tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41272299592672570592024-03-17T18:05:46.279-07:00Soapy Smith's Soap Box<i>The latest on American old west bad man Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith II</i>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.comBlogger1468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-51659677682057850022024-01-10T16:39:00.000-08:002024-01-14T06:44:11.438-08:00THE DUEL IN ELLEN'S HONOR: Soapy Smith’s grandmother<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGcv0RwjqxE4EWatQSv7tgkRRJjCeHK7BAe-4esloWhzHi8gAy081Q-a7orRhGsjtig_iFZl6lks3xZUHufk7vXWGE286MvNk3bRCvj02K9gQ7ILGR5mwIJ3lAtBRGSrR-g9z_4JBYvCQxgrOmU0D4iegMkQd12O1DSCk6CaeEqpqW0n6abs7Jtp28Y0/s624/The_Duel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGcv0RwjqxE4EWatQSv7tgkRRJjCeHK7BAe-4esloWhzHi8gAy081Q-a7orRhGsjtig_iFZl6lks3xZUHufk7vXWGE286MvNk3bRCvj02K9gQ7ILGR5mwIJ3lAtBRGSrR-g9z_4JBYvCQxgrOmU0D4iegMkQd12O1DSCk6CaeEqpqW0n6abs7Jtp28Y0/s16000/The_Duel.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_Q3bYuskw7Nhn70NPUoMlP2UnlWJ1CXfNmkZdCaJ-l3vB4N0GEXzcrGl0G0a0h1SFRU70_Cn9uoFIDWDtXB6S4fJSDkX9QSiKTkqlotbfn3MrHXp3T33Qd1sBI_qhnuY21NkWDe04Rh77UHji9jNSu2ATCOVuZOWY6XNv3WJ492XedH8kAymcT5zy-8/s209/Blog_Letter_T.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="100" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_Q3bYuskw7Nhn70NPUoMlP2UnlWJ1CXfNmkZdCaJ-l3vB4N0GEXzcrGl0G0a0h1SFRU70_Cn9uoFIDWDtXB6S4fJSDkX9QSiKTkqlotbfn3MrHXp3T33Qd1sBI_qhnuY21NkWDe04Rh77UHji9jNSu2ATCOVuZOWY6XNv3WJ492XedH8kAymcT5zy-8/s1600/Blog_Letter_T.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">HE DUEL IN ELLEN'S HONOR.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Soapy Smith’s grandmother<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">On Wednesday, August 9, 1820, an argument between 17-year-old, James Bowe Boisseau (1802-1820) and Robert C. Adams (unknown-1820) vying for the attention of 18-year-old Ellen Stimpson Peniston (1802-1860), took a terrible turn. The happy party in her honor took a tragic turn when the competition for Ellen’s affections ended in a deadly duel, in which both young gentlemen were killed.
The gun-duel took place in a secluded yard behind the Old Blandford Church and cemetery, 319 South Crater Road
Petersburg, Virginia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioigYz_kjlmGPJE10eaAqn56teAnyMiJFC4otsqY3M9p7yHWS-gktNmwek9N4JYqd_Tx4cUAHGxVUNsgkELKIjGomS_B2KgQlD9AMOR1W3C-zTUGFo_N_eEFHtFXft55NQyPncdB2LZKJG-Vl5p803ZaZSu0QU69n2ZMzScOFcP6frtoBRK5TX4I7oGGI/s1338/sc0065a8c6_B.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioigYz_kjlmGPJE10eaAqn56teAnyMiJFC4otsqY3M9p7yHWS-gktNmwek9N4JYqd_Tx4cUAHGxVUNsgkELKIjGomS_B2KgQlD9AMOR1W3C-zTUGFo_N_eEFHtFXft55NQyPncdB2LZKJG-Vl5p803ZaZSu0QU69n2ZMzScOFcP6frtoBRK5TX4I7oGGI/s16000/sc0065a8c6_B.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />There are family stories, along with a letter written in 1903 by Ellen's brother, John G. Peniston (1811-1906), pertaining to his sister and the duel. With the coming of the internet a lot of details have been dug up, giving us a better look at the tragic incident and the young woman, Ellen. The letter was written when John was 92-years-old, and was transcribed decades later by family genealogist, Ellen Peniston Rafeedie. I do not have the original letter, nor have I seen a copy; thus, I cannot determine how much of the transcription below is a true copy of the original letter in regards to grammar, spellings, punctuation, capitalization, etc.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Ryan, Ind. Territory [Oklahoma]</div><div style="text-align: justify;">March 26, 1903</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">My own dear Niece:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mrs. Ellen S. Faver</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote> I was very glad to receive your kind grattifying[sic] and unexpected letter. I assure you it aroused the slumbering ties of consanguinity, and as I read it, over and over it bore the impress on memories page of my own dear Saintly Sister Ellen, whose christian[capitalize] soul and wonderful personality, stamped her in early life the Bell[e] of Virginia.<br /> I regret that I cannot give you all the particulars of that fatal duel., between Adams an Boisseau. I think the circumstance this – Sister was boarding after the death of our Parents with the Aikin family. They gave her a party on a Magnificent Scale. - both of the young men were present, and nothing seemed to mar the pleasures of the enthusiast[sic] Adams brought refreshments to Sister, which offended Boisseau. They quarreled and he challenged Adams-they fought at Old Blandford Cemetery, and both were killed, - Adams may have addressed my Sister – both were prominent young men – Of course Sister had no control of the sad affair – But I think it clouded the future of her promising life.<br /> Several days ago, I answered a letter to your Uncle William A. Smith – He wanted to know the antecedents of the Peniston’s, - I deeply regret my incompetency to give a full and reliable statement, being only 4 years of age on the death of my Parents 1816 And the information I gave William A. I learned from others – Please see William as intended the letter for Dr. Lum – Dr. Henry and all my relatives – I regret that I did not mention my youngest brother, Dr. Thomas Peniston, he was a Professor in the New School of Medison[sic] in New Orleans, and was a Success in life. I dearly loved him, he loved his family- and on his return from Europe he gave me a good deal of information about our family- He died in New Orleans in 1865 and I think was interred in Baton Rouge Cemetery alongside his two oldest brothers and Sister Catherine- If I could ever have the pleasure of seeing you all again I have much to tell you- Two of my sons, Wayne and Ernest expect to go to New Mexico in a few weeks- Columbus S.[Smith] lives in Ryan and is doing well and now I must close, ever affectionately yours</blockquote><blockquote>J.G. Peniston.</blockquote></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>THE DUEL.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The two young men agreed to fight a duel near a secluded church lot. Both being apparent good pistoleers, they shot and killed one another. The following comes from the <i>Genius of Liberty</i>, Petersburg, Va., August 22, 1820, p. 2.</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">PETERSBURG, VA. -</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Aug. 11.</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"> A duel was fought on Wednesday last, near the brick church in Blandford, by Mr. Robert C. Adams and James B. Boisseau, of this town, which unhappily terminated on the death of both!<br /> The distance taken by combatants was nine feet -- the first fire proved ineffectual; but at the second, Mr. Boisseau received his antagonists' ball in the right breast and fell lifeless.<br /> Mr. Adams received the ball of Mr. Boisseau in the right side a little below the false ribs, and survived about two hours.
Of the nature of the quarrel which gave rise to this fatal meeting, we are not informed. Thus at the shrink of the mistaken honour, have those young gentlemen sacrificed themselves.”<br /></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Jame’s parents were Benjamin Boisseau and Mary Eppes.</div></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> It has been written that Ellen never completely got over the fact that she had been partly responsible for the deaths. The attending physician at the fight was Ira Ellis Smith, who within seventeen months would take Ellen as his bride.</div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">After the death of her parents Ellen was boarding with another family [Aikin]. Admiring friends gave her a party in her honor. During the evening Robert Adams brought refreshments to Ellen, which offended James Boisseau. The two men quarreled, ending with James challenging his rival to fight a duel. The next day the word came to Ellen that both men had been killed. A sad shock to her, though it is said that she loved neither of them. Both men are interred in Old Blandford church cemetery where the duel took place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> One of the dueling pistols used in the duel may be seen at the Old Blandford Church museum.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM3aw917kN_gyXGFcmyrlQlyueLYrsi-X-plU1beWJ_t9uN4HIUH9OYAgYQ-sqAGwMBz1-q9JgHKcjCqTf_JXGO7py0plFA8szAnvOArV5Ux3G5coTUOuXTjvFSPfblQ_qOW8fXFrZ2TXL7DfqEdbunCguoUK9qBFshcZ1mV4HuAqXw0K3DbzOaDZpUc/s1749/Dueling%20pistol%20in%20Blandford%20Church.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1749" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM3aw917kN_gyXGFcmyrlQlyueLYrsi-X-plU1beWJ_t9uN4HIUH9OYAgYQ-sqAGwMBz1-q9JgHKcjCqTf_JXGO7py0plFA8szAnvOArV5Ux3G5coTUOuXTjvFSPfblQ_qOW8fXFrZ2TXL7DfqEdbunCguoUK9qBFshcZ1mV4HuAqXw0K3DbzOaDZpUc/w640-h366/Dueling%20pistol%20in%20Blandford%20Church.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the pistols used in the duel</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The card and possibly a corresponding letter are illegible<br />Courtesy of VA Travels, YouTube video<br />and the Blandford, Church Museum<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">(Click image to enlarge)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> A family letter reads, [Ellen’s] “accomplishments equaled her personal charm, so it was no wonder that she should have many lovers.” Some blamed Ellen for the deaths, including the families of Boisseau and Adams, causing her great distress, and she never escaped feeling responsible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Adams and Boisseau were from prominent families. I found the following email from A. S. Boisseau to Anne Stiller (January 1999) with the Boisseau side of the history. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"> This James B. Boisseau was killed in the duel at Blandford Cemetery, and was reported in newspapers across the state (I have copies from 10 or 11 different papers).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The story runs that about the year 1820, Ellen Peniston, of Petersburg, Va., engaged herself to two young men at the same time, in a spirit of harmless coquetry, but the two gentlemen took the matter seriously enough to fight a duel over it. They were named Adams and Boisseau, and the fatal encounter took place just back of the old Blandford church, in a pine grove now marked by the graves of the Hamilton family. The two former friends fell dead at the first shot, and the vain and thoughtless girl lived to mourn their hot-headed deed the rest of her life, which continued to a ripe age. (Annals of the Fowler Family Author: Glenn D.F. Arthur Call Number: CS71.F681x, p. 149) Killed in a duel at Old Blandford Church, Petersburg, VA where he fought a man named Adams for the affections of Miss Pennister[sic], a celebrated beauty. Both men, young college students, died almost simultaneously.</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Not sure I agree with the "vain and thoughtless girl" part, but we have to remember this was written from the other side of the fence and that's just the way they may have seen her. They might be correct if their statement is true that Ellen "engaged herself to two young men at the same time ..." By "engaged" they no doubt mean "engaged" in conversations with two men at once. Smith family history states that Ellen accepted a drink from one of the young men, which enraged the other, and the challenge was made. I am told by one historian who wrote about duels, that,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote>"Regency era etiquette at a party scene as was the case when the challenge was made, is that it is expected that all party guests mingle with everyone, even if dating or promised to one man or woman. Ellen had no control or voice in the matter once the dueling challenge was made. With all that said, if a woman is the core reason for a duel, the women is blamed by society."</blockquote></div></div><span style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>ELLEN STIMPSON PENISTON</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdrzxeVrit1L7D81Iqq8IxRuhhllm6KE3cYRfnfTmzBmouCzX3i1g_AgWaKD9Eo8hfdxBe-UnbJA6Eg0x_-NHJMNSHJLbsVIkAs2Y9_0ho5MoR5OoQTUc5nk1A_qZgnbrxYCR-rf04Lz-x9VU55Y4ranIeEEOAlfVu0ilRWjxHiU3-Nfutv9wJxrLiDM/s222/5018db04-8735-4805-a197-9cc503e11854.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="180" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdrzxeVrit1L7D81Iqq8IxRuhhllm6KE3cYRfnfTmzBmouCzX3i1g_AgWaKD9Eo8hfdxBe-UnbJA6Eg0x_-NHJMNSHJLbsVIkAs2Y9_0ho5MoR5OoQTUc5nk1A_qZgnbrxYCR-rf04Lz-x9VU55Y4ranIeEEOAlfVu0ilRWjxHiU3-Nfutv9wJxrLiDM/w519-h640/5018db04-8735-4805-a197-9cc503e11854.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><br /></div></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> Ellen Stimpson Peniston was born March 4, 1802 in Petersburg, Virgina. Daughter of Samuel Peniston and Ariana Sleymaker. She was never able to hold her grandson, Jefferson R. Smith, in her arms, as she passed away just eleven days before he his birth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Ellen was educated in Annapolis and Baltimore, Maryland. Described as the “Belle of Virginia” and “the Flower of Georgia.” A family letter in 1932 boldly states that she was the most educated woman in Georgia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> It is written that Dr. Ira Ellis Smith [my gr-gr-gr-grandfather] was the physician present when the duel took place. Approximately one year after the duel, Ira married Ellen in Petersburg, Virginia, December 6, 1821. They had 11 children together (ten boys and one girl).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Ellen died October 23, 1860, in Coweta County, Georgia, where she rests in peace at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan, Georgia. Her sermon was given by Rev. Alexander Means, DD LLD., who read from Psalms 73, verses 24 and 25. In a family bible under her name it reads; "In sure prospects of a blessed immortality." She missed meeting her grandchild, Jefferson R. Smith by 11 days.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXLQUiRpnFIqAuz2axfM9T9DwVv3nuU9Pd7pGIaw7fF1gbI8-dW00LpoyFUxDMJxHL9goiUo8uklFhLFPSRvobOZ3AluZIRKZQGmgL7faF9ip5S_KNmxctbvGd4S6paRipMHYmf5iORFOGimz9HXr6hd25SZfvKk2WDI02SDpeXxyeA5XvuJ3O8X3R4E/s1086/Ellen_stimpson_smith-Enhanced-bw.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1086" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXLQUiRpnFIqAuz2axfM9T9DwVv3nuU9Pd7pGIaw7fF1gbI8-dW00LpoyFUxDMJxHL9goiUo8uklFhLFPSRvobOZ3AluZIRKZQGmgL7faF9ip5S_KNmxctbvGd4S6paRipMHYmf5iORFOGimz9HXr6hd25SZfvKk2WDI02SDpeXxyeA5XvuJ3O8X3R4E/w640-h397/Ellen_stimpson_smith-Enhanced-bw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RESTORATION OF ELLEN'S PHOTOGRAPH</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> In 2011 during a research and presentation trip, I and two cousins took a trip to the Oak Hill cemetery hoping to find the missing Smith family graves, including Ellen's. We were there with the president of the Coweta County Historical Society, who guessed that the Smith plots might be close to the Peniston family plots. He happened to peek around a bush “fence” and to our surprise, there they all were. For decades the Smith family could not locate the graves because the cemetery had changed the name and numbering system of that location many decades ago, but did not correctly update records and plot maps, so we were looking in the wrong place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLuYMBE5I5SRTWHwabDrAxav3lHtclBCeVzYEDN-Bhyphenhyphen5kapS4AH2EescllqZbf4g1I1wggdKr6pxIlPdhWt8FK-ka5-kq0wbOxpsMPNM26A7Qyq-C-WbpH6O4BFid6_JSnIylRsCr3jDcW0wv4iPptn_VWWnQSZVx2IYAtSogFYiPkW-PceQPcnbOFX8/s1600/46a546c4-52cf-474e-819b-c5ad4d623584.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLuYMBE5I5SRTWHwabDrAxav3lHtclBCeVzYEDN-Bhyphenhyphen5kapS4AH2EescllqZbf4g1I1wggdKr6pxIlPdhWt8FK-ka5-kq0wbOxpsMPNM26A7Qyq-C-WbpH6O4BFid6_JSnIylRsCr3jDcW0wv4iPptn_VWWnQSZVx2IYAtSogFYiPkW-PceQPcnbOFX8/w640-h480/46a546c4-52cf-474e-819b-c5ad4d623584.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Graves of Ellen S. Peniston and Dr. Ira E. Smith</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Descendants Geri Murphy, Jeff Smith and Jeannie Schaffner</b><br /><br />(Click image to enlarge) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Some of the early letters written by Ellen S. Peniston have been saved. Following are two examples written in 1820 from Virginia, that family member, Ellen Rafeedie, sent to me. In the letters, Ellen is corresponding with her brother, Anthony Peniston, a physician in New Orleans, Louisiana. He co-founded the School of Medicine in New Orleans, which later became the Tulane University. His portrait hangs in Founders Hall. and Peniston Street in New Orleans was named in his honor. Online, I found a medical journal (in french) from 1854 located at the Louisiana State University (1 Vol. Location: M:20 - For further information see online catalog. Mss. 339).</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Petersburg,<br />February 3d, 1820<br /><br />Dear brother</div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"> Feeling sensibly your neglect I had almost determined on the same course of conduct but my friendship conquered that inclination, and I cannot resist the pleasure of writing though I am apprehensive that either the letter or the writer (or perhaps both) will be deemed by you unworthy of your notice. Although this conclusion is deeply mortifying, and the general tenour of your past conduct should forbid such a suspicion, the sincerity and ardour of my love, produce fears as to the perpetuity of your affection and lead me to draw from your silence the most painful inference. My mind is busied and agitated with a thousand conjectures as to the cause of offence which I may possibly have given you, but the most scrupulous and impartial retrospection of my past conduct, does not furnish me with a single instance in which I can accuse myself of having deviated from the strictest rules of a sisters duty. I entreat you not to leave me in that painful suspense attendant on your silence, but either inform me by letter in what manner I have offended you, or convey to me the assurance that my fears are groundless and that I still share some portion of your fondness.<br /> Nothing of moment has occurred since you left us. I have boarded Mary C with a lady who is capable of attending to the morals as well as deportment, Mrs Gary of Prince George. She goes to school to Mr. Branch who is sufficiently learned, as yet, she being backward in her education.<br /> I have had the pleasure of hearing from you indirectly. The place of your residence is well known, and I am sorry you did not explain yourself explicitly, ere you left us, as you have been very much censured in this abode of friends, for the mystery which accompanied you altho' I am not acquainted with your affairs I am perfectly assured you always act from motives perfectly consistent with propriety.<br /> Samuel has left his school and friters away his time in the street not regarding any advice which is given him by me. The other children are well. Mr. Burke will hand you this he has met with a powerful friend in Boiling Robinson, who will no doubt, advance him considerably in his literary carreer. To hear of your prosperity and celebrity in your profession is the first wish of my heart and tho' tossed about by the rude billows of adversity, I still have a sheltering port in your affection, for I cannot bids you the injustice to believe you are selfish enough to forget those whom nature and religion bids us love and cherish - it was reported you died in New York in an Oyster house. Oh! the Poisonous breath of calumny vice vegetates more luxuriantly here than in any other place I have ever known, and a knowledge of the malignity of some of our dear Petersburg friends accounts for these reports. You will perceive that in one paragraph of my letter I have taken the sisterly liberty of admonishing, and is not dread greater in use than an astronomer would receive for remarking a small spot on the brilliant orb of the sun.<br /> Mrs A compliments and best wishes believe me to be ever yours<br /></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">devotedly,<br />Ellen S. Peniston</div></blockquote></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In the next letter Ellen announces her marriage to Dr. Ira E. Smith.