: In an 1896 autobiography written for a dime novel, she claimed that in 1872, while serving as a scout for Captain Jack Crawford, she rode through a hail of arrows to rescue a wounded officer. The captain reportedly shouted, "By God, you are a calamity!" Alternatively, she claimed the name stuck because she was a "terrible calamity" to any man who crossed her.
By the 1890s, she was broke and broken. To make money, she did the one thing she swore she would never do: she exploited her own legend. She appeared in dime museums and "Wild West" freak shows in Buffalo, New York, and Chicago. She would stand on stage, drunk, telling wild stories that grew more elaborate with each performance. The audience would pay a dime to see the "real" Calamity Jane, only to see a bloated, middle-aged woman slurring about the good old days. Calamity Jane
In recent years, historians have sought to reevaluate Calamity Jane's legacy, moving beyond the myths and legends that have surrounded her for so long. They have highlighted her bravery, intelligence, and resourcefulness, as well as her advocacy for women's rights and Native American rights. : In an 1896 autobiography written for a