[1/2] Calamity Jane, the Sad Realities of the Legend of the West

2024-01-15T04:17:14.058Z

Highlights: A legend of the American West during her lifetime, Calamity Jane's real life is far more tragic than the adventures that have been invented about her suggest. Martha Jane Cannary was born in 1852 into a farming family in Missouri. When her parents died, she was placed with a foster family. Martha began drinking and hanging out with soldiers when she was barely a teenager. Her behaviour displeases her and her foster family throws her out on the street. It was the beginning of a life of wandering. On the road, Martha gets into the habit of sharing the daily life of men.

A legend of the American West during her lifetime, Calamity Jane's real life is far more tragic than the adventures that have been invented about her suggest. Discover this lonely woman in a two-part story told by historian Virginie Girod. Much of what is known about Calamity Jane's early life comes from her autobiography. Martha Jane Cannary was born in 1852 into a farming family in Missouri. Riddled with debt, the Cannarys headed west and moved incessantly. On the road, Martha gets into the habit of sharing the daily life of men. When her parents died, she was placed with a foster family. Martha began drinking and hanging out with soldiers when she was barely a teenager. Her behaviour displeases her and her foster family throws her out on the street. It was the beginning of a life of wandering. To survive, Martha works odd jobs and works as a prostitute. But she dreams of fresh air and freedom. She is said to have been a scout for General Custer's troops in the wars against the Indians. Dressed as a man, she never fails to get noticed. It was there that she earned the nickname that would make her legend: Calamity Jane. Driven out of the army, she joins a convoy to Deadwood, a small town in South Dakota. Life as a pioneer was difficult, and Calamity Jane returned to prostitution. But when Calamity Jane isn't working, she goes out on the town in pants and continues to attract attention. It was by reading articles about this woman that the writer Edward Wheeler made her the companion of Deadwood Dick, an imaginary character. Together, they form a duo of brave adventurers in the Wild West. Calamity Jane became an American star. Topics covered: conquest of the West, Calamity Jane, cowboy, United States