</div></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Mount Laurel<br />Dec. 24, 1821<br /></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Dear brother<br /></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"> Months have roll'd[sic] by, hours of anxiety have suceeded[sic] each other, with out a single line to relieve my solicitude. I wrote in answer to the letter enclosed to Mr. Sproner, but imagine you never received it, any other conclusion would be too mortifying and so then is the mood soothing to affection, I adopt it with the friends he has of the truth. How many prayers do I offer up to that throne of devine[sic] mercy, for your safety and protection. Through the toil some and diversified scenes of precarious existance[sic], no selfish [illegible] can erase my anxiety, or cause me to forget the brother, my early love, the friend who supported me through the thorny path of adversity, and lighten'd[sic] the bursting heart of sorrows devoted child. Can I forget your assiduousness to tranquilize my feelings under every affliction? or cease to be grateful for the many tender proofs I have experienced, of your steady and underacting love. Rembrance[sic] cherishes them in my bosom and gratitude shall perpetuate them.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> The important era in the eventful life of your sister has pass'd[sic]. I am married!!!! The marriage was solemnized at Mr. Akins before a large and brilliant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, the 6th of this month. I am united to a man of worth, one who is universally belov'd[sic], and, whose merits an envious world is willing to acknowledge. Dr. Smith of Dinwiddie, he is a partner of Dr. Peter Haraway and as that is the case, we reside at his house in [illegible] before we commence house hunting. Mary Catherine is with us. All our brothers are well. Samuel causes me more sorrow than any thing in the world. He is in Petersburg, but has no home. He has been refused board every where he appli'd[sic] and he is too lazy to think of any alternative himself and too headstrong to listen to my advice. if you do not send for him disgrace and ruin will attend him, for you are the only person who can manage him at all. I deliver'd[sic] your letter safe to Mrs. M, who has never condescended to speak easily to me who she [illegible sentence] business and she spends in fashion and folly, his hard earnings, as soon as she can grasp at them - her mother has lately died, but the dear propensity can not be still'd[sic], not even by the hand of Death! It is astonishing to me how a mother can be so blind to the interests of her children, or a wife so destitute of affection for her husband! You will gratify me more than I can express, by sending me your miniature by the first opportunity - tis not impracticable and the pleasure of gazing on your features, though still and inanimate, will convey to your sister's bosom the most delightful emotions - a willing gaze on it and fancy, I see in the delicate combinations of that face the irradiations of your brilliant understanding and almost think the lips parting to give me a smile of love. Write to me brother. I entrust you to torture me no longer, By your neglect or deepen the wound it has already occasion'd[sic]. How shall I find words to express how warmly and affectionately I am your</div></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">sister, and friend.</div>Ellen S. Smith<br /><br /></div></blockquote><p>ADDENDUM: An interesting point was made, that if the duel had never taken place, Soapy and I might have never been born. At the very least, our DNA composition would be vastly different if we were to be born. </p></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid57C-s0rCx5dXs9rWZSw7WvZEflrhN6qnv_dRUMKpUPdUY5MsVngbaTCnlPjKqFG2ug4gO64sB4O4HnA-iHikttqBS9s55mPc_Vh7zCtIc0kqsdkrrU6tSS_JAfqzryzNSYbvMmQOmrg2/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid57C-s0rCx5dXs9rWZSw7WvZEflrhN6qnv_dRUMKpUPdUY5MsVngbaTCnlPjKqFG2ug4gO64sB4O4HnA-iHikttqBS9s55mPc_Vh7zCtIc0kqsdkrrU6tSS_JAfqzryzNSYbvMmQOmrg2/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ellen Stimpson Peniston</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2010/04/ellen-stimpson-peniston.html" target="_blank">Apr 16, 2010</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2011/05/ellen-penistons-deadly-duelists-of-1820.html" target="_blank">May 22, 2011</a></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2011/05/more-on-ellen-s-penistons-dueling.html" target="_blank">May 23, 2011</a></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2011/08/john-gilbert-peniston-writes-about-duel.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Aug 02, 2011</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2011/08/soapy-smiths-grandmother-ellen-stimpson.html" target="_blank">Aug 08, 2011</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2021/03/ellen-stimpson-peniston-in-color-and.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mar 17, 2021</span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The better the gambler, the worse the man."</i></span></div></blockquote></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—Publius Syrus</span></blockquote>
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<br /></span></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-85264846031241743452023-12-24T06:32:00.000-08:002023-12-25T14:14:57.567-08:00Confidence man "Soapy" Smith in Georgetown, Colorado, 1885<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW4M08ICsutaaQsb9ewu40HwkZKrkyE6lpNMlKjPIa5Ov-GdgCJruwjzB8_zmy2UaFQYiHuiXXfj_Z2wRCdxKIwjXbtfjOn5XR1Fko4HQ9YE5K70xHV3B0blXhOckD6jHgFU-3puvEV3n6ZiSVvcQnTro_6a9Y2oO-_Wwaws8518Hfzw30VGvDP9tQ5M/s731/Denver_Rocky_Mountain_News_1885-09-14.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="731" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkW4M08ICsutaaQsb9ewu40HwkZKrkyE6lpNMlKjPIa5Ov-GdgCJruwjzB8_zmy2UaFQYiHuiXXfj_Z2wRCdxKIwjXbtfjOn5XR1Fko4HQ9YE5K70xHV3B0blXhOckD6jHgFU-3puvEV3n6ZiSVvcQnTro_6a9Y2oO-_Wwaws8518Hfzw30VGvDP9tQ5M/w640-h176/Denver_Rocky_Mountain_News_1885-09-14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Loose money in Georgetown"</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Denver Rocky Mountain News</i><br />September 14, 1885</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFCEhPdEmAMy_VA9QaHvija3-oUpExJD_9Oe4c_Iql9oE-uB54dlyeMGrbMF6-ycpG17rW-IwRIqni42NnJipyM3WLwOaYUoitwxu5EOKXpJH7YjWCkgV4ybkxSKuIvq4SU6Qc8ktNtUhj5TTI1QB6wpUnlY_MuM5gavEe1G-xGrKkIJp4fmsKTU_sCg/s200/Blog_Letter_D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="115" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFCEhPdEmAMy_VA9QaHvija3-oUpExJD_9Oe4c_Iql9oE-uB54dlyeMGrbMF6-ycpG17rW-IwRIqni42NnJipyM3WLwOaYUoitwxu5EOKXpJH7YjWCkgV4ybkxSKuIvq4SU6Qc8ktNtUhj5TTI1QB6wpUnlY_MuM5gavEe1G-xGrKkIJp4fmsKTU_sCg/s1600/Blog_Letter_D.jpg" width="115" /></a></div><br /><br />id "Soapy" Smith operate in Georgetown, Colorado, in September 1885?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Short answer: Most likely. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br />The following was published in the <i>Denver Rocky Mountain News</i>, September 14, 1885.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">There must be considerable loose money in Georgetown, to judge from the number of quack doctors and soap and jewelry peddlers and other confidence men who have been flocking in here for the past few weeks.</span></blockquote></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the first I have seen where Soapy Smith likely went to Georgetown, known as the "silver queen of Colorado." It makes perfect sense to me that Soapy operated there. Soapy's timeline for this period is sparse but does open up the possibility of a trip to Georgetown. <br /> On August 25, 1885, the <i>Denver Rocky Mountain News</i> reported a robbery in Denver in which the victim was drugged.
<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">John Lewis wandered into a Larimer Street dive last night and became intoxicated. While in that condition he was placed in a hack, taken outside the city limits and robbed of between $400 and $500. He was then dumped out on the prairie where he lay insensible till nearly morning, when he made his way to the city and reported his loss. He claims that he was drugged, and he probably was, as the gang who hangs around the notorious resort would not stop at murder if a $5 bill were in sight. This is the second occurrence of the kind that has happened at the same place within the past week.</span></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Drugging victims in saloons became popular for a period in Denver. It has not been established that Jeff knew anyone involved in these robberies or whether he was receiving tribute from those responsible. It can be guessed that he was and that probably he called a halt to them. They shocked the residents of Denver, who demanded something be done. A large percentage of these drug-induced robberies dropped off as quickly as they had begun, but they did not cease entirely.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Interest in arresting the guilty did not come from law enforcement but the ever-vigilant <i>Rocky Mountain News</i>. On the day of the story about the Lewis robbery, the <i>News</i> reported that about thirty bunco men were headed for Boulder and the fireman’s tournament: <br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>“There are pickpockets and soap men and shell men, eight die men, top and bottom men, flim-flamers and the smiler with the shells, and all the rest of the boys.” </blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Associating Soapy Smith and “the boys” with the robberies was an easy link for readers. Did the robbery of Lewis raise the profile of Soapy and the bunco brotherhood? The answer seems clear. Why else would “the brotherhood’s” travel to Boulder be newsworthy?</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> Nineteen days after the Georgetown report, on October 3, 1885, "Jeff Smith" and </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Mike Rainey are arrested for </span><span style="font-size: medium;">assaulting John Koch, a probable victim. </span></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>CONCLUSION</b>: Though Soapy's name is not mentioned in Georgetown, it's likely that the soap peddler in Georgetown was Soapy Smith.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
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</p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"History with its flickering lamp stumbles along the trail of the past, trying to reconstruct its scenes, to revive its echoes, and kindle with pale gleams the passion of former days."</i></span></div></blockquote></div>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-59564925063288935802023-12-22T11:46:00.000-08:002023-12-24T05:03:42.652-08:00Is this the first record of "Soapy" Smith running the soap sell racket in Denver?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGa5PuNTMdAadlVgtJf-OeKEeRxoECc5LpFZn4ESRHk7prcwEhIFoWCEYBo9tGxNHqDenif5lCpcLDo7OeED4QunuiPkqHrfV0YL6eD-ZpwE5Agwq3o2U_3T1quKqYoL_UcLjN1ycEsovLbJB5MgyZ227l6VtILOtA2bzQax-4BaB3v3QOFsK0KuVB1Y/s2004/Denver_Rocky_Mountain_News_1881-05-04.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="2004" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGa5PuNTMdAadlVgtJf-OeKEeRxoECc5LpFZn4ESRHk7prcwEhIFoWCEYBo9tGxNHqDenif5lCpcLDo7OeED4QunuiPkqHrfV0YL6eD-ZpwE5Agwq3o2U_3T1quKqYoL_UcLjN1ycEsovLbJB5MgyZ227l6VtILOtA2bzQax-4BaB3v3QOFsK0KuVB1Y/w640-h422/Denver_Rocky_Mountain_News_1881-05-04.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">IS THIS SOAPY SMITH?</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Denver Rocky Mountain News</i><br />May 4, 1881<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA3qQfLreu96emYX6QOhaShpEIQluC-s1RwNiQYMTVyW7IA9r5KB1R3aN1w221b5Rk5dO6XxboEqG1oFtyO2_UVdrdJn646ZRPlpeypt3XrO6PfUwJ0vHQXsjteJaZJH6FuiJPAbxMtkFRv2HvROOhXizNUaeVLwYK_4Snx6DyJSFj5i1P_6bhLoZkVA/s196/Blog_Letter_F.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="95" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaA3qQfLreu96emYX6QOhaShpEIQluC-s1RwNiQYMTVyW7IA9r5KB1R3aN1w221b5Rk5dO6XxboEqG1oFtyO2_UVdrdJn646ZRPlpeypt3XrO6PfUwJ0vHQXsjteJaZJH6FuiJPAbxMtkFRv2HvROOhXizNUaeVLwYK_4Snx6DyJSFj5i1P_6bhLoZkVA/s1600/Blog_Letter_F.jpg" width="95" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">IRST EVIDENCE OF SOAPY SMITH IN DENVER?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> In my book, <i><a href="https://klondikeresearch.com/alias-soapy-smith/" target="_blank">Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</a></i>, I use George T. Buffum's eye-witness account as the earliest account of Soapy Smith performing the infamous prize package soap sell in Denver. The year is 1879. Mr. Buffum recorded what he witnessed in a 1906 collection of sketches of his frontier experiences.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>I first saw him in the spring of 1879. Standing in front of the old Grand Central Hotel one day, I saw approaching me a man driving a bay horse hitched to a light buggy. He stopped by my side and lifted a box from the bottom of the buggy seat, and I noticed that it contained several cakes of soap. Looking at me squarely in the face, he said, “Will you allow me to present you with fifty dollars?” I declined with thanks, though such benevolence might have received more consideration had I been more familiar with his game.[1]</blockquote> In an 1889 <i>Rocky Mountain News</i> interview, when asked how long he had lived in Denver, Soapy replied, “Since 1879, but not steady...,”[2]. This does match the year George Buffum claims to have seen Soapy, but it is not solid evidence. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Recently, I took the time to research the <i>Rocky Mountain News</i>, using the search engines on GenealogyBank newspaper archives and came across the news clipping at top. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>The soap and lottery man is the centre[sic] of attraction on the streets now evenings, and the hard working laborer pays fifty cents for one cent's worth of soap and the privilege of drawing a blank.<span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Could this be the first newspaper evidence of Soapy operating the prize package soap racket in Denver? There is always the chance that it is another bunko man operating the soap racket. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Business licenses obtained by </span><span style="font-size: medium;">21-year-old Jefferson Randolph Smith II </span><span style="font-size: medium;">during this period confirm that he </span><span style="font-size: medium;">was a nomad confidence man traveling around the West.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Most of the licensing was not recorded or has been lost in time, but a few examples survive to give a glimpse of his travels. The earliest known, was sent to “J. R. Smith Esqr.,” in Fort Worth, Texas, in response to his request from the Georgia comptroller general in Atlanta, dated March 3, 1881.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Dear Sir-
Your favor of the 24th to grant lender the lease of this state you will have to pay a sum of twenty-five dollars for each day’s exhibition in every city or town of five thousand inhabitants; twenty dollars in city or town of four thousand & under five thousand inhabitants; fifteen dollars in city or town with less than four thousand inhabitants; said tax to be paid to the tax collector in each county where the exhibition takes place.
Yours Respectfully W. A. Wright, Comp Genl.</blockquote>
Compared with licensing costs secured elsewhere, the Georgia fees were very high, making it doubtful Jeff ever worked his criminal trade within the borders of his home state.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> At the end of the month, March 30, 1881, Soapy is in a New Orleans courtroom for "assault and battery." Thirty-six days later the Denver soap racket story is published, having given Soapy plenty of time to be in Denver to operate the swindle. The next location known for Soapy is dated eight months later, when Soapy, listed as being from "Fort Worth," and Soapy's con-man partner, John T. Waller, listed as being from "Denver," register at a hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> There were other prize package soap swindlers operating around the nation. and this is the first newspaper mention I could find regarding them in Colorado. Considering the timeline of Soapy's whereabouts during this period, it is very possible, perhaps even probable, that Jeff R. Smith was running the con game in Denver, where he would earn the alias of "Soapy," known across the West for the soap swindle.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Fourteen months later, July 16, 1882, the <i>Denver Rocky Mountain News</i> published another incident involving the soap racket swindle.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XbCfkCbku0bjSyG6gvlKQPh5vyeDCuqbGKy-GH8HDYJF4NHN2pFDpFMhyphenhyphennbPxJjrcpjtsr8pwPwf_Fq1ez6WSn16t75wY34UbiWiRWal4XGHqj2znYqdrG3ircKBwz5wBCe12aPuHshnmLXMi80ACFM7nhw-STfxfYgAa1euT0Wpl2nj9YmNQaDo9z8/s730/1__Denver_Rocky_Mountain_News_1882-07-16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="730" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XbCfkCbku0bjSyG6gvlKQPh5vyeDCuqbGKy-GH8HDYJF4NHN2pFDpFMhyphenhyphennbPxJjrcpjtsr8pwPwf_Fq1ez6WSn16t75wY34UbiWiRWal4XGHqj2znYqdrG3ircKBwz5wBCe12aPuHshnmLXMi80ACFM7nhw-STfxfYgAa1euT0Wpl2nj9YmNQaDo9z8/w640-h206/1__Denver_Rocky_Mountain_News_1882-07-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is this also Soapy?</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Denver Rocky Mountain News</i><br />July 16, 1882<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>The cheap soap man with his prize money scheme made his appearance here Thursday. After he had opened up his wares on the street and inaugurated his deceptive prize scheme, he was promptly taken in tow by an officer of the law. He was given a chance to get out of town in a hurry. </blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Is this Soapy? Or another confidence man?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b>Seven days prior to the above publication, Soapy is running the soap sell in Astoria, Oregon. This is confirmed in one of his notebooks. It is standard during this nomad period that Soapy rarely stayed long in anyone town. Sometimes he left the state, working a period of time in another state, only to return to the previous state, sometimes even the previous town! This was plenty of time for Soapy to arrive in Denver, work the swindle, and travel back to Portland, Oregon where about fifteen days later, on August 2nd, he is once again operating the soap con.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Once again, Soapy's timeline does not contradict with the possibility that he operated the soap swindle in both published incidences, or one of them, or neither of them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The next example is still possibly Soapy's handiwork.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDO08aNZyF5KusnfqMR9gCHPHFzOz5OmnCsThwiOCZW2JdXBILjBWNDHVAZasCaZi0kdhWcG-dyAkFJkOXHeqy8CmFyfssaU30GcGUAs4Nq_6Lob1oEXIowVpZvRVlGArbRB6re4hgw9OOI34KkeXAysy3BlUSw209NASbkFiAi0vx8WuHm9mY2AIztVM/s716/2__Denver_Rocky_Mountain_News_1882-07-29.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="716" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDO08aNZyF5KusnfqMR9gCHPHFzOz5OmnCsThwiOCZW2JdXBILjBWNDHVAZasCaZi0kdhWcG-dyAkFJkOXHeqy8CmFyfssaU30GcGUAs4Nq_6Lob1oEXIowVpZvRVlGArbRB6re4hgw9OOI34KkeXAysy3BlUSw209NASbkFiAi0vx8WuHm9mY2AIztVM/w640-h172/2__Denver_Rocky_Mountain_News_1882-07-29.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is this Soapy?</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Denver Rocky Mountain News</i><br />July 29, 1882</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge) </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>The patent soap peddlers, who make pretensions of giving prize money packages with their soap, were taken in by the limb of the law Thursday evening immediately after they had commenced their operations on the street corner.</blockquote></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is this Soapy? Possibly, but less likely than the other two published examples. The clipping mentions that the soap men were "taken in" on Thursday, which would be July 27, 1882. If Soapy was given bond that evening, he had six days to get to Portland, Oregon by August 2, 1882, the date the <i>Daily Standard</i> published the article, "The Latest Racket," detailing a soap racket operating there.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>CONCLUSION</b>: The next best piece of evidence would be to find "Jeff R. Smith" listed as signing a Denver hotel register near the dates of the three newspaper stories. Even better would be to find one of Soapy's personal notebooks detailing his travels during this period. Though these are not provenance, I will take the presumption that one, two or possibly all three, are about Soapy Smith. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>NOTES:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">[1] Buffum, pp. 26-27.
