Dallas Morning News
October 7, 1897

"Coke" Fiends Plentiful
Sherman, Tex., Oct. 6 - Notwithstanding the fact that County Judge Wood has issued a strict order in regard to the detention and compulsory treatment of the indigent cocaine fiends of the city, the number of those openly addicted to the habit here is alarmingly large.  A few nights since a well known "fiend to the habit" in a conversation with a patrolman and The News correspondent remarked that "all the boys and girls are out tonight."  In verification of his statement he stepped out and let forth a shrill whistle, and in a few minutes forms came down and out of stairways and gazed up and down the streets.  The fellow further stated that the victims of the habit were well acquainted with each other and not infrequently met and had a mutual "whirr."  A new danger has commenced to develop itself here because of the habit.  Not only is it to be apprehended that any or all of the victims may at any time become violently insane, but a consuming desire seems apparent on the part of all of them to induce as many more people to become addicted to the habit as possible.