It was considered the most dangerous route in the Hills, but as my reputation as a rider and quick shot was well known, I was molested very little, for the toll gatherers looked on me as being a good fellow, and they knew that I never missed my mark. I made the round trip every two days which was considered pretty good riding in that country. Remained around Deadwood all that summer visiting all the camps within an area of one hundred miles. My friend, Wild Bill, remained in Deadwood during the summer with the exception of occasional visits to the camps. On the 2nd of August, while sitting at a gambling table in the Bell Union saloon, in Deadwood, he was shot in the back of the head by the notorious @Jack @McCall, a desperado. I was in Deadwood at the time and on hearing of the killing made my way at once to the scene of the shooting and found that my friend had been killed by McCall. I at once started to look for the assassin and found him at @Shurdy's Butcher Shop and grabbed a meat cleaver and made him throw up his hands, through the excitement on hearing of Bill's death, having left my weapons on the post of my bed. He was then taken to a log cabin and locked up, well-secured as every one thought, but he got away and was afterwards caught at @Fagan's ranch on Horse Creek, on the old @Cheyenne road, and was then taken to @Yankton, @Dakota, where he was tried, sentenced, and hung.
I remained around Deadwood locating claims, going from camp to camp until the spring of 1877, where, one morning, I saddled my horse and rode towards Crook City. I had gone about twelve miles from Deadwood, at the mouth of @Whitewood Creek, when I met the overland mail running from Cheyenne to Deadwood. The horses on a run, about two hundred yards from the station; upon looking closely I saw they were pursued by Indians. The horses ran to the barn as was their custom. As the horses stopped, I rode alongside 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 traveled 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, Colorado, where we kept a hotel until 1893, after which we traveled 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,