</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">[2] <i>Rocky Mountain News</i>, August 6, 1889.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div>
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<br />Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-69653307590394236432023-09-14T15:04:00.003-07:002023-09-17T09:10:06.997-07:00Soapy Smith's stereo-view photograph in Leadville, Colorado, July 21, 1880<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUX-LS_l5sNWAIws_bzEQO0-CodDcX9p4Q98Atxleewt4jZUrTaXX3dOalMcyQD45QXw-0XahTkBWPWYVX3BsXlAUpOZ2ZBCPTp4VV-YKhz_KjkDsdHo2GWNLFrFfus9KRSRS8a9ui1YPgTMTCjMXIIOipq23uemhYWrN56gEFPyC-HkBIYAafXekfJQ/s2048/06A%20Soapy%20in%20Leadville%201880%20front%20KyleRosene.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="2048" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUX-LS_l5sNWAIws_bzEQO0-CodDcX9p4Q98Atxleewt4jZUrTaXX3dOalMcyQD45QXw-0XahTkBWPWYVX3BsXlAUpOZ2ZBCPTp4VV-YKhz_KjkDsdHo2GWNLFrFfus9KRSRS8a9ui1YPgTMTCjMXIIOipq23uemhYWrN56gEFPyC-HkBIYAafXekfJQ/w640-h358/06A%20Soapy%20in%20Leadville%201880%20front%20KyleRosene.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith in Leadville, Colorado</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">July 21, 1880<br />Soapy and partner, rear, between carriages<br />Courtesy Kyle Rosene collection</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Soapy Smith's stereo-view photograph<br />Leadville, Colorado, July 21, 1880</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Where was it taken?</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="684" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJI1LE4MfIg_RVWFAln_DutJjV96cLgxvCph9Vk8uQMyjW1DOG4zFTOBes70toZckYhfPjxDMZKEE9gi_w8KdJfmuniAvsKuSttDScJGF6qV5jQuK7cjIYbRGOHg7hyOT58KfqmVx6Pf-pAcmLFiTrhf-hj34jc1zR3fOXA8x7719pvsil-82XQjrH5k/w640-h360/06A%20Soapy%20in%20Leadville%201880%20front%20KyleRosene%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">WHERE IN LEADVILLE WAS THIS TAKEN?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Those who have read <i><a href="https://klondikeresearch.com/alias-soapy-smith/" target="_blank">Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</a></i> may recall seeing the photograph (#6A) above, in the first photograph section of the book.<br /> Soapy sent the above stereo-view card to his sister in Texas, writing on the back<blockquote>This is a crew of freighters we met in Leadville on the 21st of July 1880 in the morning on the day that Gen Grant arrived. You can see my photo by looking between the two wagons next to the man with the apron and his sleeves rolled up. JRS. <span><span style="font-size: medium;">[Soapy is between the two men, or in the rear, 3rd from the left] </span></span></blockquote> In other writing Soapy tells his sister Eva that the former president (1869-1877) is on horseback in the background. If you look closely you can see Grant on a very blurry horse.<br /> It is Leadville, Colorado, July 21, 1880, the day ex-president U. S. Grant arrived in the city. There is a parade in his honor and photographers Luke and Wheeler set up a stereo-view camera to take some photographic mementos of the day's celebration. The camera faces north on Harrison Avenue when Soapy and an unnamed bunko partner step into the street to have their picture taken.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> The exact location of where Soapy and the photographers were located has been a long-standing question. The older biographies (<i>The Reign of Soapy Smith</i> and <i>Soapy Smith" King of the Frontier Con Men</i>) mention Soapy operating his soap sell racket on the corners of Harrison Ave., and 3rd street, but did not list a source. This photograph was taken on Harrison about a block away from 3rd street, but that means little as far as provenance goes.<br /> Two Facebook friends and historians in my Soapy Smith's Old West group, Mr. Don Hendershot and Mr. Gary Demoney, took up the task of trying to pinpoint the location. Photographs, maps and knowledge were shared on Leadville's streets. Mr. Hendershot examined the photograph and determined that Soapy was likely standing at 2nd street and Harrison Avenue. Mr. Demoney sent me an 1882 bird's eye view of Leadville, and by comparing the buildings in the photo with those in the bird's eye view, I was able to pinpoint where Soapy was standing when the photographer took the picture. Soapy was on Harrison Avenue, between 2nd and Chestnut streets.<br /><br /> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTTjeFoJTq1B5vPqx3rYcatsgSopPNI_RZ269TYFYx-QBKT-PJPHU-BSvFsGellDEJHS844roTdi6ag0gIj0mXxhsktO3WYnETzqqgtg1kup9dK6HCeFWW-KxhOrjolHwuAQwwnzTuKPMRyoAJSqj9ZG8m-WzafI5pT3Yt6Jgi5ZWUBpkfTSW9FsRkKE/s1218/Leadville%20Birdseye%20view%201882%20whole%20map.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1218" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTTjeFoJTq1B5vPqx3rYcatsgSopPNI_RZ269TYFYx-QBKT-PJPHU-BSvFsGellDEJHS844roTdi6ag0gIj0mXxhsktO3WYnETzqqgtg1kup9dK6HCeFWW-KxhOrjolHwuAQwwnzTuKPMRyoAJSqj9ZG8m-WzafI5pT3Yt6Jgi5ZWUBpkfTSW9FsRkKE/w640-h436/Leadville%20Birdseye%20view%201882%20whole%20map.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bird's eye view Leadville, Co., 1882</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Full map<br />Denver Public Library Special Collections<br />Call Number CG4314.L51882.S8</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUZ2AqlfdTGJmpws_uLJ_26t52A4tQdEAM6vkXaYIa91wQOEzkf3dXLT4HPfvLRN7XER3citAxgqKL_pR0h8HA-4pCsvfqSp5Z_b7Ubnh2bnhdP3_9vrj1oHER2uz4xPjKkdsiMqedpsYlq8ApodHyUK4JW-5n4hazWpYrs_naWsXdnqKz84uVT-2vS4/s1786/Leadville%201882%20showing%20where%20Soapy%20stood.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1786" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUZ2AqlfdTGJmpws_uLJ_26t52A4tQdEAM6vkXaYIa91wQOEzkf3dXLT4HPfvLRN7XER3citAxgqKL_pR0h8HA-4pCsvfqSp5Z_b7Ubnh2bnhdP3_9vrj1oHER2uz4xPjKkdsiMqedpsYlq8ApodHyUK4JW-5n4hazWpYrs_naWsXdnqKz84uVT-2vS4/w640-h298/Leadville%201882%20showing%20where%20Soapy%20stood.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bird's eye view Leadville, Co., 1882</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Close-up<br />Denver Public Library Special Collections<br />Call Number CG4314.L51882.S8</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SDMbbu6TB_gj5awFMnCQhFDBHVL2xe4iJ5AblERKf9P9nBSViDpyrG4EywuFYU9HUiTirKn3XT8TePO8BZc2rkAEmTnQQUny7CI_HNfPn9KDAmi4StcohpxbVfwESfBIAsbuDUs_iMAwU4wi7--sionkHuxkhokmGJs0IwWwXQqfuwuA8G7iQFBosU8/s1430/1883%20Sanborn%20map%20Leadville.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1430" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SDMbbu6TB_gj5awFMnCQhFDBHVL2xe4iJ5AblERKf9P9nBSViDpyrG4EywuFYU9HUiTirKn3XT8TePO8BZc2rkAEmTnQQUny7CI_HNfPn9KDAmi4StcohpxbVfwESfBIAsbuDUs_iMAwU4wi7--sionkHuxkhokmGJs0IwWwXQqfuwuA8G7iQFBosU8/w640-h294/1883%20Sanborn%20map%20Leadville.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sanborn map 1883</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Harrison Ave., between 2nd and Chestnut streets<br />Where Soapy was standing for the photograph<br />Library of Congress</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkuhHYqP9oGC0f0uREiD-7L3A_JtwOB47lHc63Su0nh5rBYDxJ8F1VarPuZ6UfTSkKguHJzHlRD3blgC1LK5R-7SWqbuikDsFVxK1s4nO1J7zApsklABCnvQQr3m-FbycnZXlj02phBqsyfyfcGFMUpW2Js10w-nbmKXo4wj07nQjMtscBlJbl9AfnB0/s1891/Soapy%20in%20LeADVILLE%20TODAY.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1891" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkuhHYqP9oGC0f0uREiD-7L3A_JtwOB47lHc63Su0nh5rBYDxJ8F1VarPuZ6UfTSkKguHJzHlRD3blgC1LK5R-7SWqbuikDsFVxK1s4nO1J7zApsklABCnvQQr3m-FbycnZXlj02phBqsyfyfcGFMUpW2Js10w-nbmKXo4wj07nQjMtscBlJbl9AfnB0/w640-h290/Soapy%20in%20LeADVILLE%20TODAY.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leadville, Colorado today</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Approximate spot where Soapy stood<br />Google Maps</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><br /></div><div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx5DEyqzO756LvxFDfrcfKMt6nftELQMzXLC9w4E2rQ9piQ7D8d4-iJm00WnobaV65udJKMLOrB_WcoDGj0W3KJ1mxCh0exG70aLohdEyeO7QCFy-MXM4O233ZyvsMOWSfHEN6hGZVaBE5tR8tp7SHF-x9Y0yKFWP_wTXV--R-cHGzHUY6wcmoVGlCDM/s1450/Harrison%20Street%20from%20the%20corner%20of%20Chestnut%20Street%20in%20Leadville.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="1450" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx5DEyqzO756LvxFDfrcfKMt6nftELQMzXLC9w4E2rQ9piQ7D8d4-iJm00WnobaV65udJKMLOrB_WcoDGj0W3KJ1mxCh0exG70aLohdEyeO7QCFy-MXM4O233ZyvsMOWSfHEN6hGZVaBE5tR8tp7SHF-x9Y0yKFWP_wTXV--R-cHGzHUY6wcmoVGlCDM/w640-h430/Harrison%20Street%20from%20the%20corner%20of%20Chestnut%20Street%20in%20Leadville.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Harrison Avenue looking north</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">From the corner of Chestnut Street<br />Denver Public Library Special Collections<br />Call Number CHS.X4611</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The striped (red, white, blue bunting) telephone pole with at least ten pin cross arms, on the right side of the photograph above is the same striped pole seen to the right of the stereo-view photograph showing Soapy, at the top of this post. Examining and comparing the building fronts, roofs, facades and false fronts to the building fronts in the bird's eye view close-up shown above, clearly indicates that this photograph shows the approximate location of where Soapy had his picture taken.<br /> I want to thank Gary Demoney for locating this photograph and others.</span><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Leadville, Colorado</u><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2010/04/dave-wright-leadville-historian.html" target="_blank">Apr 30, 2010</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2011/04/soapy-smith-days-celebration-in.html" target="_blank">Apr 04, 2011</a></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2012/02/soapy-smith-days-leadville-colorado.html" target="_blank">Feb 14, 2012</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2013/06/soapy-smith-in-3d.html" target="_blank">Jun 03, 2013</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2017/04/william-j-billy-allen-soap-gang-member.html" target="_blank">Apr 23, 2017</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2020/04/letter-to-soapy-smith-from-john-morgan.html" target="_blank">Apr 13, 2020</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2021/07/comparing-soapy-smiths-leadville.html" target="_blank">Jul 21, 2021</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/04/soapy-smith-in-leadville-colorado.html" target="_blank">Apr 14, 2023</a><br /></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s320/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b>Leadville, Colorado</b>: pages </span><span>10, 36-37, 75, 77-78, 116, 123, 134-35, 144, 152, 176, 189, 192, 219, 225, 292, 297, 347, 349, 420, 509, 594. </span></span><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s1600/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s320/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Until lions have their historians,<br /> tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunters."</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">~African Proverb</span><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: right;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></blockquote></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YukZHBVcU3BFg6V6GS6qNgR-UAaboaWsMcBoFxAZCycLRG5RhDBJyPh9JudFe_lifsKcXHLIVyfBTnjTJ-FNXM97vG_756cczn48ENYDmcR4qPu4AnCG8_vPKVArB32JbKYbIye0GofyBmusIclZP1WztohmU41BKwpD75lodkarrQTz-h3Tpi6p4E4/s284/Blog_divider__190.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="284" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YukZHBVcU3BFg6V6GS6qNgR-UAaboaWsMcBoFxAZCycLRG5RhDBJyPh9JudFe_lifsKcXHLIVyfBTnjTJ-FNXM97vG_756cczn48ENYDmcR4qPu4AnCG8_vPKVArB32JbKYbIye0GofyBmusIclZP1WztohmU41BKwpD75lodkarrQTz-h3Tpi6p4E4/s1600/Blog_divider__190.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-21933998634608874002023-08-21T07:26:00.000-07:002023-08-21T07:26:07.482-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #8 - page 8<div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHuG8E24knNxdl3y8857Wvqp6lKLnLdD6erb47F8Rv5dNMlz2qil96ReJ7-PDwsRPopak2gT0DNl17I4l-uURDnxWWVx3Pm12j9OjGtOmXsxRjMtdINxlhoquDOEIHsGv96gx_fMNzqwlzjM5w86BLFWzq6w5_ajXpg_b550NzlroeDyKupwdqUSqY10/s1169/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%208_original%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHuG8E24knNxdl3y8857Wvqp6lKLnLdD6erb47F8Rv5dNMlz2qil96ReJ7-PDwsRPopak2gT0DNl17I4l-uURDnxWWVx3Pm12j9OjGtOmXsxRjMtdINxlhoquDOEIHsGv96gx_fMNzqwlzjM5w86BLFWzq6w5_ajXpg_b550NzlroeDyKupwdqUSqY10/w428-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%208_original%20copy.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 8 - original copy<br />1882</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPNtSG90LId1Vl3Q3TPGMU7SV5XWFdOjKwi3ub6KcpnmdVm7HqQNbabafDbp5_qovR6BuEQezJjrDqbvDY6s7_JJo_G8BLEAlJNCp09iisvKBi5OrRoyWwQQB5ZCiXaQBfwGZA2fmHqyi312-zspPoPtw4lEa1_Xdah_DRwYL68Y_0WtuXa3WNOPvUyY/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPNtSG90LId1Vl3Q3TPGMU7SV5XWFdOjKwi3ub6KcpnmdVm7HqQNbabafDbp5_qovR6BuEQezJjrDqbvDY6s7_JJo_G8BLEAlJNCp09iisvKBi5OrRoyWwQQB5ZCiXaQBfwGZA2fmHqyi312-zspPoPtw4lEa1_Xdah_DRwYL68Y_0WtuXa3WNOPvUyY/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK</span></span>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #8 - page 8</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /><br /> This is part #8 - page 8, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">page 1</a>. <br /> The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, and often times pretty
hard to decipher. A large part of this series of posts is to transcribe
the pages, one-at-a-time, and receive help from readers on identifying
words I am having trouble with, as well as correcting any of my
deciphered words. I will include the original copy of each page, an
enhanced copy of each page, a copy in negative, and a copy with typed
out text, as tools to aid in deciphering the notes. There are a total of
24 pages. This means that there may be upwards of 24 individuals posts
for this one notebook. Links to the past and future pages (pages 1, 2,
3, etc.) will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research.
When completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's
activities and whereabouts for 1882-1883.
