There were many narrow escapes from death by blizzards that memorable winter, but it passed with only a minimum of fatalities, and spring, with its thousand perfumes of bursting buds borne upon every fragrant breeze from the south, its raucous serenade by hundreds of beautiful song birds, the far off cry of hungry coyotes, came and found this little community with its brave heart overflowing with hope, watching and waiting for the first construction train and listening for the shrill scream of the first locomotive. The early spring of 1885 saw a great influx of people at the old town. Every branch of business was represented, but saloons predominated. It was frequently visited by cow boys from adjoining ranches, fine, manly fellows when sober, but otherwise when intoxicated. Every saloon operated gambling tables and dance halls had ample patronage and nightly revels. The town was "shot up" at frequent intervals.

Angel's place was the first saloon in the town, and the first to be made the target of a hundred six shooters in the hands of as many reckless cowboys. Angel was compelled to part with all his cartridges and they were made use of by the boys in shooting up the place. Not a bottle or glass was left unbroken. Every article of furniture was shot to pieces ; the stove was perforated, windows broken and the

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

walls and ceiling riddled with bullets. Angel touched only the high places in making his exit. After wrecking his place, the boys procured a stove and other furniture from the Tv A. N. ranch, then located on Horsehead creek ' near where Oelrichs, S. D., now stands, and otherwise assisted Angel to start in business again. Soon after, Angel secured a bartender from some distant point, and gave it out that he had hired a man with whiskers that was some gun man himself, and that any further disorder in his emporium would be summarily sat upon.