Rosa May

Rosa Elizabeth White (January 1855 – 1911/1912), known as Rosa May was a prostitute during the late 19th century and very early 20th century who lived in the Virginia City, Nevada and Bodie, California areas. A local legend states that she selflessly nursed sick miners during an epidemic and succumbed to the illness herself. Because of this she has been referred to as the "hooker with a heart of gold". 

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If you ever get a chance to read the book by Mr Williams mentioned near the bottom at the link, do so. His research is immaculate and he gives great insight into the seamier side of life in mining camps without being crude.

I had seen the marker for Rosa May outside of the Bodie cemetery on my first trip there and it got my curiosity up, so later in the day when I was in the museum and saw the book, I bought it. That book, along with Roger McGrath's Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes, is what really got me interested in mining camp history, a subject that still fascinates me to this day.