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Important to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and topic several pages later.<br /></span></div></div></div><br />
<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNbD8SzqhMmzpheAVomMw00NRIKL2Vhh6akc1JnvC6eDrqu7UITBZIuJY4BkMaAqBMev8p24pbf_pPMkwxtxyhB_B-PF7pQys-rPm88Ao3DWbF9OyF4IQ6SxrZOh0Um9bI6Xn_KH1PFbEnSXvBA7U4jqzpFm48jJuP57GxPXZ-5TEMdvlzBNeLeV5KYw/s1169/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%208_enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNbD8SzqhMmzpheAVomMw00NRIKL2Vhh6akc1JnvC6eDrqu7UITBZIuJY4BkMaAqBMev8p24pbf_pPMkwxtxyhB_B-PF7pQys-rPm88Ao3DWbF9OyF4IQ6SxrZOh0Um9bI6Xn_KH1PFbEnSXvBA7U4jqzpFm48jJuP57GxPXZ-5TEMdvlzBNeLeV5KYw/w428-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%208_enhanced.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 8 - enhanced<br />1882</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK9cw3GFNsGNucFKm1VgpgmwrsY459foZw0G2dc1iglteuMwSLcH9Hev7NbvJchu2_zCUsUBoXJs0abHwqcwd1pC2m5hk_PujFMWIQWj651nTJaXBqUHHFPkkhERPcct0w9CVBCqpQR5MxIw7fsnPTfNW4dtcQPufkFpFwrruyO3VAMZsaqyaQ2fBFec/s1169/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%208_negative.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzK9cw3GFNsGNucFKm1VgpgmwrsY459foZw0G2dc1iglteuMwSLcH9Hev7NbvJchu2_zCUsUBoXJs0abHwqcwd1pC2m5hk_PujFMWIQWj651nTJaXBqUHHFPkkhERPcct0w9CVBCqpQR5MxIw7fsnPTfNW4dtcQPufkFpFwrruyO3VAMZsaqyaQ2fBFec/w428-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%208_negative.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 8 - enhanced<br />1882</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span>
<br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">
<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span> Here
is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text, dated 1882. Do you
agree, or do you see something else? There are two words I have not been
able to decipher positively. All comments, suggestions and ideas are
welcome! I will update the new information to this post.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eS0iS5eHHs8o0QW72sVAMb5GkrETpKQciQe_rC8K1Tuptxm_Qv7b_gJVMAPo_fGHP6mvrWuZygo9R6Czq8gZyBaTdySSeDgSy7n4YOvxWeBmGtrwX_2gqZlf56TsYVX_QvgzVtRrFfaDDKNaSyMs5QpMn7az4hbEa5ZxfM_K20Mh51OSBdPjdpYyIt0/s2802/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%208_deciphered.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2802" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eS0iS5eHHs8o0QW72sVAMb5GkrETpKQciQe_rC8K1Tuptxm_Qv7b_gJVMAPo_fGHP6mvrWuZygo9R6Czq8gZyBaTdySSeDgSy7n4YOvxWeBmGtrwX_2gqZlf56TsYVX_QvgzVtRrFfaDDKNaSyMs5QpMn7az4hbEa5ZxfM_K20Mh51OSBdPjdpYyIt0/w640-h268/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%208_deciphered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 8 - deciphered<br />1882</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Click image to enlarge</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u><br /><br />Page 8 (bottom).</u></b><u><br /></u></span></span></span></span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Sherman Show [circus]"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 2:</u> </b>"Oregon City [Oregon] 29th"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 3:</u></b> "__?__ 1882"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 4:</u></b> "population 1,800"<br /><br />Art Petersen, who has been aiding me in deciphering Soapy's handwriting, writes,<br /></span></span></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote> Lines 3 and 4;
are conundrums for me. The name appears to have 4, 5, or 6 letters.
Clearly appearing after the smudgy word are the #s 1882. The only letter
that seems for sure is the last, an "o." Among possible Oregon cities,
here are two nominations: Echo and Toledo. The next line, though, lists a
population of 1,800. Neither of these towns in 1882 could have had a
population that high. Of the two towns, my pick as possible is Echo. It
was on the Oregon Trail, and Wikipedia indicates travelers were still
known to be traversing "the trail" into the 1880s. So Echo was a known
site that had a transient population for decades. Toledo, on the other
hand, was a gold placer mining site; it was remote and went into decline
sooner than Echo. This site for me remains the best possibility. The
population listed, though, does seem high for 1882.</blockquote></span></div></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "Salem [Oregon] pop. 5,000"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 6:</u></b> "Albany [Oregon] 1,800 [pop.]</span><span>" </span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 7:</u></b> "Eugene City [Oregon] 1,117 [pop.]</span><span>"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "Lf"<br /><br />Art writes,<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote> Line 8;
"Lf." The L in these two letters seems certainly an L, as comparison
shows. No city in Oregon that begins with L has an f in it except
Lafayette. Did Soapy begin to write that name, find himself unsure of
the spelling, and left it, only to write it out a bit a later? No other
thoughts occur to me about the two letters.</blockquote></span></div></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 9:</u></b> "Hillsboro [Oregon] 600 [pop.]</span></span></span><span><span><span>"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 10:</u></b> "Lafayette [Oregon] 783 [pop.]"<br /></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "Dalles [Oregon] 6200 [pop.]"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 12:</u> </b>"Corvallis [Oregon] 1,188 [pop.]"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 13:</u> </b>"Jacksonville [Oregon] 960 [pop.]"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 14:</u></b> "</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Kalama [Washington Terr.] Aug 29, 1882</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 15:</u></b> "fare from Olympia [Washington Terr.]"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 16:</u></b> "to Portland [Oregon] 29 Aug"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 17:</u></b> "</span><span>1882 $6.80"<br /><br />Art writes,<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote> The last 4 lines;
may be related. The rather dark, clear letters appearing there seem to
be KalamaeA[t?]ng. After it appear the following numbers: 291882. The #
is not a sum total of the previous population numbers. Neither is it a
reasonable population # for any location in the Northwest at the time.
The possibility remaining is that the # contains 2 sets of #s—29 and
1882. That year is repeated 3 times on the page. If the last 4 digits
are the year, 1882, that leaves the number 29. Now back to the word.
Suggested is the Washington Territory town of Kalama. It's on the way
from Portland to Tacoma, WA, and a spur reaches to Olympia. In 1880,
after the Northern Pacific decided to put its headquarters, not in
Kalama but in Tacoma, the Kalama population plunged to 129. It's not out
of the realm of possibility that the town in 1882 had a population of
about 29. Another possibility is that 29 is a date. In fact, it is
repeated on the last two lines: 29 Aug / 1882. I have puzzled over the
letters after the apparent Kalama and have come up empty. How could they
fit with Kalama. Surrounding clues strongly suggest Kalama to me, but
the A[t?]ng leave me stumped.</blockquote></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">My response. <br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>I believe that line 14 reads "Kalama [Washington Terr.] Aug 29, 1882."</blockquote>Art writes,<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"> Line 15-16; Here's where the potential link to
Kalama comes in. Recorded is "fare from Olympia to Portland." Kalama is
on the way, 38 miles from Portland and 71.5 miles south of the Olympia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Line 17;
A fare of $6.80. The southern spur of the Northern Pacific in 1882 ran
from Portland, through Kalama and to Olympia with a short spur, and on
to Tacoma. See the 1883 <a href="https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3701p.rr005010/?r=0.786,0.276,0.199,0.132,0" target="_blank">NPRR map</a>. </span></div></blockquote></span></li></ul></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> </span><span><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Page 1</a>, <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_28.html" target="_blank">page 2</a>, <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">page 4</a>, <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-5.html" target="_blank">page 5</a> of this notebook shows Soapy's plans for traveling through Oregon and Washington Territory, making and changing plans before successfully venturing there, several times.
Here in 1882, on page 8 he makes makes notations of Oregon and Washington towns and their populations, perhaps not wishing to stop and waste time at smaller communities. Details include traveling by train from Oregon to Washington, and returning to Portland, Oregon from Olympia, Washington, for $6.80, the equivalent of $211.96 in 2023. </span></span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<br /></span><br /></div><div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>STAR NOTEBOOK</u><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2017/04/two-of-soapy-smiths-personal-notebooks_24.html" target="_blank">April 24, 2017</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #1<br /></a><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_28.html" target="_blank">Part #2</a></span></b><b><span><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_29.html" target="_blank">Part #3</a> </span></b><span><br /></span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #4</a> </span></b><b><span><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-5.html" target="_blank">Part #5</a> </span></b><span> <br /></span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-6.html" target="_blank">Part #6</a> </span></b><span><br /></span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-7.html" target="_blank">Part #7</a> </span></b><b><span><br />Part #9 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #10 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #11 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #12 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #13 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #14 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #15 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #16 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span></span></b></span></span> <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s320/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Oregon</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">: pages 38-39, 42-43, 119, 166, 339, 440, 475, 499, 506, 530-31, 577.<br /><b>Washington state</b>: pages 443-44, 489, 498, 512, 518, 554, 579.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—Keith C. Cobb<br />Exceptions to the Rules, 2001</span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-14760257981080943372023-08-15T09:10:00.011-07:002023-08-23T07:00:05.426-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #7 - page 7<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDYIvUXG4fyJA-UvhGborlgJbc4OTEK7Ghnqd8Z5zj8qAwV-7Ri09GsgvRKyr9m2Ltow3p6cZjMNNisT2FQbEgSpTpT7Ee_A6eWZTSbslYuKjCFydY2Wb4kgiD3Aq_zxyoGY1CzPefi0hcG3kxbwZO0_tLj56C2oc240fwTvKUFjOXT5VY3jAsYFxW6M/s2133/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_original%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="838" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDYIvUXG4fyJA-UvhGborlgJbc4OTEK7Ghnqd8Z5zj8qAwV-7Ri09GsgvRKyr9m2Ltow3p6cZjMNNisT2FQbEgSpTpT7Ee_A6eWZTSbslYuKjCFydY2Wb4kgiD3Aq_zxyoGY1CzPefi0hcG3kxbwZO0_tLj56C2oc240fwTvKUFjOXT5VY3jAsYFxW6M/w252-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_original%20copy.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 7 - original copy<br />1883</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span><b><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">THIS POST UPDATED<br />August 21, 2023</span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div><br /><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0ct-EFMXbj-Q_LAaXhxlMxCUhUhalYZ-oXeaNeXCaJJXbbvVNmizOwrlytPssg28iPZvAmWHvFYNl_8G37_lEBAstD_JcHUxf66KVGTqL4D4_ItlgUnEkhOxePseV833NAGCA7LkqAixIZMUAveUbWGyBrcXU1djoDBJEh1pP-KozZB7u3kbX2IIYGI/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0ct-EFMXbj-Q_LAaXhxlMxCUhUhalYZ-oXeaNeXCaJJXbbvVNmizOwrlytPssg28iPZvAmWHvFYNl_8G37_lEBAstD_JcHUxf66KVGTqL4D4_ItlgUnEkhOxePseV833NAGCA7LkqAixIZMUAveUbWGyBrcXU1djoDBJEh1pP-KozZB7u3kbX2IIYGI/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK</span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #7 - page7</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">This is part #7 - page 7, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">page 1</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, and often times pretty hard to decipher. A large part of this series of posts is to transcribe the pages, one-at-a-time, and receive help from readers on identifying words I am having trouble with, as well as correcting any of my deciphered words. I will include the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy of each page, a copy in negative, and a copy with typed out text, as tools to aid in deciphering the notes. There are a total of 24 pages. This means that there may be upwards of 24 individuals posts for this one notebook. Links to the past and future pages (pages 1, 2, 3, etc.) will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for 1882-1883.
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Important
to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in
chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and
topic several pages later.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXW6c29af_7yG7ZPc0y37HOFCxE3md6sznsyh5HIst0PEvsaQyPtRxEVSj638WhJwVfh7aj4-_mOEdUtfLyVVqFuRIJl8cVb-0R3hfUR6vYtPBeLyNcGSIqqbg2rRnp2EMbz761ZBUCo4qoZphondNLFAbdVAQ3S4zQunktUTcrrJoc_zmy9gBAMK6DQ/s2133/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="838" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXW6c29af_7yG7ZPc0y37HOFCxE3md6sznsyh5HIst0PEvsaQyPtRxEVSj638WhJwVfh7aj4-_mOEdUtfLyVVqFuRIJl8cVb-0R3hfUR6vYtPBeLyNcGSIqqbg2rRnp2EMbz761ZBUCo4qoZphondNLFAbdVAQ3S4zQunktUTcrrJoc_zmy9gBAMK6DQ/w252-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_enhanced.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 7 - enhanced<br />1883</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Geri Murphy<br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoxiLT6QNENd2PQFJ2mDIpKwvIrG1n6wETiuQC2SV-0_C_mSPFaOogbDXaVbYjt1dJFPM0lglpGhLKRSHlfID9WXDJdTiYgohcprPYe7VLAlgFl39bVRoeaUqJBWMhjxJkkC75Xrj2_zVPiv9PICzqrOMou1HzT9DntNxplMi2V7sv5tjq7kxh03Xn6w/s2133/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_negative.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="838" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoxiLT6QNENd2PQFJ2mDIpKwvIrG1n6wETiuQC2SV-0_C_mSPFaOogbDXaVbYjt1dJFPM0lglpGhLKRSHlfID9WXDJdTiYgohcprPYe7VLAlgFl39bVRoeaUqJBWMhjxJkkC75Xrj2_zVPiv9PICzqrOMou1HzT9DntNxplMi2V7sv5tjq7kxh03Xn6w/w252-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_negative.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 7 - negative</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">1883</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span><br /></div>
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><span><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Here
is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you
agree, or do you see something else? There are two words I have not been
able to decipher positively. All comments, suggestions and ideas are
welcome! I will update the new information to this post.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMSOtjLjmchwcOgAWaHt_kSm5X4C02Ct1H3fygeqnO-a9R6gkKXxSaHSCNoJvIuU-PKyBV1zFUyITBhLHbbZ_fuyZmO40b0B5w1uXf_OVsxlbO3_FUFB6UHfMBweWbN2nkLybkFjgGeDI8B2UY8ismHXjphvKjEz3KjKIcUZnbLf4cdDY3PQH6c2j9ZI/s2240/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_deciphered.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="2240" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMSOtjLjmchwcOgAWaHt_kSm5X4C02Ct1H3fygeqnO-a9R6gkKXxSaHSCNoJvIuU-PKyBV1zFUyITBhLHbbZ_fuyZmO40b0B5w1uXf_OVsxlbO3_FUFB6UHfMBweWbN2nkLybkFjgGeDI8B2UY8ismHXjphvKjEz3KjKIcUZnbLf4cdDY3PQH6c2j9ZI/w640-h614/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_deciphered.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Page 7 (bottom).</u></b><u><br /></u></span></span></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"For license"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 2:</u> </b>"Tombstone City 12.50"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 3:</u></b> "County [Cochise] 6.50"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 4:</u></b> "Board one week 15.00"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "[total] 34.00"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 6:</u></b> "</span><span>E B. [East Bound?] Dr [drive] to __<u>?</u>___" </span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 7:</u></b> "To 7.00</span><span>"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "to 40 percent of"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 9:</u></b> "15.<u>00</u> 6.00</span></span></span><span><span><span>"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 10:</u></b> "A watch 4.00"<br /></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "[total] 17.00"</span></span></span></span></li></ul></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> </span><span><span>Soapy
makes notations of his expenditures to and from Tombstone, Arizona, 1883. He note his purchases of a city license, a county (Cochise) license, and one weeks stay at an unknown hotel (December 17-22, 1883).<br /></span></span></span><span><span><span> <b>Line #6:</b> is where deciphering runs into a snag. On the previous page of the notebook (page 6) Art Petersen notes that "</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Soapy
bought a ticket from San Francisco, CA, to El Paso, TX, for $60. He was riding the
Southern Pacific, which in 1880 had reached Benson
on its route east." Today, when </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>traveling to Tombstone from Benson you take the AZ-80 East. Could "E B. dr to (can't read town name)" mean "east-bound drive to (can't read town name)?" Art believes it might be "Exit Benson drive to (can't read town name)." <br /> <b>Line #7:</b> appears to be cost "to" a destination for $7.00. <br /> <b>Line #8 and #9:</b> 40 percent of $15.00 is $6.00. Was this some sort of payoff? <br /> For lines #7-#9, Art Petersen believes "</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">To
reach Tombstone, Soapy had to take one of the several stages running
from B. In leaving Tombstone, he calculated the cost of the drive back
to Benson. It was $7, but in calculating that, he remembered that he had
not yet accounted for the cost of the drive from Benson to Tombstone.
There were several coaches in competition with one another at the time
and always cutting their fares. The standard was was often cut
to $4, $5, or $6, or $7. Soapy didn't remember what price he paid to
Tombstone but he remembered the discount--40%, so he calculated that
from the standard fare to find the $6 he paid. So he returned to Benson
at some point presumably to continue his journey to El Paso, TX. He
still had the rest of his ticket for travel.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span> <br /> <b>Line #10:</b> He purchased a watch for $4.00.<br /> <b>Line #11:</b> Total expenses are $17.00 <br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lcMws6oyDcJczVzY0iD9E2-VQ1OTHKVHiWV6cNAops8TBnA8R3UyZl2ijIau6BFFpdHmszXWYMNG9YxW2hepeblj7_eSBTgpd75DzC6SHbvvRV-skX-ExIFa6k8uNCEH0V5exMHnMy6y3qB8pdbs42umN6uP5PrImzjkJtu_TYKd3f1vON5S2LrIXU8/s279/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_WHAT%20TOWN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="279" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lcMws6oyDcJczVzY0iD9E2-VQ1OTHKVHiWV6cNAops8TBnA8R3UyZl2ijIau6BFFpdHmszXWYMNG9YxW2hepeblj7_eSBTgpd75DzC6SHbvvRV-skX-ExIFa6k8uNCEH0V5exMHnMy6y3qB8pdbs42umN6uP5PrImzjkJtu_TYKd3f1vON5S2LrIXU8/w640-h335/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%207_WHAT%20TOWN.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Close-up</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">undecipherable word<br />Page 7</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><br /> Line 6 contains an undecipherable word that plagued me, so I posted close-up enlargement of it on some of the Tombstone history groups on Facebook, hoping someone might recognize the word as a place or name.<br /> Previously, I thought it was the name of a place, but from every individual who responded, I received the following suggestions.</span></span></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"JR"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"JRs"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"JR's"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"JP"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"JPs"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"JP's"</span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"IR" </span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"IRs" </span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>"IR's" <br /></span></span></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>It's a bit of a long
shot, but could Soapy have sent his father ("JRS") $7? It is known that Soapy loved his father, but did not have a whole lot of respect for him. Perhaps he might have written "JRS" rather than "father?" It is known that his father wrote letters asking for money. <br /></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span>Art Peterson writes,<blockquote> I'm sorry to report that I remain puzzled. You provide some helpful comparison letters. Those took time to gather, showing you're as uncomfortable with the burden of the puzzle as I--probably more as you are the master puzzler of the notebook! Well, of all the comparison letters, I side with those who see JP. Soapy seems to drop the right leg off his Rs in a strong, vertical fashion whereas with a P, the line tends toward the horizontal. Today, the letter before the second suggest "Cl," but I have no idea what to do with those. Of the comparison letters, J seems closest to me--a hastily formed J.<br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span> So
what might JP stand for? In line with your payoff thought, JP could
stand for Justice Peace. Or it could stand for some person, his
initials. I looked again at all the towns around Tombstone; none
suggests the letters in question.<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span> I
also read the stagecoach history again to see if one of the names of
the several owners of stage lines might be related. No. The article, <a href="https://scihistory.info/stagecoach-lines.html" target="_blank">Stage Coach Lines</a> gives an interesting transportation picture of the region.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span><br /> Young
Soapy at that time wanted to keep track of his costs. He lists the
ticket from SF. He records a benchmark, being in LA. He records his
basic costs in Tombstone City. It makes sense to me that he would record
the cost of travel from Benson to Tombstone, and the $7 one way is in
line with the fare about that time. His wanting to keep track of his
costs keeps dragging me back to interpreting the $7 & $6 as the cost
of transport over the 24 miles between Benson & Tombstone. If those
costs or one of them is not for transport, why would he leave the cost
out? There could be an explanation, of course--that he let the driver
make a "sure thing" bet with him for the ride and the driver lost,
making the $6 for something else, maybe for what you say, a payoff.
