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| Soapy Smith at the Palace Hotel "Jeff R. Smith, Ft Worth" |
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oapy Smith at the Palace Hotel in Tucson, Arizona, January 1882
The date of the newspaper is January 25, 1882, but likely he actually registered at the Palace Hotel on the previous day as I doubt he could sign the register and have it published on the very same day. The following day of Soapy being published as registering at the Palace Hotel, he is listed in the Daily Epitaph
as being registered at the Cosmopolitan in Tombstone, Arizona some 80
miles away. Most likely, Soapy would have boarded a train in Tucson, for
a 50 mile trip to Benson, and then take a stagecoach for the remaining
30 mile trip into Tombstone.
Historian Kenneth Vail had this to say about Soapy's travel from Tucson.
About 47 miles by rail to Benson, then 25 miles up the grade to Tombstone. Drews Station at about 13 miles was the only change of horses, but two miles further up there was a quick stop at Contention City if any passengers were getting off. From there is was 10 miles more to complete th coach ride to Tombstone. However, construction of the new railroad spur going up from Benson to Contention was nearly completed. On February 8 Louisa Earp was able to take the very first train down from Contention to Benson, switching to the SPRR westbound and on to California. That's what was available to Soapy when he departed Tombstone after Louisa did.
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| The Palace Hotel Tucson, Arizona Circa 1880 |
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Though it is likely that he did, it is not known for certain if Soapy operated any swindles in Tucson the short time that he was there.
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| The Palace Hotel Tucson, Arizona Arizona Daily Star February 17, 1882 |
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Note that the proprietor is Charles A. Shibell. Shibell was the Pima County, Arizona County Sheriff who promised a job as deputy sheriff to Wyatt Earp, but when Earp announced his support for Bob Paul as the next sheriff, Shibell appointed Earp's antagonist Johnny Behan to the position instead.
SPECIAL THANKS TO HISTORIAN KENNETH VAIL
for making me aware of this article.
for making me aware of this article.
Tucson, Arizona
—Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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