Wild Women From The West – Five Famous Real-Life Gun Slinging Ladies

Today marks the infamous Calamity Jane's birthday, but she wasn't the only lady gun-slinger from the Wild, Wild West. The frontier was a dangerous place back in the last century, newly settled Americans were unsure of their safety and there was a constant threat from Indians who had been misplaced from their land.

Being a woman, often left at home in the middle of nowhere was enough of a struggle within itself and so some ladies not only learned how to defend themselves, they lit on out of there looking for mischief.

1. Calamity Jane (1852-1903)

Sharp-shooting Jane was a real "don't mess with me" kind of gal. She earned her nickname after rescuing an Army captain in South Dakota from an Indian attack. Reportedly, she also saved the lives of six people on a Stagecoach when they were attacked by Indians.

Despite the fact that she married at 33, Jane asked to be buried beside Wild Bill Hickock, who was apparently the only man she ever loved.

2. Annie Oakley (1860-1926)

Not only a sharp shooter, Annie was an exhibition shooter who joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, a traveling show that toured Britain and the UK. Annie met her husband, Francis E. Butler, a traveling marksman who challenged anyone in the town to out shoot him. When Annie won, they began dating and later married.

When she died in 1926, it was discovered her entire fortune had been donated to various charities. The famous Broadway musical "Annie Get Your Gun" is based on her life.

3. Belle Starr (1848-1889)

Belle always had a hankering for the outlaw lifestyle ever since a famous gang headed by Frank and Jesse hid in her house while she was still a child. Later, when her husband shot a man, they went on the run, robbing banks and causing general mayhem. Starr was known for wearing a pistol on each hip and feathers in her hair.

She was gunned down while riding her horse, but to this day no one is sure whether this was an accident, or murder.

4. Josephine "Sadie" Sarah Marcus Earp (1861-1944)

Another lady who was tempted by the life of the outlaw, Josephine was living with Sheriff Johnny Behan when she met the infamous Wyatt Earp and embarked on a life of crime. She was apparently behind one of the most famous gun battles in the West called the OK Corral. She documented the 46 years they were together in a manuscript entitled "I Married Wyatt Earp."

5. Etta Place (1878- unknown)

Despite the fact that a lot is known about the lives of the above women and their place in the Wild West, little is known of Etta Place. Rumoured to be Butch Cassidy's girlfriend, Etta was apparently a school teacher before she moved on to her gun-slinging ways. Others claim she was romantically involved with the Sundance Kid. Either way, very little is known about her life and when the members of her gang died or dispersed, it is unknown where Etta lived out her days, or if she existed at all!