Could be you're going to have to leave this line in an unknown state,
the worst kind for a puzzler.<br /> Seems to me you've made a worthy effort on this line. Maybe time to move
on. When it comes time to put together a transcription of the whole
(which would make a very interesting read since it seems to be pretty
much chronological and makes a narrative), there'll be opportunity to
look back with fresh eyes.</span></span></span></span></blockquote><p>I have to agree with Art. I could guess, but with so many choices I don't see it fair to history to "decide." I leave it for a future time.<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></p></span></span></span><br /></span></div><br /></div><br />
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
THANK YOU ART PETERSEN FOR YOUR SKILLS IN <br />DECIPHERING AND RATIONALE <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><span><span><br /><br /> </span></span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">
<br />
<br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>TOMBSTONE</u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/03/wyatt-earp.html" target="_blank">Mar 23, 2009</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/09/letter-to-soapy-smith-from-tombstone-az.html" target="_blank">Sep 25, 2009</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/11/was-soapy-smith-in-tombstone-for.html" target="_blank">Nov 13, 2009</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2010/08/morgan-earp-and-bunco-man-doc-baggs.html" target="_blank">Aug 19, 2010</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2010/12/soapy-smith-and-wyatt-earp-in-tombstone.html" target="_blank">Dec 26, 2010</a><br /></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-cosmopolitan-hotel-and-soapy-smiths.html" target="_blank">Sep 04, 2020</a></span></b><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2021/02/soapy-runs-soap-racket-in-tombstone.html" target="_blank">Feb 25, 2021</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2021/03/soapy-smith-at-palace-hotel-in-tucson.html" target="_blank">Mar 04, 2021</a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>STAR NOTEBOOK</u><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2017/04/two-of-soapy-smiths-personal-notebooks_24.html" target="_blank">April 24, 2017</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #1<br /></a><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_28.html" target="_blank">Part #2</a></span></b><b><span><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_29.html" target="_blank">Part #3</a> </span></b><span><br /></span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #4</a> </span></b><b><span><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-5.html" target="_blank">Part #5</a> </span></b><span> <br /></span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-6.html" target="_blank">Part #6</a> </span></b><span><br /></span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-8.html" target="_blank">Part #8</a> </span></b><b><span><br />Part #9 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #10 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #11 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #12 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #13 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #14 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #15 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #16 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span></span></b></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Never give a sucker an even break or smarten up a chump."
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: medium;">—Edward Francis Albee (1857-1930)</span></blockquote>
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<br />Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-47295704743611214902023-08-11T12:35:00.008-07:002023-08-23T06:59:27.896-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #6 - page 6<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcMaid11__LdexqneYdTCIiIsdKvyfQ02_94zUKIBO-PMjiqldAM1oVzO6RevVUNQu9uh491ztjDmaiKaaooxOMsTdik0r5ES-ML3tinoRoahU5b1J_3Txk_G2E5yWAxuFnGPxIJSjJhVhOTtl0GJko_gYinjj6LjvRPsx7KPZQUZngroIaETyiBbdYA/s2145/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%206_original%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="809" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcMaid11__LdexqneYdTCIiIsdKvyfQ02_94zUKIBO-PMjiqldAM1oVzO6RevVUNQu9uh491ztjDmaiKaaooxOMsTdik0r5ES-ML3tinoRoahU5b1J_3Txk_G2E5yWAxuFnGPxIJSjJhVhOTtl0GJko_gYinjj6LjvRPsx7KPZQUZngroIaETyiBbdYA/w242-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%206_original%20copy.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 6 - original<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">1883<br />
Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: red;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span><b><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">THIS POST UPDATED<br />August 21, 2023</span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n_53a8TRFCGbdtssYaYEkxAVGVLlOEKarX1ayG0ntzfWD0aSzES_yux7H1_7WNuIwG8ztY4uvK9XF9weXLPU0YQ_4c_3nrq_wImzoqaiP9g09w4ZV6cL_nI6ojZsTur1xlihosYiXJWxHW6Ud9JJKPZD_aWwZtM4CozX9n7SFmxmrajuO4Z53lkOap0/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n_53a8TRFCGbdtssYaYEkxAVGVLlOEKarX1ayG0ntzfWD0aSzES_yux7H1_7WNuIwG8ztY4uvK9XF9weXLPU0YQ_4c_3nrq_wImzoqaiP9g09w4ZV6cL_nI6ojZsTur1xlihosYiXJWxHW6Ud9JJKPZD_aWwZtM4CozX9n7SFmxmrajuO4Z53lkOap0/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK</span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Part #6 - page 6</span></div></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> This is part #6 - page 6, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">page 1</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>
The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, and often times pretty hard
to decipher. A large part of this series of posts is to transcribe the
pages, one-at-a-time, and receive help from readers on identifying words
I am having trouble with, as well as correcting any of my deciphered
words. I will include the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy
of each page, a copy in negative, and a copy with typed out text, as
tools to aid in deciphering the notes. There are a total of 24 pages.
This means that there may be upwards of 24 individuals posts for this
one notebook. Links to the past and future pages (pages 1, 2, 3, etc.)
will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research. When
completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's activities
and whereabouts for 1882-1883.<br /> This page has been successfully deciphered, and positively dated 1883. <br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Important
to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in
chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and
topic several pages later.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPVJrQoaLRk24mO-vny5qjVoflOUz24EVOeHd6Gcazni3AvOH5W7A0I-XNJVJ99GLQVknl1dsvEExbiJT8cftHkT6FYK5J7jYtHZ5LJI7AHULQUaF6aWITI-2mSxgkzyFBz7cuwW1yfp0AALKgqTBr7IPl6Y8NB0OBYAoNhS7f8cBIx-tt9Ggjzin_d8/s2145/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%206_enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="809" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPVJrQoaLRk24mO-vny5qjVoflOUz24EVOeHd6Gcazni3AvOH5W7A0I-XNJVJ99GLQVknl1dsvEExbiJT8cftHkT6FYK5J7jYtHZ5LJI7AHULQUaF6aWITI-2mSxgkzyFBz7cuwW1yfp0AALKgqTBr7IPl6Y8NB0OBYAoNhS7f8cBIx-tt9Ggjzin_d8/w242-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%206_enhanced.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 6 - enhanced<br />1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br />Click image to enlarge<br /><br /></span></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmwcpmR-ZDTGaU-7rK-0ASlgRLSSO14l4IE_E43CXdmRAzDYzdTp9FDHOJgQXIkP5MTQiznd6yLVk5VVIZxgK50Vm6_ijBXyeSyvqD9n2PFdAe0i3JJUbe1GkA1pDDXaOCfGBnKYKahax_lCII7ZdkZiHO6mFic81WklMXBWQAfhu2cVtBeG46j3eEpw/s2145/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%206_Negative.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="809" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmwcpmR-ZDTGaU-7rK-0ASlgRLSSO14l4IE_E43CXdmRAzDYzdTp9FDHOJgQXIkP5MTQiznd6yLVk5VVIZxgK50Vm6_ijBXyeSyvqD9n2PFdAe0i3JJUbe1GkA1pDDXaOCfGBnKYKahax_lCII7ZdkZiHO6mFic81WklMXBWQAfhu2cVtBeG46j3eEpw/w242-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%206_Negative.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 6 - negative<br />1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Click image to enlarge</span><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><br /> Here
is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you
agree, or do you see something else? There are two words I have not been
able to decipher positively. All comments, suggestions and ideas are
welcome! I will update the new information to this post.<br /></span></span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV0NqCqg-vfN2Kl-GOX1U3Xce9Jb5Z0QLaW1ZKHXB3ZuxD9CacPGzUesg38x9o5vhQAVlUtpJn0ImpAV23d7Df9XevepfkCGiJ7hEp9oZv5WCMr5e8Z7VQJb5SLAZSQR5YN4aPTiTpg5Q9RrlIBOQOigtwl9gprgeJ-dJoq99dyBE4DfDwvwk0mHJjJU/s2532/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%206_deciphered.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2154" data-original-width="2532" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV0NqCqg-vfN2Kl-GOX1U3Xce9Jb5Z0QLaW1ZKHXB3ZuxD9CacPGzUesg38x9o5vhQAVlUtpJn0ImpAV23d7Df9XevepfkCGiJ7hEp9oZv5WCMr5e8Z7VQJb5SLAZSQR5YN4aPTiTpg5Q9RrlIBOQOigtwl9gprgeJ-dJoq99dyBE4DfDwvwk0mHJjJU/w640-h544/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%206_deciphered.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><br />Rear of page 5 (top).</span></u></b></span></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Left San Francisco" [California]<b><br /></b></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 2:</u></b> "Dec 8th paid for 1883"</span><span><br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 3:</u> </b>"fare t<u>o</u> El Paso Tex 60.<u>00</u>"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 4:</u> </b>"Left Los Angeles Dec 14<u>th</u>"</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Interpretation:</u> </b>An accounting of his travels in California and Texas in December 1883.<br /><br /></span></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u></u></b></span><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Page 6 (bottom).</u></b><u><br /></u></span></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Sales in Tombstone" [Arizona]</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 2:</u> </b>"A.T. [Arizona Territory] 1883"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 3:</u></b> "Dec 17th Mon. [Monday] .....$65.<u>00</u>"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 4:</u></b> "Dec 18th T [Tuesday] ...........$58.<u>00</u>"<br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "Dec 19th W [Wednesday] .....$53.<u>00</u>"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 6:</u></b> "</span><span>Dec 20th T [Thursday] ..........$57.<u>00</u>"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 7:</u></b> "</span><span>Dec 21st F [Friday] ...............$23.<u>00</u>"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "Dec 22nd Sat [Saturday] .......$58.<u>50</u>"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 9:</u></b> "...........................</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>[total]</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>..........$314.50"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 10:</u></b> "Sent b[?] Dixon"<br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "$20.<u>00</u> Dec 22nd 1883"<br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 12:</u></b> "Po [Post office] order Tombstone"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 13:</u></b> "Sales in Tucson" [Arizona]<br /></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 14:</u></b> "Monday Dec 24 1883"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span><b><u>Line 15:</u></b> "1 sale ...................................$90.<u>00</u>"<br /></span></span></span></li></ul></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> </span><span><span>Soapy worked the prize package soap sell racket in Tombstone, Arizona, between December 17-22, 1883 raking in $314.50 for six days work, which is equivalent to $10,148.26 in 2023. That a nice sum, especially considering that each day of work likely amounted to just several hours, and the fact that the pay of the average soldier in 1883 was $13 a-month! Also interesting is that Soapy was only 23 years old at this time. Making this kind of money, one might understand why Soapy chose to remain in the bunco field. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span> Line #10-#12 Soapy sends "b Dixon" $20.00. Was this a loan to someone named Dixon? Was Soapy paying Dixon based on a loan from Dixon? Could "Dixon" be a town, such as Dixon, California, or Wyoming?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span> Soapy operates in Tucson, Arizona on December 24, 1883 (Christmas eve) for a profit of $90.00. </span></span></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>SAN FRANCISCO<br /><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/10/soapy-smith-in-san-francisco-1884.html" target="_blank">Oct 06, 2009<br /></a><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/12/soapy-smith-in-san-francisco-1883-84.html" target="_blank">Dec 26, 2009 </a>(pt. 1)<br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/12/soapy-smith-in-san-francisco-1884-part.html" target="_blank">Dec 26, 2009</a> (pt. 2)<br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2012/01/soapy-smith-in-san-francisco-1883-84.html" target="_blank">Jan 03, 2012<br /></a><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2021/02/soapy-smith-in-san-francisco-1882.html" target="_blank">Feb 22, 2021</a></u><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2021/02/soapy-smith-in-san-francisco-again.html" target="_blank">Feb 23, 2021</a><br /><u><br />TOMBSTONE<br /></u><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/03/wyatt-earp.html" target="_blank">Mar 23, 2009</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/09/letter-to-soapy-smith-from-tombstone-az.html" target="_blank">Sep 25, 2009</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/11/was-soapy-smith-in-tombstone-for.html" target="_blank">Nov 13, 2009</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2010/08/morgan-earp-and-bunco-man-doc-baggs.html" target="_blank">Aug 19, 2010</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2010/12/soapy-smith-and-wyatt-earp-in-tombstone.html" target="_blank">Dec 26, 2010</a><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-cosmopolitan-hotel-and-soapy-smiths.html" target="_blank">Sep 04, 2020</a></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2021/02/soapy-runs-soap-racket-in-tombstone.html" target="_blank">Feb 25, 2021</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2021/03/soapy-smith-at-palace-hotel-in-tucson.html" target="_blank">Mar 04, 2021</a><br /><br /><u>STAR NOTEBOOK<br /></u><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2017/04/two-of-soapy-smiths-personal-notebooks_24.html" target="_blank">April 24, 2017</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #1<br /></a><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_28.html" target="_blank">Part #2</a></span></b><b><span><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_29.html" target="_blank">Part #3</a> </span></b><span><br /></span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #4</a> </span></b><b><span><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-5.html" target="_blank">Part #5</a> </span></b><span> <br /></span><b><span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-7.html" target="_blank">Part #7</a> </span></b><span><br /></span><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-8.html" target="_blank"><b><span>Part #8 </span></b></a><b><span><br />Part #9 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #10 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #11 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #12 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #13 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #14 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span><b><span><br />Part #15 </span></b><span>(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span>Part #16 </span></b><span>(not published yet)</span></span></b><br /></span>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-55225769608667390912023-08-09T10:42:00.006-07:002023-08-23T06:58:39.861-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #5 - page 5<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYUpXPVGD41ErOye7ipV-N_DLXB_prqMByIlVFLL5WVeBBH1y55cEXyagfGKPaKAeWv6UVv3iXChp2FXdEvPU2ROBODLvUHzupXHW83KXWiz4nh07uLMa1lL1bbc9otaZI6eyEcX3YV-76gtGLggwMVNVMWOxxCyjrtXuHWg9ut5-PUQBUzF6EA3OnF0/s2194/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%205_original%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="1010" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYUpXPVGD41ErOye7ipV-N_DLXB_prqMByIlVFLL5WVeBBH1y55cEXyagfGKPaKAeWv6UVv3iXChp2FXdEvPU2ROBODLvUHzupXHW83KXWiz4nh07uLMa1lL1bbc9otaZI6eyEcX3YV-76gtGLggwMVNVMWOxxCyjrtXuHWg9ut5-PUQBUzF6EA3OnF0/w294-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%205_original%20copy.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 5 - original<br />1882<br />
Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVwj2XdG15wUQ1m7kkcIdc2sHA10faMv4WzwUGdT1OpUZkKzkfiUElWGtuamsCzC3SYL-VNlS5s-TNzDrGQXOS7vp0PdnZSOr4tkwIngsEIBi5POm5-eD56BVPKqFKtoKBSUJTZBTruPeodF-j-2GZUenquiTHJP0UDw_nMx3mz9p6wt1prdEjAPUkps/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVwj2XdG15wUQ1m7kkcIdc2sHA10faMv4WzwUGdT1OpUZkKzkfiUElWGtuamsCzC3SYL-VNlS5s-TNzDrGQXOS7vp0PdnZSOr4tkwIngsEIBi5POm5-eD56BVPKqFKtoKBSUJTZBTruPeodF-j-2GZUenquiTHJP0UDw_nMx3mz9p6wt1prdEjAPUkps/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Part #5 - page 5</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /> This is part #5 - page 5, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">page 1</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, and often times pretty hard to decipher. A large part of this series of posts is to transcribe the pages, one-at-a-time, and receive help from readers on identifying words I am having trouble with, as well as correcting any of my deciphered words. I will include the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy of each page, a copy in negative, and a copy with typed out text, as tools to aid in deciphering the notes. There are a total of 24 pages. This means that there may be upwards of 24 individuals posts for this one notebook. Links to the past and future pages (pages 1, 2, 3, etc.) will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for 1882-1883.<br /> This page has been successfully deciphered, and positively dated 1882.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Important
to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in
chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and
topic several pages later.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPSGXqOsU_hRAQkxugDeRrt8jFmY06bE50UaCIsIBXqtXD848pm_nFr8KOvh6vOyNupYE8qqvvDMWZmv0if2PIZ-5U_fnoux_8w2ffL7hHuaIoH8zgIjYNDb7zTG-T1GdF5Oz4PZgDNMjhq6BzLhQsS2MX3UZPiG6WJkcuwPpEqpJFL2WhZ9o4JtP524/s2194/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%205_enhanced%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="1010" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPSGXqOsU_hRAQkxugDeRrt8jFmY06bE50UaCIsIBXqtXD848pm_nFr8KOvh6vOyNupYE8qqvvDMWZmv0if2PIZ-5U_fnoux_8w2ffL7hHuaIoH8zgIjYNDb7zTG-T1GdF5Oz4PZgDNMjhq6BzLhQsS2MX3UZPiG6WJkcuwPpEqpJFL2WhZ9o4JtP524/w294-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%205_enhanced%20copy.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">page 5 - enhanced<br />1882<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />
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<br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtQgjkn-ZrhUqJb3qQm4F80ds3D3xtbKGGmn9U4pbQalivhYFIESMTqRsR7Ntc-OV0IzOFSQ8-lYZDWGbTUbyq9qaiHztmmZ-1--ac92o8ch7xIy2Qbqk6YdcQzrPgDqyaaeBCOpPT8Fo9kDb6LtcHZ_kizWwwe-sQMpP1-tyKLmLzqC8VZ-0T0Nfuls/s2194/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%205_negative%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="1010" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtQgjkn-ZrhUqJb3qQm4F80ds3D3xtbKGGmn9U4pbQalivhYFIESMTqRsR7Ntc-OV0IzOFSQ8-lYZDWGbTUbyq9qaiHztmmZ-1--ac92o8ch7xIy2Qbqk6YdcQzrPgDqyaaeBCOpPT8Fo9kDb6LtcHZ_kizWwwe-sQMpP1-tyKLmLzqC8VZ-0T0Nfuls/w294-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%205_negative%20copy.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">page 5 - negative<br />1882<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Here
