Notorious Women
1881 MURDER IN BUTTE CITY: THE KILLING OF PROSTITUTE SORREL MIKE
This is the tale of sportin’ woman Sorrel Mike, who was killed in Butte, Montana in 1881. Although her death has been discussed by other authors, there has never been an in-depth analysis of the woman, her background, and her murder. It has been suggested that her death was a suicide but the facts of the case clearly point to homicide. The killer was probably known to at least one person close to Sorrel Mike, but the murderer’s identity was never revealed. Along with the author’s research and newspaper articles of the time that discussed Sorrel Mike, there is valuable information about frontier prostitution and life in Montana Territory.
$11.95, softcover, 56 pages.
THE CRUSADER MEETS THE MADAM: CARRY NATION AND MADAM MALOY IN BUTTE, MONTANA
Butte, Montana had one of the largest red light districts west of the Mississippi. The town was packed with saloons and drinking was a 24-hour-a-day event. The ladies of easy virtue were also active around the clock. In January, 1910 temperance advocate Carry Nation stepped off the train in Butte with plans to reform the great mining town of drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Her preaching went well until she took a tour of Butte's restricted district and ran afoul of one of the bordello madams. The street talk was, "Don't mess with Madam Maloy". Carry found out the hard way that the street talk was correct.
$12.95, softcover, 47 pages.
GOLD RUSH GIRLS OF THE KLONDIKE 1896–1901
There was a fabulous gold strike in the Klondike at the end of the nineteenth century. Men came from all over to seek their fortune in this little-known area. In addition to the men coming to the strike, there was a special breed of women who came in search of fortune. They were the gold rush girls, who dispensed their favors upon the men of the gold rush. One of the better-known women was called The Oregon Mare. It was said she whinnied while dancing, as well as during other forms of recreation. The near-famous Doll of Dawson was in and out of court for a variety of reasons. She lost a case involving an $18 laundry bill but she made the judge blush during the proceedings. Then there was the sidewalk altercation between Nellie the Pig and the Petite Sisters Pickering, which resulted in collateral damage. Meet these and other women who lived in the Klondike during its most memorable years, 1896 to 1901.
$14.95, softcover, 64 pages.
JEW JESS: QUEEN OF THE RED LIGHT PICKPOCKETS
Jew Jess was a very colorful prostitute and world class pickpocket who worked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although she practiced her dual trades in many old west towns, she always returned to Butte’s red light district, which she considered her home. She worked under at least 12 aliases, preferring that of Jew Jess. Jess was a master at evading detection and arrest. If arrested she was rarely found guilty of the charges. She was so familiar with the law that on occasion she would successfully serve as her own attorney. Although not much has been written about her, research indicates that what has been written, has been laced with much misinformation. This publication uses many sources in putting her story together. Jew Jess was truly a notorious old west character. Her incredible life story would make for an interesting movie or television series. This book is limited to 465 signed and numbered copies.
$34.95, hardcover, 130 pages.
JUST CALL ME KATE: THE STORIES OF FOUR KATES OF NEGOTIABLE VIRTUE
This book reveals the fascinating lives of four prostitutes who practiced their trade between the 1880s and the first part of the 20th century. Kate Barrett was an Irish prostitute who settled in Spokane and eventually burned the town down. Kate Elder rode with the Earps and was Doc Holliday’s paramour. In her 80s she told tales about her wild adventures. Kate Dulaney plied her trade in Alaska and fell in love with a man half her age. He became a minor celebrity while she disappeared into obscurity. Cattle Kate’s fame was established when she became the first woman hanged in Wyoming territory.
$14.95, softcover, 71 pages.
THE KLONDIKE TRAVELS OF MATTIE SILKS AND HER SPORTIN’ WOMEN
This is the story of madam Mattie Silks, eight beautiful prostitutes, and their thrilling and dangerous 1898 trip to the Klondike gold fields. Denver madam Mattie Silks decided to travel north and get her gold by providing sportin’ women for the lonely miners. The group could not have chosen a worse time of the year. The Yukon interior was frigid, with the mercury dropping to between -30°F and -50°F. There were no trains or roads, only trails. They traveled over 500 miles in these arduous conditions. On her trip home through Skagway, Mattie crossed paths with an old nemesis, Soapy Smith. Smith and his gang made plans to rob and murder Mattie.
$14.95, softcover, 64 pages.
QUEEN OF THE DESERT
by Jody Tesch Sorenson
In the spring of 1875, 17-year-old Mary Alice Ann Devitt made the two-day journey north from the only home she’d known, to relocate with her family on the banks of the Red River in the Dakota Territories. Little did she know that this would be the beginning of a lifelong journey of deception and pain, emotional damage of bigamy, the loss of her child, and finally facial disfigurement that branded her “No Nose Maggie” for her life and beyond. Her indomitable spirit, zest for life, and desire to “follow the money” would carry her cross-country from Fargo, North Dakota to the Pacific Northwest; then down the coast to San Francisco, California, over to Virginia City and Pioche, Nevada; and finally, northeast to the wild life of the mining towns of Utah on the Great Salt Desert. It was there she survived for 40 years only to end up alone in a ghost town on the desert’s edge.
$16.95, softcover, 100 pages.
SARAH BOWMAN PIONEER MADAM
Sarah Bowman stood over 6 feet tall and her strength and endurance were in proportion to her size. At times during the Mexican War she fought side by side with American troops. After her death in 1866, she was buried with full military honors and now lies in the National Cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco. Sarah Bowman was also a part-time prostitute and madam who opened many bordellos in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. She was a sharp businesswoman and entrepreneur even though she could neither read or write. This fascinating pioneer madam is probably the only lady of ill repute to be buried in one of America’s national cemeteries.
$12.95, softcover, (spiral binding), 66 pages.