HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

wrecked the beautiful city of San Francisco, Chadron contributed nearly a thousand dollars to assist in relieving distress. These were only few of the many instances. No appeal for help was passed unheeded. When distress cried out, the wild scramble for money was for a time forgotten. No community ever loosed its purse strings more generously. Many pathetic scenes were witnessed on the street that never found their way to the people. Often amusing scenes were enacted.

There was a little two room shack about where the P. W. Hennessy house now stands which as occupied by a couple of the wild women of early days. There was also in the town a burly red-headed Scotchman and his wife, who posed as salvation army people. The good wife, after due deliberation thought it her religious duty to attempt to convert the two wayward girls. She accordingly called and had a heart to heart talk with them. They expressed regret that they had departed from the right way, thanked the lady for her kindly feeling and promised to consider the matter of reform. Before departing the lady was invited to have some refreshments. Cake and fruit were brought and set before her which she seemed to appreciate and "just a sip of wine could do no harm." The good woman fearing that to refuse might undo all her good work took one taste, then another, and found it so pleasant that she could not resist and was soon under the influence to such an extent that she lost consciousness. She was laid on the bed, covered with a sheet, a beer bottle under each arm and word sent to her husband that his wife was dead. He came very quickly and found her -- dead drunk. There is some doubt about which most needed reforming.