Sadly, Martha’s life went terribly downhill. She fell victim to the deadly power of alcohol. Eventually, in 1900, Martha was fired from Buffalo Bill’s show. The next time anyone saw her was when a newspaper editor found her ill in an old house. Martha was nursed back to good health, and got a job in 1901 for the Pan American Expedition, selling copies of her autobiography. Martha’s alcohol addiction got her fired once again. The only place Martha could find food and shelter was Madam Dora DuFran’s brothel. In order to stay for free, Martha had to cook and do laundry for the brothel girls. Later that year, Martha became very ill, and would soon pass away. Her last known request was to “Bury me beside Wild Bill (Hickock), the only man I ever loved”. Calamity Jane died August 1, 1903. She had the largest funeral for a woman in Deadwood, and a man that Martha had saved from Smallpox years before closed her coffin. Martha’s life may have ended, but her extraordinary tales still live on.
