Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-02-07
POOR GIRLS CONfEo
Lured to Her Ruin by a Portland
Procuress.
ANSWERED AN ADVERTISEMENT
Out OF Work She Accepts the offer of
tuation at Good Wages
in Portland

"Oh, I'm heartsick: I'm just worn
out!" answered Ida Emerson. as she
lay on cot in the St. Vincent ambu-
lance, standing in front of the Open
Door, yesterday afternoon to a report
er's inquiry, says the Portland Tele-
gram.
seven weeks on the town and sick
IN heart and body, being carried to the
hospital. There is nothing new in the
story; out of work, poverty, hunger,
the accepting of a promised situation
IN strange city from strange wom-
an, and forced into being a prostitute.
i came here from Tacoma" said the
girl, where, for time, had been en-
ployed with family doing homework.
Iimes became so hard with them they
were forced to let me go. I hunted
everywhere for work, but could flnd
none. What little money I had was
spent. Then I saw an advertisement
In the paper for chambermaid to go
into the country. 1 answered it, and
was met by woman who called her
selr Mrs. Josephine. She seemed real
respectable, and told me the situation
was In Portland, going on to describe
what a nice place it was, and Offering
me $zO month with my room and
board / told her could not go, as I
had no money with which to paw NV
rare. In fact, had eaten nothing that
oay. she answered that would not
prevent my having the situation, as she
would buy me ticket and deduct the
amount from my wages She was very
Kind, as then thought, giving me $1.50
with which to have my things moved
to the train, and saying she would
come with me.
On, you don't know how happy was
when we got aboard the train to think
my trials were over; but, OH my Godi.
and the girl covered her face with her
hands and sobbed, "they had just com
menced.
we arrived here about o'clock at
night and We're driven to house on
this street Fifth), 1 think it is two
BLOCKS down." and Miss Emerson weari-
~ tried to raise her head AFTER sup
per was shown to a room. and told Ia
go to bed. 1t seemed sort of queer to
me that chambermaids should be given
such nicely furnished rooms, but in nv
innocence 1 suspected nothing. L was
not troubled during the next day until
toward evening, and then they told me
what was expected to do.
Il am "a years old, and UP to that
time had been good girl I refused,
and they threatened to turn me out in
the streets. Oh, how / wish had
known of the Open Door then That
night my ruin was accomplished, and
two nights after was placed all alone
in small room fronting on the street
to solicit"
The girl shook with sobs. "My God"
she said, "the horror of it! The horror
OF it." Recovering herself she went on:
That was on December 6, and until
January lived that awful life 1 was
afraid to leave, for I knew no one in
the city nor the name of street, and
absolutely nothing of the ways of the
world, my only travel having been the
short distance between Tacoma and
She stopped, and then added,
my home.
"On January man came into the
place. When he spoke to Inc burst out
crying and tried to get away. He SEEM
ed to pity me, for after learning how
was situated he told me to come to
the Open Door, showing me the light
In front as guide for me. I could not
get my street clothes that night, but the
next day l dressed myself and came
here. They have been very kind, but
now am sick and have got to go to
the hospital I wish I were dead"
The ambulance driver had by this
time brought Miss Emerson's parcels
from the house, and mounting his seat
ended the interview.
The ladies had brought the weak and
trembling girl down the short flight of
steps leading to the walk. One of them
was Mrs. Gilbert, the matron. From
her it was learned that Miss Emersons
story was true in every particular, ard
that while an inmate of the Open Door
prior to her becoming sick the girl had
by every means in her power tried to
make herself useful and worthy of
love.
1--WE think great deal of her." said
Mrs. Gilbert, land pray she will soon
recover and come back to u.s."