is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you
agree, or do you see something else? There are two words I have not been able to decipher positively. All comments, suggestions and ideas are
welcome! I will update the new information to this post.</span></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5YCOCugCmLj6DMt3bVublqU7NYAFgwU7S8LALWvfLKr3qCTYCGbSPGnihs84TGj-KaEgudhsU0bqmuGLA5QRg3_VLY-dllAAdCMNeS1cM0kn0iRvRDkVmXHXco6taSYoS5y70NfzojxzOMntGUJ0W10FDuntvDcLGlsT2G5fB-codewPb9Rk3wge57w/s2644/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%205_deciphered%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2144" data-original-width="2644" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5YCOCugCmLj6DMt3bVublqU7NYAFgwU7S8LALWvfLKr3qCTYCGbSPGnihs84TGj-KaEgudhsU0bqmuGLA5QRg3_VLY-dllAAdCMNeS1cM0kn0iRvRDkVmXHXco6taSYoS5y70NfzojxzOMntGUJ0W10FDuntvDcLGlsT2G5fB-codewPb9Rk3wge57w/w640-h518/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook_page%205_deciphered%20copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br /><span><span><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Rear of page 4 (top).</span></u></b></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Salem Fair" [Oregon]<b><br /></b></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 2:</u></b> "Mo. [Monday] Sept 18th 00.00"</span><span><br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 3:</u> </b>"T. [Tuesday] Sept 19th sales $109.<u>00</u>"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 4:</u> </b>"W. [Wednesday] 20th sales 150.<u>00</u>"<b><br /></b></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "T. [Thursday] 21st 107.<u>00</u>"</span><span><br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 6:</u> </b>"F. [Friday] 22 111.<u>00</u>"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 7:</u> </b>"T. [Tuesday] Sep 19 in Salem 65.<u>00</u>"<b><br /></b></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "Total $542.00"</span><span><br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 9:</u> </b>"4 days work"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 10:</u> </b>"Dayton, W. T. [Washington Territory]"<b><br /></b></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "Sep 27th 90.00" </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>[Sept] </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 12:</u> </b>"28 55.00" </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>[Sept] </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 13:</u> </b>"29 25.00"</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> [Sept] </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 14:</u></b> "30 85.00"</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> [Sept] </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 15:</u> </b>"255.00" [total]<br /></span></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> <span>In examining the calendar Between 1876-1893, it can be seen that the dates listed, for instance, Monday, September 18th, only occurs in 1882. <br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Soapy Smith worked the </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Oregon State Fair of 1882 in north </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Salem, the state capital, between September 18-22, 1882. He jots down five days of monetary amounts for each day, totaling $542.00 (the equivalent of $16,894.58 in 2023). The fair ran September 19th through September 22nd.<br /> Note on line 7, he adds another Tuesday profit of $65.00 "in Salem." Line 3, the first Tuesday notation was for money made at the fair, while the second amount was made "in Salem itself. <br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> It is known that Soapy was operating his prize package soap sell racket in early August in other parts of Oregon. On August 2, 1882 he purchased a vendor's license in Portland. On September 16, Soapy purchased a vendor's license granting him permission to "hawk his prize soap" on the city streets of Salem for the period of one week from September 16, 1882 to September 23 for the fee of $15.25. The license is filled out by City Recorder, Charles W. Bowie.<br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVSTL0D7qZqeMu2PdiyBPrUoX0LEhnrVRECagsC7g3wX9IKfKJhFbbhqmkXeeLjYLhgR03haPv3PgtUWAPjQmJacS17rmIdpGCoux-1y-_TrUwu8r9TNpee2MmgIFF7LB3BupHypblbUARJ2BkglsyjV85BLdWg0EOsijCtJAOzpSE07HqeVGrKLN9oE/s827/Salem_license_1882.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="827" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVSTL0D7qZqeMu2PdiyBPrUoX0LEhnrVRECagsC7g3wX9IKfKJhFbbhqmkXeeLjYLhgR03haPv3PgtUWAPjQmJacS17rmIdpGCoux-1y-_TrUwu8r9TNpee2MmgIFF7LB3BupHypblbUARJ2BkglsyjV85BLdWg0EOsijCtJAOzpSE07HqeVGrKLN9oE/w640-h348/Salem_license_1882.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> Next, Soapy goes to Dayton, </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Washington Territory and works four days [I believe] at the Columbia County Fair. In 1859 the dates for the fair were set for September 28-30, so it makes sense that those dates were the same when Soapy operated on September 27-30, 1882. He made a total of $255.00 </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>(the equivalent of $7,948.56 in 2023).</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Page 5 (bottom).</u></b><u><br /></u></span></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Santa Cruz" [California]</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 2:</u> </b>"Cal [California.] 19 & 20th of Oct"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 3:</u></b> "13 sales $190.<u>00</u>"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 4:</u></b> "Hollister" [California]<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "2 days work"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 6:</u></b> "22 & 23rd.</span><span> Oct $235.<u>00</u>"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 7:</u></b> "Gilroy 31 60.<u>00</u></span><span>" </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>[California]</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "Vallejo 29th" [California]</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 9:</u></b> "Oct one sale 93.<u>00</u>"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 10:</u></b> "St Helena" [California]<br /></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "Dec 2nd one sale $114.<u>00</u>"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 12:</u></b> "Woodland [California] Nov 29th"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 13:</u></b> "one sale $91.<u>50</u>"</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Line 14:</u></b> "Tulare [California] Dec 12. $52.<u>00</u>"</span></span></li></ul></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><u>Interpretation:</u> </b>I
believe the year is 1882 (October-December), as the top page is dated 1882. Soapy is traveling through California, operating, at least on this page, October 19 - December 12, 1882.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> Santa Cruz County Fair (originally called the Agricultural County Fair) opens for the first time on October 16, 1882, three days before Soapy arrived there. He operated 13 separate sales for a total of $190, which is equivalent to $5,922.45 as of this posting.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> Next, Soapy arrives in Hollister, California where he operated for two days, October 22-23 making $235.00. I could not find much on Hollister's history in 1882, but obviously it was large enough for Soapy to make the equivalent of $7,325.14 in 2023 dollars, for two days work.<br /> Soapy worked in Gilroy, California on October 31, 1882, where he made $62.00 ($1,932.59 in 2023). Gilroy was known as the "Tobacco Capitol of the World" and there was a "Tobacco Festival" which ended in 1882, and likely Soapy was not aware, probably going by a "fair list" he had purchased, leading him to all these fairs he was attending. This could explain why Soapy stayed one day, perhaps even just hours.<br /> Soapy operated one sale in one day (October 29) in Vallejo, California at one of several Solano County agriculture-related fairs. The sale profited $93.00. ($2,898.89 in 2023.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> In St Helena, California Soapy operated one sale on December 2, 1882, raking in $114.00 ($3,553.47 in 2023) at possibly the County Exposition, the only fair I could find in the area in 1882. <br /> On November 29, 1882 operates one sale in Woodland, California for $91.50 ($2,852.13 in 2023). I could not find any fairs previous to 1893.<br /> Soapy arrived in Tulare, California on December 12, 1882, making $52.00 for one day's work. ($1,620.88 in 2023).<br /> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>On this page of the notebook Soapy operated for just 18 days </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>between September 18 - December 12, 1882. In that three week time period he made $</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>837.50.</span></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>This is the equivalent of $26,105.56 in 2023!<br /><br /> </span></span><br /><br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/09/soapy-smith-in-salem-oregon-1882.html" target="_blank">Salem, Oregon</a></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2017/04/two-of-soapy-smiths-personal-notebooks_24.html" target="_blank">April 24, 2017</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #1<br /></a><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_28.html" target="_blank">Part #2</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_29.html" target="_blank">Part #3</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #4</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-6.html" target="_blank">Part #6</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-7.html" target="_blank">Part #7</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-8.html" target="_blank">Part #8</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #9 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #10 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #11 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #12 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #13 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #14 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #15 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #16 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span></span></b><br />
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<br /></div> <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s1600/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s320/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"If you steal from one person its plaigarism, </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">if you steal from four, its research."</span><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~Wilson Mizner, confidence man</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS70gPT3KoTaqInIj_hpxx-IySOGbSSDWmAAlIurLvP_axHfDo4QPBOo16whXvUMZbsEWpVfCrL5R6jkMNSEfO0LWg919Waam6s_8jiwmvx8M13xF5oYsuLhWIkpnCBoCa0I3Fm0lKVZQwAyMpknw4LRnuI83Vqvaz6-LJSjXwRsjFZKDOc-sCg8kfnI/s624/Blog_divider__185.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="624" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyS70gPT3KoTaqInIj_hpxx-IySOGbSSDWmAAlIurLvP_axHfDo4QPBOo16whXvUMZbsEWpVfCrL5R6jkMNSEfO0LWg919Waam6s_8jiwmvx8M13xF5oYsuLhWIkpnCBoCa0I3Fm0lKVZQwAyMpknw4LRnuI83Vqvaz6-LJSjXwRsjFZKDOc-sCg8kfnI/s320/Blog_divider__185.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br />Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-88005753442344999892023-08-05T11:21:00.020-07:002023-08-24T13:17:28.412-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #4 - page 4<div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_QNhEsirM4a83KUspNY7XJoxNWUnKTVTmL9nzQ9hcIA-1In9Bi8K47iJApRiVqNHWy9Bx7zOuZXOaZTX9vul_wL89QSSD2iAIXRJytNH-OaOSYrOUDeyrjHxut4jUfuvj5zsknnS4pAyy29jK7fQM5U_murALGJ5y-J760e1WQ3kohBxr-Iuis9By1s/s2184/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%204%20_%20original%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="894" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_QNhEsirM4a83KUspNY7XJoxNWUnKTVTmL9nzQ9hcIA-1In9Bi8K47iJApRiVqNHWy9Bx7zOuZXOaZTX9vul_wL89QSSD2iAIXRJytNH-OaOSYrOUDeyrjHxut4jUfuvj5zsknnS4pAyy29jK7fQM5U_murALGJ5y-J760e1WQ3kohBxr-Iuis9By1s/w262-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%204%20_%20original%20copy.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span>page 4 - original<br />1882-1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><br /></div><div><br />
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span><b><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">THIS POST UPDATED<br />August 24, 2023</span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FE4mbU-_5dxciUGYzKEscPgATz81CVH7yDQN-k_M6wMrbZnLO9IBMYC87g3CXk_LCwe9UwA7gzFMQL-dsMOCU_Cz9oUo6j8FjDxKFT2j_6tOGeyQRaLKIXNDrrMFFFw9w8vpeTy1eZ0tgS3hBigRZYoo6WlqwfyqAagpT67D_zUBPd1RbRxIfx2Mzxs/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FE4mbU-_5dxciUGYzKEscPgATz81CVH7yDQN-k_M6wMrbZnLO9IBMYC87g3CXk_LCwe9UwA7gzFMQL-dsMOCU_Cz9oUo6j8FjDxKFT2j_6tOGeyQRaLKIXNDrrMFFFw9w8vpeTy1eZ0tgS3hBigRZYoo6WlqwfyqAagpT67D_zUBPd1RbRxIfx2Mzxs/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><br />OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
Part #4 - page 4<br /><br /> This is part #4 - page 4, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">page 1</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> The notebook is in Soapy's handwriting, and sometimes pretty hard to decipher. The goal is to transcribe the pages, receiving help from readers to identify words I am having trouble with. Included is the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy, a copy in the negative, and a deciphered copy, as tools to aid in translating the notebook. There are 24 pages and this means that there may be upwards of 24 individual posts for this one notebook. Links to the pages can be viewed at the bottom of the post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for 1882-1883.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Important
to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in
chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and
topic several pages later.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsNJR5kl2pwRWb5MFjtX7IrqnhU30KzT6z7uLvnOLxXh-gSXhndCwYjHOQFtKLhxzqkuZ5g0qXCSmX_vzkaVUa_F9Wo350R1_CMMO51wEewyTvQDgut-nThuDIUL7iXXJLYUpaEQPYcNCfxI6E4KEeLIhPW-dGGZrWz955ZXRhRjdOshfGEIv8tyEnpE/s2169/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%204%20_%20enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2169" data-original-width="945" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsNJR5kl2pwRWb5MFjtX7IrqnhU30KzT6z7uLvnOLxXh-gSXhndCwYjHOQFtKLhxzqkuZ5g0qXCSmX_vzkaVUa_F9Wo350R1_CMMO51wEewyTvQDgut-nThuDIUL7iXXJLYUpaEQPYcNCfxI6E4KEeLIhPW-dGGZrWz955ZXRhRjdOshfGEIv8tyEnpE/w278-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%204%20_%20enhanced.jpg" width="278" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 4 - enhanced<br />1882-1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />(Click image to enlarge)<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibapkI0YozzD0nahWehD058Fvh4RQTMK0C-4LygAgDaF8LcMNuP5jlGLCS1ZiK5qNCmT2pPnf4_lfQw65Dahyk1VxtPxbzbk22CLQXdcJOY4LAK58m60HDOfuOlsRkLCEL2J2mDaHMXDvhTzyF_3BO-t0GnWyuVoXew9HzL74xLPRShwXGz3aHcLAYRYE/s2186/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%204%20_%20negative.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2186" data-original-width="1700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibapkI0YozzD0nahWehD058Fvh4RQTMK0C-4LygAgDaF8LcMNuP5jlGLCS1ZiK5qNCmT2pPnf4_lfQw65Dahyk1VxtPxbzbk22CLQXdcJOY4LAK58m60HDOfuOlsRkLCEL2J2mDaHMXDvhTzyF_3BO-t0GnWyuVoXew9HzL74xLPRShwXGz3aHcLAYRYE/w498-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%204%20_%20negative.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 4 - negative<br />1882-1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />(Click image to enlarge)<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Here
is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you
agree, or do you see something else? There are some words I have not yet
been able to decipher. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you know what jam races are? Could they be kin to the "jam auction?" All comments, suggestions and ideas are
welcome! I will update the new information to this post.<br /><br /></span></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XcWdkbBjQfRdUB7BK3eQ0tl4lnFrsoEG0RNj9KIcQ3EFb142oiHx-MehXnnTsf5Sigv5iF0VcoPA8AxPXNyNWLHIO-cdHubYn6gE6awTk3BSHY4fh3M0m7CcP7otBS7pBdXDx40XjKF5gzRJJjVBrWBm5bwB-WvkzE4ozzM5HSrh-lweZP7Vx3XgoAc/s2598/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%204%20_%20dechipered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2199" data-original-width="2598" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XcWdkbBjQfRdUB7BK3eQ0tl4lnFrsoEG0RNj9KIcQ3EFb142oiHx-MehXnnTsf5Sigv5iF0VcoPA8AxPXNyNWLHIO-cdHubYn6gE6awTk3BSHY4fh3M0m7CcP7otBS7pBdXDx40XjKF5gzRJJjVBrWBm5bwB-WvkzE4ozzM5HSrh-lweZP7Vx3XgoAc/w640-h542/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%204%20_%20dechipered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 4 - deciphered<br />1882-1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Rear of page 3 (top).</u></b></span></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Oh SuSana don't you"<b><br /></b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 2:</u></b> "grieve for me"</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 3:</u> </b>"I am going away to"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 4:</u> </b>"love you"<b><br /></b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "Oh I love that gal"</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 6:</u> </b>"away out west"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 7:</u> </b>"white folks call"<b><br /></b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "Susanhah"</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 9:</u> </b>"Old Man Cares"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 10:</u> </b>"he uses snuff tho"<b><br /></b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "factory gals they"</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 12:</u> </b>"ask him roughly"</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> <span>According to Soapy and his cousin Edwin B. Smith, Soapy played a banjo and sang songs when he was a "cheap John" (kin to a "jam auction") in Round Rock, Texas. It appears that Soapy was inventing his own lyrics. Could the date of this note be an earlier one, 1877-78 when he was still in Texas? Or perhaps Soapy was still playing the banjo? <br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Page 4 (bottom).</u></b><u><br /></u></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Hillsboro 1st Sept" [Oregon]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 2:</u> </b>"McMinnville 2" [Oregon]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 3:</u></b> "Independence 4 Sept" [Oregon]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 4:</u></b> "Corvallis 5" [Oregon]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "Albany 6 or 7th" [Oregon]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 6:</u></b> "25 gross [thuans? or thuars?] 5.</span><span style="font-size: small;">00</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 125</span><span style="font-size: small;">.00</span><span style="font-size: medium;">"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 7:</u></b> "1 </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x4k7w5x x1h91t0o x1h9r5lt x1jfb8zj xv2umb2 x1beo9mf xaigb6o x12ejxvf x3igimt xarpa2k xedcshv x1lytzrv x1t2pt76 x7ja8zs x1qrby5j">O'Leary belt wheel</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> 100</span><span style="font-size: small;">.00</span><span style="font-size: medium;">"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "2 gross whistles 5.00 10.00"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 9:</u></b> "1 Hap Hazzard 15.00"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 10:</u></b> "W. A. Ergennan [Eungennan?]"