"I was in Deadwood at the time and on hearing of the killing made my way at once to the scene of the shooting and found that my friend had been killed by McCall"

The quote credited to Calamity Jane paints a vivid photo of a minute in the Wild West, marked by seriousness, violence, and personal loss. Deadwood, a mining town in the Black Hills of South Dakota, was an infamous hub for miners, criminals, and travelers throughout the late 19th century. Its lawless atmosphere set the phase for numerous notorious occasions, including the one referenced here.

Calamity Jane, a popular frontierswoman, and buddy to much of the age's notable figures, states an individual experience following the news of a shooting. Her immediate response to "make my way at the same time to the scene" highlights the gravity of the occasion and her deep personal connection to the victim-- a friend of hers.

The expression "discovered that my buddy had actually been eliminated by McCall" advances themes of betrayal and the harsh realities of frontier justice. It mentions Jack McCall, a gambler and drifter who infamously killed Wild Bill Hickok, another popular figure of Deadwood. The casual reference of McCall's name indicates that acts of violence, though shocking, might have been all too familiar in her world, and lots of in Deadwood would likely have understood both the victim and perpetrator.

Calamity Jane's narrative style is direct and unembellished, reflecting her uncomplicated personality and the rough-and-tumble environment of the era. Her words convey both a sense of immediacy and a personal stake in case, while likewise highlighting the communal element of life in Deadwood, where news of such occurrences would have taken a trip quickly, stirring up the town.

Her account supplies a glimpse into the precariousness of life in the Old West, the bonds of relationship formed amidst risk, and an unrelenting fight with death where disagreements were typically settled with deadly finality. This quote records not just a moment of personal loss for Calamity Jane however also encapsulates the more comprehensive narrative of life on the frontier: unpredictable, unforgiving, and exceptionally human.