The Bunco Man and the Miner. Soapy Smith gang in 1894

The Bunco Man and the Miner.
Sierra County Advocate
Kinston, New Mexico
Oct 20, 1893

(Click image to enlarge)

 

 

 

 

good example of how the Soap Gang grifters, boosters and cappers introduced themselves to potential victims and led them to a big mit (rigged poker) swindle.  

 

Below is the transcription of the newspaper article.

THE BUNCO MAN AND THE MINER.

      Denver is full of bunco and confidence man who are just now working miners who in from the mountains. The following example we take from the Central Register Call:
     Our friend Billy Roche, of the Golden Wedge mine, tells the following story on himself, that happened last week in Denver. He was down to the capital for medical treatment and having no particular care on his mind, was taking in the sights in a careless way. While on one of the principal thoroughfares he was accosted by a fine appearing gentleman and was asked the way to the Grant smelter, followed up his inquiry with the remark that he “ had just brought down two carloads of ore like this,” taking a piece of ore from his pocket showing considerable free gold, “but probably not all like this. Now, as your appearance would indicate you to be a miner from the hills, I would like you to go up stairs and examine a couple of sacks I have there, of just such truck as this sample and wish you would give me your opinion as to what mineral like that would be worth.” Willing to grant a favor to a brother miner who had “two car loads” of such ore, Mr. Roche went up stairs and was ushered into "Soapy Smith's" room, where Mr. Roche saw several fellows engaged in a game of cards. He thought that such proceedings were nothing out of the way; that probably the boys were also interested in those “ two carloads” of ore, and while waiting to get returns from the smelter were enjoying themselves in a game of cards to while away the time. The "sacks of ore had just been taken over to the mining exchange, and would be back in half an hour or so," said one of the men present, and Mr. Roche was asked to sit down and have a game of cards, while awaiting their return. He declined their courteous invitation and was heading for the door when the three men got around him and proceeded to go through the dim sighted and feeble looking little man, but before he got through with them they wisely came to the conclusion that he was not as feeble as he looked. He quickly laid out his assailants and regained the street, none the worse for the little scrimmage "exercise" as he called it.
     A day or two after this occurrence a gentleman with an overcoat on his arm, accosted him on the street and inquired the way to the Grant smelter. Billy said that he gave him such a tongue lashing that it made the air blue, when the fellow told him "not to be too flip, or he might lose an ear," but when Billy's fist was shoved under his nose he quickly subsided.
     An appeal to Chief Kellogg elicited the comforting reply, “we can't protect everybody—it's your sombrero that gives you away, stranger." 

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It is Likely not a coincidence that on the very same day of the above publication, the Rocky Mountain News in Denver published the following bit.

 

 

Rocky Mountain News
October 20, 1893

(Click image to enlarge)

 

 

Below is the transcription of the newspaper article.

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Protecting Unwary Travelers.

Officer Sullivan of the Union depot force was arrested yesterday upon the charge of assaulting a man who, it is claimed, is a bartender of the Tivoli saloon [Soapy's saloon]. The officer offended the complainant by intimating that his presence at the depot was objectionable. Commodore Trufant will stand by Sullivan and a lively tilt is scheduled to take place in Justice Picken's court tomorrow forenoon.

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It is likely that the same big mitt game was set up, and Soapy's boosters were out in full force, hunting up fresh victims to swindle. The Union Depot on Seventeenth Street was a primary hunting grounds for out-of-town dupes and easy-pickings.

 

 

"If I lose today, I can look forward to winning tomorrow, and if I win today, I can expect to lose tomorrow. A sure thing is no fun."

—Chico Marx