<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "Brighton Beach" [Oregon]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 12:</u></b> "race course"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 13:</u></b> "New Orleans"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 14:</u></b> "Jam races"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 15:</u></b> "Mobile Memphis" [Tennessee]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 16:</u></b> "Nashville" [Tennessee] </span></li></ul></div></div><div><ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u> </b>I believe the year is 1882, but it could also possibly be as early as 1877-78. In those early Texas days he talks of singing songs and playing a banjo. Soapy is traveling through Oregon and purchases an O'Leary gambling belt wheel [gaffed] and some small cheap prizes, the larger primary prizes are cash. People pay to play, in hopes of winning a large cash prize, but only win small junk. </span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Gambling and Gambling Devices</i> by John P. Quinn<i>, </i>1912. Thanks and credit go to my friend Pete Angelos for information on the O'Leary Belt Wheel!</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> The "O'Leary Belt wheel" that Soapy purchased for $100 is described in the book, </span></span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Gambling and Gambling Devices</i> by John P. Quinn<i>, </i>1912 (courtesy of Pete Angelos).</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Like the other swindling devices herein described, the mechanism of this contrivance is easily operated, and, when explained, readily comprehended. It is, however, what is called, in the slang of the street, "a sure winner" for the manipulator. Thousands of dollars have been won through its operation in a single day, and one used on the streets of Cincinnati won $125,000 in six months.</blockquote></span><span><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vACA5dUeRo-wJPhA_c5RQGlCY5B7stb20aW-YPVae0NgMTnPhLEeMsulC-eV99OHdFf9KbWaBrhl_-43JAv4Z59I4K9xBbjrdmnHXAbNOQLZxNJ_raIvuAYfzkA5t2z0AaEq9gl7-Rtw1izPLEuq1bXSZMtCNNfSJUNL89g7WhbIuk8lzMtGWnj8_O0/s393/OLeary%20Belt%201_pic.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="341" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vACA5dUeRo-wJPhA_c5RQGlCY5B7stb20aW-YPVae0NgMTnPhLEeMsulC-eV99OHdFf9KbWaBrhl_-43JAv4Z59I4K9xBbjrdmnHXAbNOQLZxNJ_raIvuAYfzkA5t2z0AaEq9gl7-Rtw1izPLEuq1bXSZMtCNNfSJUNL89g7WhbIuk8lzMtGWnj8_O0/w556-h640/OLeary%20Belt%201_pic.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">The O'leary Belt [Wheel]</span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Gambling and Gambling Devices</i></span></span><br /><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;">by John P. Quinn, 1912</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Pete Angelos</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></ul></div></div></div></div><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote><div><div style="text-align: justify;"> In Order to work it successfully, it is indispensable that the top of the machine be raised high enough above the heads of the surrounding crowd to prevent the bystanders from seeing the interior, inasmuch as such a view would disclose the apparatus by means of which they would be robbed of their money. With this end in view. the operator generally operates it from a buggy, the upper part of the machine standing about three feet above the floor of the conveyance.<br /> As will be seen in the cut [picture], the device consists of a hoop-wheel, a supporting rod and a box platform, supporting the rod and wheel. The apparatus may be taken apart and neatly placed in this box. On the box is placed a valise containing money. The wheel, or "belt," is made of brass, and is about sixteen inches in diameter and four inches broad. It contains thirty-two compartments, each one containing a card, which is held in position by a small fold of metal on each of three sides. These cards may be perfectly blank, though usually they contain pictures of famous celebrities. The valise, which is shown in the illustration at the foot of the upright rod, contains money. Inside the metal hoop is a leather belt, of which, at equal distances, are pained numbers representing sums of money, so arranged that one will fall behind each alternate compartment. When the cards are raised, the belt is seen through a rectangular opening at the back.<br /> The driver of the buggy carries a number of whips. As soon as a crowd has gathered around him (which is certain to happen in a very few moments), he informs the spectators that any one or more may, for $1.00, purchase a chance to win a money prize, varying in amounts from $1.00 to $20.00. Some one having expressed an inclination to buy, the proprietor takes his money and hands him a whip, with which to point to any one of the thirty-two sections of the "hoop" which he may select. The purchaser having rested the whip on a compartment, the operator removes the cards which he has touched. Underneath is shown either a blank space on the belt or one inscribed with a certain sum. If it happens to be the latter, the buyer is given the amount indicated; if the former, he receives nothing.<br /> The name of this device is supposed to be the same as that of the inventor. A well-known confidence operator by the name of O'Leary flourished some years ago, who was recognized among his companions as an expert manipulator of this apparatus, and it is generally believed among the guild of peripatetic gamesters that the idea of its construction was conceived in his fertile brain, through the direct inspiration of the antipodes of Providence.<span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></span></div></div></blockquote></span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Pete
Angelos also found some information on the "Hap Hazzard," which is
correctly spelled with one z in the 1896 Will and Finck
catalog listing it, and also calling it the coffee pot or bee hive.</span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ip3cMGn0PH1w7Acs-WxZ_Cyd4ttHVYRRDnmlEqaUlZmS75mEJJ5SwoALRHqjE3s30LSpc2SVBhW-C5NLNGBQV_9D3hsi5ljpzPf1v-gWQYt3S46I8r7h-A1JmZ2eZewYoomus_OV5uewBk58Jks_7pFkKi2gvPzN5ZRKaXplKxWFR2lfpUP0B_W010g/s1371/Hap%20Hazard%20or%20Bee%20Hive.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1371" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ip3cMGn0PH1w7Acs-WxZ_Cyd4ttHVYRRDnmlEqaUlZmS75mEJJ5SwoALRHqjE3s30LSpc2SVBhW-C5NLNGBQV_9D3hsi5ljpzPf1v-gWQYt3S46I8r7h-A1JmZ2eZewYoomus_OV5uewBk58Jks_7pFkKi2gvPzN5ZRKaXplKxWFR2lfpUP0B_W010g/w640-h498/Hap%20Hazard%20or%20Bee%20Hive.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">Hap Hazard [Bee Hive]</span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Gambling and Gambling Devices</i></span></span><br /><span><span><span style="font-size: medium;">by John P. Quinn, 1912</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Pete Angelos</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote> The accompanying illustration gives an excellent idea of the general appearance of this device. It consists of two cones, the inner one of which is placed upon circular pieces of wood, around the rim of which are thirty-two compartments, numbered from one to thirty-two, and separated by thin metal plates. Driven into the surface of the inner cone are small nails or metal pegs, the arrangement of which is a matter of comparative indifference, although they are usually rather close together and approximately equi-distant. The outer cone serves as a cap or case.<br /> An unsophisticated player can never win except through the consent of the operator. In order to encourage the crowd in playing, “cappers” have to be employed, who are always on hand to draw prizes.<br /> The ball is in sight from start to finish, so that while the player can see the play and know just where the ball stops, it is impossible to detect the secret working of the machine.<br /> This machine is specially made to catch “suckers” and is full of honey, but the “suckers” don’t get any of the honey; they are lucky to get a piece of beeswax.</blockquote></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;">
“The little bee sucks the blossom.</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">
The big bee gets the honey,</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">
The sucker does the work,</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">
And the gambler takes the money.”</span></span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></div></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioa32WnlGSAi1A98hZI7Re-ysucJwzQsR1I3wjdW7n7BOQO0KY1Sv3wTJyDeSTkpQOdZX9SxEBuf95bCs1ElIT9yeCjB0z57Rz8_9Z5-6LqUfw3t2a-xPDLM9xBfaAwiLVbRQbZ_BilXsAH0cvHs9mzwsuoDC8h1vN8btGQXM66M4G5T7cyqYV47jq-TU/s3290/Will%20and%20Finck%201896.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2510" data-original-width="3290" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioa32WnlGSAi1A98hZI7Re-ysucJwzQsR1I3wjdW7n7BOQO0KY1Sv3wTJyDeSTkpQOdZX9SxEBuf95bCs1ElIT9yeCjB0z57Rz8_9Z5-6LqUfw3t2a-xPDLM9xBfaAwiLVbRQbZ_BilXsAH0cvHs9mzwsuoDC8h1vN8btGQXM66M4G5T7cyqYV47jq-TU/w640-h488/Will%20and%20Finck%201896.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">O'Leary Belt and Hap Hazard</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Will and Finck catalogue<br />1896<br />Courtesy of Pete Angelos</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;"><b><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Special thanks to Art Petersen and </span></span><span><span style="font-size: medium;">Pete Angelos <br />for their skills in deciphering and historical research.<br /></span></span></b></div><br /><br /><br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2017/04/two-of-soapy-smiths-personal-notebooks_24.html" target="_blank">April 24, 2017</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #1<br /></a><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_28.html" target="_blank">Part #2</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_29.html" target="_blank">Part #3</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-5.html" target="_blank">Part #5</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-6.html" target="_blank">Part #6</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-7.html" target="_blank">Part #7</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-8.html" target="_blank">Part #8</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #9 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #10 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #11 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #12 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #13 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #14 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #15 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #16 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span></span></b> <br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s1600/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s320/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"There's opportunity in poker.... If Horace Greeley were alive today, his advice wouldn't be 'Go West, young man, and grow up with the country.' Instead, he'd point to that deck of cards on table and say, 'Shuffle up and deal.'"</i></span></div></blockquote></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: medium;">—Lou Krieger</span></blockquote></div>
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<br /><br />Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-37143423946285855002023-07-29T07:46:00.022-07:002023-08-23T14:58:22.201-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #3 - page 3<div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ErWpLlu8lk91-Pub2vW47innFtgISyVzg4iHuxRqJE5fK3f-TH37meM-k3558sdbIJpCRJHrGmcnoBiKjcKn9LAc1RktwloL016fBit_tq7A78x2dVFgH6Ec9wTtVEEAkLmbRSMujWauE5os5mG43VnoK_WeX97MZISDUdCch0Ds7RhkjetZdnpAVPc/s2145/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%203%20_%20original%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="957" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ErWpLlu8lk91-Pub2vW47innFtgISyVzg4iHuxRqJE5fK3f-TH37meM-k3558sdbIJpCRJHrGmcnoBiKjcKn9LAc1RktwloL016fBit_tq7A78x2dVFgH6Ec9wTtVEEAkLmbRSMujWauE5os5mG43VnoK_WeX97MZISDUdCch0Ds7RhkjetZdnpAVPc/w286-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%203%20_%20original%20copy.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 3 - original<br />1882-1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span><b><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />THIS POST UPDATED<br />August 23, 2023</span></span></b></span></span></span></div><div><br /><br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FE4mbU-_5dxciUGYzKEscPgATz81CVH7yDQN-k_M6wMrbZnLO9IBMYC87g3CXk_LCwe9UwA7gzFMQL-dsMOCU_Cz9oUo6j8FjDxKFT2j_6tOGeyQRaLKIXNDrrMFFFw9w8vpeTy1eZ0tgS3hBigRZYoo6WlqwfyqAagpT67D_zUBPd1RbRxIfx2Mzxs/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FE4mbU-_5dxciUGYzKEscPgATz81CVH7yDQN-k_M6wMrbZnLO9IBMYC87g3CXk_LCwe9UwA7gzFMQL-dsMOCU_Cz9oUo6j8FjDxKFT2j_6tOGeyQRaLKIXNDrrMFFFw9w8vpeTy1eZ0tgS3hBigRZYoo6WlqwfyqAagpT67D_zUBPd1RbRxIfx2Mzxs/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><br />OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
Part #3 - page 3<br /><br /> This is part #3 - page 3 continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook in Geri Murphy's collection. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">page 1</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> The notebook is in Soapy's handwriting, and parts have been hard to decipher. The goal is to transcribe the pages and receive help from readers on identifying words I am having trouble with. I am including the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy, a negative copy, and the deciphered copy, as tools to aid in translating and interpreting the notes. There are 24 pages meaning that there may be upwards of 24 individual posts for this one notebook. Links to all of the pages can be viewed at the bottom of this post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for periods in 1882-1883.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Important
to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in
chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and
topic several pages later.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF74a8VUyIz_pee-xq5rahyyl7KRBL-QaEBIyo_ewUmeirujJVK4JWeM6bV9nwKHnwf6SLZoGcJh7MLpUGZVjWuZBA-R8gPLRoNBc_9R4osLf2kQWazW3YzCP_L5VdfnZM9bdHv1EL-PoiQIndRfVihAnmLk4V8z8aPce8t_TFF88ImaRwD_PCWnMR7qc/s2145/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%203%20_%20enhanced%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="957" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF74a8VUyIz_pee-xq5rahyyl7KRBL-QaEBIyo_ewUmeirujJVK4JWeM6bV9nwKHnwf6SLZoGcJh7MLpUGZVjWuZBA-R8gPLRoNBc_9R4osLf2kQWazW3YzCP_L5VdfnZM9bdHv1EL-PoiQIndRfVihAnmLk4V8z8aPce8t_TFF88ImaRwD_PCWnMR7qc/w286-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%203%20_%20enhanced%20copy.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 3 - enhanced<br />1882-1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIWzDeW8u_MSKK_405g0Co-IyLuw1QfG8QFNkqe7qQvdmRrecTH_iWuxIbTVILnn_VGTzYCueReNddWXzSIO047nZFlbeqqoQTZBQfmag2AIiaTAY2FvDdh0MUHYsVyinLd0ngKYhUmWC_xjelGydqm_FCR4cZdUKrCuLs5EwGke_RZZw34ltYXHP70w/s2145/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%203%20_%20negative%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2145" data-original-width="957" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIWzDeW8u_MSKK_405g0Co-IyLuw1QfG8QFNkqe7qQvdmRrecTH_iWuxIbTVILnn_VGTzYCueReNddWXzSIO047nZFlbeqqoQTZBQfmag2AIiaTAY2FvDdh0MUHYsVyinLd0ngKYhUmWC_xjelGydqm_FCR4cZdUKrCuLs5EwGke_RZZw34ltYXHP70w/w286-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%203%20_%20negative%20copy.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 3 - negative<br />1882-1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)<br /></span>
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<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you agree, or do you see something else? There are some words I have not yet been able to decipher. Please take a look and see if you can figure out them out? All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! I will update the new information to this post.<br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DRaorlV2qIqg95JZ6M39ONnnweKQg-kP8y_DZfglBTqxUmN_pXMnv0WzaoX6diNaKyAkPCpy50AEVDvuGpnJSOlXEDfxDqpYV76JxJDYoefW6OiwCZNkpvwJ4ib3VHv6SbyymzyDQA0tJL8K9fJeCQ678EZVyMk6PHha0mfLSKFYblO2Qi8VfB14EwM/s2592/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%203%20_%20original%20deciphered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2136" data-original-width="2592" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DRaorlV2qIqg95JZ6M39ONnnweKQg-kP8y_DZfglBTqxUmN_pXMnv0WzaoX6diNaKyAkPCpy50AEVDvuGpnJSOlXEDfxDqpYV76JxJDYoefW6OiwCZNkpvwJ4ib3VHv6SbyymzyDQA0tJL8K9fJeCQ678EZVyMk6PHha0mfLSKFYblO2Qi8VfB14EwM/w640-h528/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%203%20_%20original%20deciphered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">page 3 - deciphered<br />1882-1883<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u><br /><br />Page 3.</u></b><u><br /></u></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"First your Business"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 2:</u> </b>"and manner of"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 3:</u></b> "Conducting it"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 4:</u></b> "2d [2nd] Zuni Gold and Indians"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "Its origin and"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 6:</u></b> "first discovery."</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 7:</u></b> "The tests by the"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "Government chemist </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>? ?</u> record</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 9:</u></b> "Its usefullness </span><span>[sic]"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 10:</u></b> "as armaments"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "and worthlessness"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 12:</u></b> "as money Rail Roads"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 13:</u></b> "in old Mexico"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 14:</u></b> "only difference in"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 15:</u></b> "weight"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 16:</u></b> "James E Readan Mfg Co."</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>Line 17: </b></u>"Providence, RI [Rhode Island]"</span></li></ul></div></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u> </b>I believe the year is 1882. Soapy was known for writing stories and poems, several of which were published.<br /> "Zuni" are a tribe of Indians famous for artistic metal work.<br /> Is Soapy copying words of wisdom from another individual, or are these his words for others?<br /> In regards to the "James E Readan Mfg Co.," Soapy might have come across some piece of equipment he wanted to acquire and had written down the name of the manufacturer for later reference.<br /></span></li></ul><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2017/04/two-of-soapy-smiths-personal-notebooks_24.html" target="_blank">April 24, 2017</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #1</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_28.html" target="_blank">Part #2</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #4</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-5.html" target="_blank">Part #5</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-6.html" target="_blank">Part #6</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-7.html" target="_blank">Part #7</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-8.html" target="_blank">Part #8</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #9 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #10 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #11 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #12 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #13 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #14 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #15 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #16 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span>
