Calamity

Jane
Reading Comprehension
 Calamity Jane
Early Life
Calamity Jane was born on May 1, 1852 as Martha Jane
Cannary (sometimes spelled Canary). She grew up to act and
look like a man, shoot like a cowboy, and exaggerate the tales
of her life to anyone who would listen. She loved the outdoors
from the beginning. At an early age she started riding horses.
When Jane was a teenager in 1865, her family migrated from
Missouri to Virginia City, Montana. During the five month
wagon ride, she spent the majority of her time hunting with
the other men in the caravan (group of wagons). By the time they arrived in
Virginia City, she was a great markswoman and fearless rider.
Orphan
Jane’s mother died in 1866 shortly after they arrived in Montana. The family
then migrated to Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City in 1866. Travel did not suit the
Cannary family, as Jane’s father died later that same year. Jane was now
the head of the household and had to take care of her siblings. She took
them back to Wyoming in 1868. She took any jobs she could find to support
her family. She worked various jobs: like a cook, nurse, dance-hall girl,
dishwasher, waitress, and ox-team driver.

Soldier
Jane joined General George Custer as a scout at Fort Russell, Wyoming in 1870.
She dressed as a soldier, the beginning of her habit of dressing like a man.
Jane traveled on many campaigns, where she was later said to be the most
reckless and daring rider and one of the best shots in the West.

Nickname
Jane reportedly earned her nickname at Goose Creek, Wyoming. Captain Egan
was in command and the troops were ordered out to stop an Indian uprising.
After a couple days they were heading back to camp, but were ambushed by
a group of Indians. Captain Egan was shot and fell from his horse. Jane was
riding in advance, but turned when she heard gunfire and saw her captain fall.
She galloped back, lifted him onto her horse, and got him safely back to the
fort. Captain Egan reportedly said, “I name you Calamity Jane, the heroine of
the plains” as he was recovering. The word calamity means disaster.

Illness
In 1875, Jane was sent to the Black Hills to protect the settlers and miners
from the Sioux Indians. In the spring of 1876, she was ordered north to the Big
Horn River. She reportedly swam through rough river to deliver messages
from the generals to their outposts. She developed a severe illness, so was
sent back to the fort and was hospitalized for fourteen days.
©Teaching to the Middle
 Deadwood
Once she was able to ride again, she met Wild Bill
Hickock, an outlaw who was traveling with a wagon
train to Deadwood, South Dakota. They were both big
exaggerators and hit it off immediately. Jane joined
the train and arrived in Deadwood in 1876. In June,
Jane worked as a Pony Express rider carrying U.S.
mail between Deadwood and Custer, about 50 miles. It was one of the roughest
trails in the Black Hills country. She stayed around Deadwood all that summer
visiting many camps in the area. Hickok was shot and killed while playing poker in
1876. Calamity Jane remained in Deadwood, prospecting (searching for gold) at
the various mines. A smallpox plague struck the town and Jane nursed many
people back to health. Despite this act of kindness she was always up to
something. She once went to a play, but did not like it, so she spit in one of the
actor’s eye!
Stagecoach
In 1877, Calamity Jane was riding towards Crook City and met a stagecoach
running from Cheyenne to Deadwood with Indians in hot pursuit. As she pulled
alongside she realized the driver was lying face down in the stagecoach due to
being shot with an arrow. She took the driver’s seat and drove the coach to
Deadwood carrying its six passengers and wounded driver to safety.

Traveling
Jane left Deadwood in 1877 and traveled all over, working as a prospect, but
had little success. She spent a period of time driving mule trains too. Jane
caught the attention of magazine feature writers by the late 1870s. They
wrote about her early days in Deadwood. One novel named her “The White Devil
of the Yellowstone.” She bought a ranch on the Yellowstone in 1882 where she
raised stock and cattle and kept an inn for travelers. She was not one to
settle though, so she moved to California, Texas, and Colorado. She traveled all
over through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
Washington, Oregon, and South Dakota over the
next three years. Calamity Jane told her
stories to anyone who would listen.

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show

Since Jane had a reputation of handling a horse better than most men and was
able to shoot like a cowboy, she joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in 1895. She
performed sharp shooting on her horse. They toured cities all over.

Death
Jane moved back to South Dakota, where she died in 1903. She requested to be
buried next to Bill Hickok overlooking Deadwood. Her wish was granted and her
funeral was the largest held there for a woman.
©Teaching to the Middle
 Name_________________________________________

Calamity Jane
Matching: Match each term with its description.
1. ____ smallpox A. Jane fought under this famous general
2. ____ Bill Hickock B. Jane joined his show where she performed
3. ____ stagecoach C. Jane’s family migrated here when she was a teen
4. ____ Pony Express D. Jane was buried in this South Dakota town
5. ____ Buffalo Bill E. Jane became one after her parents died
6. ____ Martha Cannary F. Jane was friends with this outlaw
7. ____ Deadwood G. Jane reportedly rescued 6 people on one
8. ____ Montana H. There was an outbreak of this in Deadwood
9. ____ orphan I. Jane worked for this carrying mail at one point
10. ____ Custer J. Calamity Jane’s actual name
Multiple Choice: Choose the best answer.

11. Which of the following does NOT describe Calamity Jane?

A. Sharpshooter
B. Loved to tell stories about herself
C. Feminine
D. Fearless rider

12. How did Calamity Jane reportedly get her nickname?

A. Her father called her that as a child because she was always
causing problems.
B. Her mother called her that as a child because she spent all
her time outside with the boys.
C. General Custer gave her the name when she saved him in battle.
D. Captain Egan gave her the name after she saved him in an ambush.

13. How does the author mainly organize the selection?

A. He explains problems Calamity Jane encountered and tells how she solved them.
B. He provides details about Calamity Jane’s life in chronological order.
C. He compares and contrasts Calamity Jane with Wild Bill Hickok.
D. He explains what caused Calamity Jane to hang out with guys more.
©Teaching to the Middle

14. How did Calamity Jane get sick in 1875?

A. She was carrying messages back and forth over the river.
B. She contracted smallpox from the Sioux Indians.
C. She was stabbed by a poison arrow.
D. Someone poisoned her when she was on the road with Buffalo Bill.
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