trouble, dismounted, lifted the captain in front of her on her saddle, and dashed out. They got through untouched, but every other man in the gallant company was slaughtered.

"When he recovered, Captain Egan laughingly spoke of Miss Canary as 'Calamity Jane'.