Never discouraged by adverse circumstances, for the darkness of the night meant to them the sun was soon to rise. "Whitie" was one of these genial souls.

"Whitie" had a run of luck that put him "down upon his uppers," and conceived a scheme for a moderate stake. He invented a calf and valued it at ten dollars. He told three companies he had such a calf, and if they would give him two and a half dollars each, he would sit in a game of "freezeout" to see who should own the calf. They "fell for it," and a local man won. Then it was played for again and another won. A dozen times that night the imaginary calf changed hands. This calf was introduced into Sidney in 1876 ; in 1879 men were still playing for it, always at a value of ten dollars ; and no one ever saw the calf.

The Lockwood House Gang

Dropping off of the Black Hills travel, due to railroad extension, emptied some of the hotels in Sidney, the Lockwood House being one. This was rented to Wm. Godfrey, his wife and another man. They were a trio of crude swindlers with a unique scheme. They selected the names of several hundred people in all parts of the United States, and wrote letters on "Lockwood House" stationery, of similar import to each. These were to the effect that someone had died in the hotel owing a little bill. Upon examination of his effects they were led to the opinion that the deceased was a relative of the one addressed, that the deceased had left some personal effects ranging in value from six hundred to one thousand dollars, and consisting of bank deposit slips, diamond rings and watches.