The name “Calamity Jane” was given to her after a raid on a Native American village went wrong. Jane risked her own life to save her captain from certain death after he had been shot.
And, according to her tales, the captain thanked her by gifting her with her infamous nickname.
In 1870, Jane worked as a count alongside General Custer, at Fort Russell in Wyoming. But perhaps even more infamous was her time at Fort Laramie.
It was around that time that she first met Wild Bill Hickok. The two hit it off almost instantly, probably thanks in large part to the fact they both drank like fish.
But it wasn’t until a few years later that she would become the person everyone knows her as through her writing.
It was then that she would earn her name. It was in 1873 that Calamity Jane was officially born.
But after the stories were released, there were many who questioned the validity of the heroic tales.
After all, it does seem like quite a stretch that this guy, who’s bleeding out, takes the time to grab someone all Hollywood style and say, “I will call you Calamity Jane, for your bravery,” or something to that effect.
Even if some of the stories were stretched a little further than the truth, there’s no question that Jane led one hell of an interesting life. Unfortunately, a lot of it was filled with suffering.
But even with all of the weights that found their way to her shoulders, Martha Jane still found it in her heart to help others.