Soapy Smith as timekeeper in Corbett-Fitzsimmons boxing match, 1894

Jeff, alias “Soapy” Smith ... chosen as timekeeper
Altoona Tribune
Altoona, Pennsylvania
October 4, 1894

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eff, alias “Soapy” Smith chosen as timekeeper.


I knew that Soapy Smith had refereed boxing matches and that he often worked alongside Bat Masterson, who held a life-long fascination with the sport of boxing, but it seems the research continues to show that Soapy held more than just a passing interest in boxing, playing a much more significant role than previously believed.

AMONG THE SPORTS.
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Denver Smith Finds Little Trouble in Putting Farrell Out.
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ONLY SIX ROUNDS WERE FOUGHT
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Any Amount of Wind is Now Being Expended Over the Corbett-Fitzsimmons Quarrel and Corbett is Said to Have Agreed to Fight
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RECEPTION TO THE BALTIMORES

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      Denver, Col., October 3.—A train of six cars with 175 passengers, sporting, professional and business man, left the Union depot at 1 o’clock to-day to witness the encounter between “Denver” Ed Smith and Lawrence Farrell, whose real name is William Keough. The train stopped at 2:30 about twenty miles out on the Gulf road and the ring was pitched in exactly the same spot where Smith defeated Ferrell eight years ago. The spectators built seats of railroad ties around the ring, which was pitched close to the track.
     Smith weighed in at 180 pounds and Farrell at 170 when they entered the ring at 3 p.m. Smith was first in the ring followed by his seconds, Omas Anderson, Paddy Smith [younger brother and lightweight champion boxer brother of Ed Smith] and Joe Mulvihill. Farrell entered presently with Tom West, Billy Thomas and Bat Masterson. Harry Stewart and Jeff, alias “Soapy” Smith were chosen as timekeepers and “Reddy” Gallagher referee.

     Farrell looked very much smaller than Denver Ed and the ladder was the favorite. Farrell wore black tights and Smith the ones he wore when he defeated Goddard. The gloves weighed 5 oz.
     First round—Smith opened by uppercutting Farrell, who answered wildly. Smith landed on Farrell's right eye and drew first blood. A clinch followed, Farrell trying to strike Smith. Smith got in a right and left over the heart and Farrell returned the compliment with two on Smith's neck. Smith then fell in a clinch.

     Second Round— The men came together with a rush, both leading, Smith playing for Farrell’s ribs, the ladder landing on Ed's face. Smith accused Farrell of sticking his elbow in his (Smith's) face. Gallagher cautioned Farrell, but he continued to jab at Ed after each clinch was broken. Neither had any advantage in the round.
     Third round—Smith led, landing on the face, and got a hard one on the ribs. Both men were puffing and clinching frequently. Smith led suddenly and landed three blows on Farrell's face in one, two, three style. Farrell's elbow jabbed into Ed face again and he received another caution. Then Farrell got in several body blows on Smith. Honors given.

     Fourth Round—Smith led for Farrell's neck and landed hard; a foul was claimed against Farrell again for his elbow trick and he was again cautioned. Then he caught Smith a stunning blow on the chin. A rush and clinch followed. Farrell was told he would lose the fight if he made another foul. A foul was then claimed against him but not allowed. Both men seemed short winded and too fat.

"Break Away!"
Farrell mistakes Gallagher for "Denver Ed"
Gives two good ones on the ribs
Rocky Mountain News
October 4, 1894

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     Fifth Round—Smith chased Farrell twice round the ring, and after a clinch, landed twice on his windpipe. Farrell again warned against fouling and gave Referee Gallagher two good ones on the ribs, mistaking him for Denver Ed. Smith, got in two on Farrell's face, who then clinched and threw Smith. Another foul claimed.
     Sixth Round—Farrell led and landed on the breast and wrestled with Smith again, who fell. Farrell claimed Ed. held his glove in his mouth and he could not help it. Another clinch and Farrell again threw Smith. On the claim of another foul, Gallagher gave the fight to Smith but withdrew his decision immediately, saying he would give Smith the fight on the next foul. He did not wait long, for Farrell instantly fouled Smith and threw him over the ropes. Smith wanted to finish the fight, but his friends persuaded him not to.

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Though an article about a boxing bout, there are some interesting points of history.

• The fact that the bout was discussed in Altoona, Pennsylvania, indicates that this was a bout of interest within the overall sport. "Denver" Ed Smith was indeed a major player. In 1895 he declared himself, "heavyweight champion of the world."
  
• The fact that the bout is held 20 miles outside of Denver indicates legal issues over having the fight take place in Denver proper. It is after-all, 1894, meaning that the mega-reformer Davis Waite is governor of Colorado, and he fought against gambling, however, I could not find anything concrete on the legal issue of boxing in Denver or Colorado, at this date.
• I love how the ring and spectator seats are built with the help of the spectators themselves.
• The bout takes place six months after the City Hall War, which is interesting in that Soapy, a major antagonist inside the fortified Denver city hall, still has the clout and respect of the sporting element to be chosen as an official of the ring.
  
  
  

The Only Man Who Got Hurt.
Rocky Mountain News
October 4, 1894

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Individuals mentioned:

Edward “Red” or “Reddy” “Kid” Gallagher: Probable Soap Gang strong-arm man, Denver and Skaguay. Between 1891 and 1893, Bat Masterson financed Gallagher, a popular Denver boxer. Probably after his boxing career waned, Gallagher turned to crime. In 1898 he was in Skaguay. A photograph of the People’s Theater shows a poster with his name displayed. He likely worked for Jeff as muscle until Jeff was killed. On September 13, 1898, Gallagher was arrested in Seattle for burglary. The mug shot lists his occupation as bartender. “Red” had a long career in the demimonde. Later in Denver he joined the Blonger Gang. In 1922 he posted bond for Lou Blonger. Evidence shows there might have been two Gallaghers. This author believes Reddy Gallagher and Edward “Red” Gallagher are the same person. Historian Thomas Noel writes,

Edward Gallagher
“Red”—“Reddy”—“Kid”

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     I have seen his name listed as Patrick R. and Patrick Joseph Gallagher. He was called “Reddy” because of his red hair and readiness for fisticuffs. As Denver's prime proponent of ... boxing, he was a pugilist himself, coached others, staged many fights, and, in the 1920s, began a long career as a sports writer for The Denver Post. Although he supposedly could neither read nor write, Reddy could dictate and knew more about boxing than anyone else around.
     The International Boxing Research Organization lists his name as Stephan Gallagher, born February 4, 1865, and reports that on August 13, 1893, Gallagher fought a “fake” fight with “Denver” Ed Smith. Gallagher won the match and stated that “if Smith did not like the decision, he would fight him again.”

 

More on Gallagher at Cyber Boxing Zone.

“Denver” Ed Smith: Some claim his real name was Edward Corcoran. Soapy used this Denver boxer as a strong-arm occasionally. Ed Smith was one of the combatants fighting on Soapy's side, during the Logan Park incident in 1889. He was also utilized during election of 1895, as a repeat voter, and thug to remove the real voters whose names had been used to cast a vote already.

 

"Denver" Ed Smith

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More on "Denver" Ed Smith at Cyber Boxing Zone.

Bat Masterson: The famed lawman, boxing enthusiast, and long-time friend of Soapy.

Denver Ed Smith

May 15, 2016

 

"Denver Ed" Smith: pages 50, 89-90, 97, 271, 275.

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