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<br /></div> <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s1600/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s320/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I've often thought, if I got really hungry for a good milk shake, how much would I pay for one? People will pay a hundred dollars for a bottle of wine; to me that's not worth it. But I'm not going to say it is foolish or wrong to spend that kind of money, if that's what you want. So if a guy wants to bet twenty or thirty thousand dollars in a poker game, that is his privilege." </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;">―Jack Binion</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwoODox5Ouq9XJSjDlxC0zsHiFULTFW1tCkpblTAzgdsG8dHtqA98z8sNR24hhgo5jxmZx1gUhYPuWlzCiavK_0T40NGEvuwap_ncC26hyVHcy_LMKQbxNLjUm0OiQSx9JXa3zACG77DMykLANN7pi2u4iiww0f1rR8NbTCx9Sj16OACAH_0VM8lztmc/s619/Blog_divider__183.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="124" data-original-width="619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwoODox5Ouq9XJSjDlxC0zsHiFULTFW1tCkpblTAzgdsG8dHtqA98z8sNR24hhgo5jxmZx1gUhYPuWlzCiavK_0T40NGEvuwap_ncC26hyVHcy_LMKQbxNLjUm0OiQSx9JXa3zACG77DMykLANN7pi2u4iiww0f1rR8NbTCx9Sj16OACAH_0VM8lztmc/s16000/Blog_divider__183.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-14475279905415814362023-07-28T06:36:00.019-07:002023-08-23T09:47:47.354-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #2 - page 2<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYFHBBA80gdYllxIc6sqFoCGJRhq0W6bjWOFEZJuaRUlut8lovI2yN4Q-VY6W-7nNtUv8Vid29eS8DBhXKACNxsapeiLyqem5h_d5wCGh-2tsn_qh8Yu9ibgNKVZ3PjvXdfHKm0qWSkBZkyEvvJ6Uh6ORbCXP2uYGNNUbxM14XzEykgMo39JJ5zFuOvE/s2223/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%202%20_%20original%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2223" data-original-width="1027" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYFHBBA80gdYllxIc6sqFoCGJRhq0W6bjWOFEZJuaRUlut8lovI2yN4Q-VY6W-7nNtUv8Vid29eS8DBhXKACNxsapeiLyqem5h_d5wCGh-2tsn_qh8Yu9ibgNKVZ3PjvXdfHKm0qWSkBZkyEvvJ6Uh6ORbCXP2uYGNNUbxM14XzEykgMo39JJ5zFuOvE/w296-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%202%20_%20original%20copy.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">page 2 - original<br />1882<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: red;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background-color: black;"><br />THIS POST UPDATED<br />August 23, 2023</span></b></span></span></span></div><br /><div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55tkU1Cnh3HcY_nuUZJCs-QvlF_HBNLx55JLDo50qIvZNkzTKK2UmCTOoJhkTnOfoQYs5HGrzkShBfvhoTVBjL1FE7-_mKVQRE1Y9zjrlilVjp1O9_kZoRWX5OiNtjwe8f6yqrWe2-UGgvJgphAq0xqirDj11ZCJRvv6ymE2KemCCY-tqySK_jSuqWJ8/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55tkU1Cnh3HcY_nuUZJCs-QvlF_HBNLx55JLDo50qIvZNkzTKK2UmCTOoJhkTnOfoQYs5HGrzkShBfvhoTVBjL1FE7-_mKVQRE1Y9zjrlilVjp1O9_kZoRWX5OiNtjwe8f6yqrWe2-UGgvJgphAq0xqirDj11ZCJRvv6ymE2KemCCY-tqySK_jSuqWJ8/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a></div>
<span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><br />OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Part #2 - page 2<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> This is part 2 - page 2 continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook in Geri Murphy's collection. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">page 1</a>. </span><br /><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, and often times hard to decipher. The goal is to transcribe the pages and receive help from readers on identifying words I am having trouble with. I will include the original copy of the page, an enhanced copy, a copy in negative, and then one with my deciphering, as tools to aid in deciphering the notes. There are 24 pages which means that there may be upwards of 24 individual posts for this notebook. Links to all the pages will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for portions of 1882-1883.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Unlike page 1 this page has text written on the back of page 1, which is seen when page 1 is turned to page 2. As with page 1, we can see the pencil "staining" sediment from resting on-top of the writings on the bottom page. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>The deciphering will be separated into two sections ["rear of page #_ (top")] and ["page #_ (bottom)]."<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Important
to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in
chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and
topic several pages later.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz8nF9yOY6hlRQFPbEuqp-viiTBg1TXS5aS8dC3XW9F4OdF6mtKun72xfC6hBjFyX5NmfJTsMQ_tirYOjdd6LNBe_HctOwZzJ9iwonebj8lLN36vzDpBIGz3dVvoMCSoi6EbYnf2lknI91GTZSVNju5LwhjfiQMkH3FMEEM9vmgY2VcMat72urkKFLLU/s2223/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%202%20_%20enhanced%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2223" data-original-width="1027" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz8nF9yOY6hlRQFPbEuqp-viiTBg1TXS5aS8dC3XW9F4OdF6mtKun72xfC6hBjFyX5NmfJTsMQ_tirYOjdd6LNBe_HctOwZzJ9iwonebj8lLN36vzDpBIGz3dVvoMCSoi6EbYnf2lknI91GTZSVNju5LwhjfiQMkH3FMEEM9vmgY2VcMat72urkKFLLU/w296-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%202%20_%20enhanced%20copy.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">page 2 - enhanced<br />1882<br />Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span> <br /></p><p><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUPS2YSuzf3JSNGh9XbjXknRjCUEgBfMcdWYVsaoSrVU0wRxVdHZyekCfavLIrzx6BtqHaOn6k3LyYe02PCWRvWfHaOzlYh6azx6ORwB_1G3upv8rAl60FYGBJfJr3TfjmjaPaChL5Ph9S4uhKZuqyAtx9_dQInc6ATMvQvNB7ktnbO4kmwq914X6-lA/s2223/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%202%20_%20negative%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2223" data-original-width="1027" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUPS2YSuzf3JSNGh9XbjXknRjCUEgBfMcdWYVsaoSrVU0wRxVdHZyekCfavLIrzx6BtqHaOn6k3LyYe02PCWRvWfHaOzlYh6azx6ORwB_1G3upv8rAl60FYGBJfJr3TfjmjaPaChL5Ph9S4uhKZuqyAtx9_dQInc6ATMvQvNB7ktnbO4kmwq914X6-lA/w296-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%202%20_%20negative%20copy.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">page 2 - negative<br />1882<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Here is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you agree, or do you see something else? All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! I will update the new information to this post.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIF19jMvMNo-FDda-fZWEn_eGa7swiryFfIgRdSKppXMscB2FN6sarZheUZbIVFBR9238cepWU951VtMoWdKe7WZDEhgfKhwWjThSqZ1LlRPEArvylp8li-D9BPBNrp779boKjZJezSKegwp7GXE0kIAja8AWtVX46BKF666Rlw9eGaQoOKzRcTJ7QOM/s2982/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%202%20_%20enhanced%20deciphered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2172" data-original-width="2982" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIF19jMvMNo-FDda-fZWEn_eGa7swiryFfIgRdSKppXMscB2FN6sarZheUZbIVFBR9238cepWU951VtMoWdKe7WZDEhgfKhwWjThSqZ1LlRPEArvylp8li-D9BPBNrp779boKjZJezSKegwp7GXE0kIAja8AWtVX46BKF666Rlw9eGaQoOKzRcTJ7QOM/w640-h466/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%202%20_%20enhanced%20deciphered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">page 2 - deciphered<br />1882<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Rear of page 1 (top).</u></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Tournament"<b><br /></b></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 2:</u></b> "Hollister Cal" [California].</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 3:</u> </b>"Oct 23 + 24th"<b><br /></b></span></li></ul><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">These
are planning notes. Soapy made plans and then later (in this case on
page 5) he wrote the actual dates he was in the location as well as the
amounts he made. He had initially planned to be in Hollister, California, on October 23-24, but he writes on page 5 that he was there October 22-23, "2 days work" and making $235.00.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> The year, determined on page 5, is 1882. The remainder of markings on this top portion is pencil residue from the bottom portion. <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u><br />Page 2 (bottom).</u></b><u><br /></u></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 1:</u> </b>"Sherman Circus"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 2:</u> </b>"Moscow 15th" [Idaho Territory]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 3:</u></b> "Colfax 16th" [Washington Territory]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 4:</u></b> "Palouse 17" [Washington Terr.]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "Farmington 18" [Washington Terr.]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 6:</u></b> "Spangle 19" [Washington Terr.]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 7:</u></b> "Spokane 21st" [Washington Terr.]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> "Sprague 23d" [Washington Terr.]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 9:</u></b> "</span><span style="font-size: medium;">Dalles 25 + 26th"
[Dalles City, Oregon]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 10:</u></b> "Vancouver 28th" [Washington Terr.]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 11:</u></b> "Oregon City 29th" [Oregon]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 12:</u></b> "John Taylor" [Soapy's mentor?]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 13:</u></b> "216 Wharton St"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 14:</u></b> "Phila. Pa." [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] <br /></span></li></ul></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u> </b>The month is probably October of 1882. Soapy planned to follow the Sherman Circus spanning through Idaho Territory, Washington Territory and Oregon, but at some point crossed out everything except for "John Taylor" and his address. This is most likely Soapy's mentor talked about in my book, <i>Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</i>. These are planning notes. Did he go? There are no other mentions of these plans elsewhere in the notebook. <br /> All I could find online about the "Sherman Circus" was the newspaper ad below, and a mention that “Educated horses were a highlight of the Sherman Circus, which appeared in San Diego, California in 1881 and 1883."</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ--Y4h3Ibc9epVwwl7SFA1Rg5jjTFHZDuFV1wzPrwg7CNEsTB1WWtk2WSVSNdEH0dwFkZEeiIyRm8KIWtXHfobfjMPB7R9yV_Q7eM6Xq-tmwCRHZgELEafnYxw0EE3xeR3ZbkhXPbSyWX_aZvg9TcY2ZtBwq5ErrC_TLI-iZT9VwIl8FkdpOjetE-Cto/s496/Great%20Sherman%20Circus%20-%20September%2012%201882%20Oregonian.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="341" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ--Y4h3Ibc9epVwwl7SFA1Rg5jjTFHZDuFV1wzPrwg7CNEsTB1WWtk2WSVSNdEH0dwFkZEeiIyRm8KIWtXHfobfjMPB7R9yV_Q7eM6Xq-tmwCRHZgELEafnYxw0EE3xeR3ZbkhXPbSyWX_aZvg9TcY2ZtBwq5ErrC_TLI-iZT9VwIl8FkdpOjetE-Cto/w440-h640/Great%20Sherman%20Circus%20-%20September%2012%201882%20Oregonian.png" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Great Sherman Circus</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Oregonian</i><br />September 12, 1882</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><br /><br />Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2017/04/two-of-soapy-smiths-personal-notebooks_24.html" target="_blank">April 24, 2017</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #1</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/07/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part_29.html" target="_blank">Part #3</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-83-part.html" target="_blank">Part #4</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-5.html" target="_blank">Part #5</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-6.html" target="_blank">Part #6</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-7.html" target="_blank">Part #7</a> </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/08/soapy-smiths-star-notebook-1882-part-8.html" target="_blank">Part #8</a> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #9 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #10 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #11 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #12 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #13 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #14 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Part #15 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)<br /></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Part #16 </span></b><span style="font-size: medium;">(not published yet)</span></span></b>
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<br /></div> <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s1600/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRikKp-ytcKAgol_4pFwmUVO0W_SLzogN0xWR2KauxLoMWuEUokeflvQPJN0EyxEQvrMj9_oMjCEZ5e-RikYK4VB1WXos7xMPv0-1zdsyAfXW_-fDWeSGccjGMPz7ATdT24WpeCO04qKA/s320/Quote_of_the_Day_master.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Old card players never die, they just shuffle away.<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>~Author Unknown</i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>
<br /></i></span></div></blockquote></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipniUEVHahVUvp_YHIjBTEYHFYmHjPsfWMHTsboZJJYyKpPQgKEm0yjggcwtnv7kZOGTj0eWLyvsjthzMZLGnzn-4C2Obbv_2xhuqvBA6btq9EHHTcHBUzS9TthvQm24QC3jiXBTyFcQbE2IYmiDWeVNfSLNcSZpox2N4siqnGspB9B3sOQVNZ15SVuOI/s479/Blog_divider__182.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipniUEVHahVUvp_YHIjBTEYHFYmHjPsfWMHTsboZJJYyKpPQgKEm0yjggcwtnv7kZOGTj0eWLyvsjthzMZLGnzn-4C2Obbv_2xhuqvBA6btq9EHHTcHBUzS9TthvQm24QC3jiXBTyFcQbE2IYmiDWeVNfSLNcSZpox2N4siqnGspB9B3sOQVNZ15SVuOI/s16000/Blog_divider__182.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-8732708834615239082023-07-24T17:12:00.081-07:002023-08-23T07:13:34.053-07:00Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #1 - page 1 <div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoKyHH170aP_MDbX-K8VwBDHSp5ct7Mx3XcpWMIaJWJla2CDhhdT7NVzcNWB9AGwz8npsTYYXL7uKrZ3JZBcJkjFCNOA3y2SbglReej5XN5whuVDVOq7J3NzXWLMn0h72gqpht76OpQkFLO-qhIT99u3w9XqhzsSMDpU1Cp5zNYBpKVQ-m8Iu1qvTjeQ/s2231/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%201%20_%20original%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoKyHH170aP_MDbX-K8VwBDHSp5ct7Mx3XcpWMIaJWJla2CDhhdT7NVzcNWB9AGwz8npsTYYXL7uKrZ3JZBcJkjFCNOA3y2SbglReej5XN5whuVDVOq7J3NzXWLMn0h72gqpht76OpQkFLO-qhIT99u3w9XqhzsSMDpU1Cp5zNYBpKVQ-m8Iu1qvTjeQ/w272-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%201%20_%20original%20copy.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">1882-1883<br />Courtesy of the Geri Murphy collection<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: red;"><b><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background-color: black;">THIS POST UPDATED<br />August 23, 2023</span></b></span></span></span><br /></div><div>
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<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp-W6Xt08EjIYcdMJl-lkxKO6hrP-QY-JWc-hWHGCC02XuEWjdfLtpPtIIvS8xCmMWw2rvNDoggFAGF9EBZaWEsDUHaS4Qo2GeodAR5tyEFqYV9U34whzerieaA7DpMReZ6WGtE2pqfkojCBvdFTiKvMp68LbJgM4jVS-TyzqAHbZ1WS-SbVprXGHIxY/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp-W6Xt08EjIYcdMJl-lkxKO6hrP-QY-JWc-hWHGCC02XuEWjdfLtpPtIIvS8xCmMWw2rvNDoggFAGF9EBZaWEsDUHaS4Qo2GeodAR5tyEFqYV9U34whzerieaA7DpMReZ6WGtE2pqfkojCBvdFTiKvMp68LbJgM4jVS-TyzqAHbZ1WS-SbVprXGHIxY/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><br />
<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /> There are several notebooks in the Smith family collection in which Jefferson Randolph Smith II kept personal and business jottings. This one was shared to me by my cousin, Geri Murphy. Naturally, these are a treasure-trove of information as to what city and state (or territory) he was traveling to, the date, his profits, expenditures and the names of some of the individuals he met, while operating his prize package soap sell racket and other bunko games.<br /> This notebook is identified by the large star on the cover, hence the name "star" notebook. It spans the years 1882 and 1883, when Soapy was still a nomad confidence man traveling around the American West. <br /> The notebook pages are written in pencil, in Soapy's handwriting, and sometimes hard to decipher. The goal is to transcribe the pages and to receive help from readers in identifying words I am have trouble reading. I will include the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy, and a copy in negative, as tools to aid with deciphering the notes. There are 24 pages which means that there will be 24 individual posts for this one notebook. Links to the next page will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced record of Soapy's activities for parts of 1882-1883.<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Important
to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in
chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and
topic several pages later.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
<br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHcRQt5pXJXLLr5ASpDJBRfP0oEq5eGbWYJwTSkWCQhUP52H_YSbF0fqXU69_lylPYuhjmwvPynQcGgFvVOw4QHOv1L-M_Wrafhk6_Z59Bvy9ifJIBjvTfi2FPP9zQz1KOIQs_-4KodR3H_tKsUSBY9BF8ukYBHi1A86znD29_vXR2STO99YJtZ7QsOg/s1296/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="844" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHcRQt5pXJXLLr5ASpDJBRfP0oEq5eGbWYJwTSkWCQhUP52H_YSbF0fqXU69_lylPYuhjmwvPynQcGgFvVOw4QHOv1L-M_Wrafhk6_Z59Bvy9ifJIBjvTfi2FPP9zQz1KOIQs_-4KodR3H_tKsUSBY9BF8ukYBHi1A86znD29_vXR2STO99YJtZ7QsOg/w416-h640/Soapys%20STAR%20notebook%20cover.jpg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"star" notebook cover<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">1882-1883<br />Courtesy of the Geri Murphy collection<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><br /><br /></div><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Let's begin. Note that the top appears to have faint text. A pencil was used in the notebook and throughout the notebook he periodically wrote on the rear of the previous page, as well as on the front of each page. The deciphering will be separated into two sections ["rear of page #_ (top")] when utilized, and ["page #_ (bottom)]." </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> What is seen on the back of the cover is pencil sediment or residue "stain" from the pages resting on-top of one another. There appears to be a dollar sign ($) and some artwork that appears to be two fancy letters, perhaps "JS." Was Soapy playing around making a fancy abbreviation to his name? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The next three pictures are page #1: Enhanced, page #1: Negative, and page #1: deciphered. These were made to aid in deciphering the text, and this process will be used in the next 23 pages to come. <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwO39yaTLvY6FQbTZfURS8jDkFYCtVXcdnmJQ5wtHmJknXmxcUNYJ1hXe575DnLPuhUI_C2tGywWvNXRh9I6-VAp8cQZVRC_m8CTmOIenSYMmh82BS9fzvOQjgJEVUo920EvJgUXj4dQY4n28l8EDJccSEq8JRNq3Cw9mmEtl9uFJ2J0_r6wOMRdAZMLY/s2231/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%201%20_%20enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwO39yaTLvY6FQbTZfURS8jDkFYCtVXcdnmJQ5wtHmJknXmxcUNYJ1hXe575DnLPuhUI_C2tGywWvNXRh9I6-VAp8cQZVRC_m8CTmOIenSYMmh82BS9fzvOQjgJEVUo920EvJgUXj4dQY4n28l8EDJccSEq8JRNq3Cw9mmEtl9uFJ2J0_r6wOMRdAZMLY/w272-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%201%20_%20enhanced.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Page #1<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Enhanced<br />Courtesy of the Geri Murphy collection<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5AnNlWNdKSVEeX0P832KUoCWthOgtHLfPtdXjWtDnqZ_UousXuf8OvZ8h0x_aRD1pQFwr8_EM6TTPZtoNc6c6RWtWfZlYDnXH28-i1ISFPnkab04_ETVED3yyBG9hfHjWCcVqIhZdMHS4doVvsDtsIb7nzdRUgsD-2gBbA6GXw4pWN7fnc5Xpk81ye0/s2231/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%201%20_%20Negative%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="949" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5AnNlWNdKSVEeX0P832KUoCWthOgtHLfPtdXjWtDnqZ_UousXuf8OvZ8h0x_aRD1pQFwr8_EM6TTPZtoNc6c6RWtWfZlYDnXH28-i1ISFPnkab04_ETVED3yyBG9hfHjWCcVqIhZdMHS4doVvsDtsIb7nzdRUgsD-2gBbA6GXw4pWN7fnc5Xpk81ye0/w272-h640/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%201%20_%20Negative%20copy.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Page #1<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Negative<br />Courtesy of the Geri Murphy collection<br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)<br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyim3C2Vk8WUx4F7maxp4Jy7EsjTqA9JEOZNnuNhv-y38eDJFfPv4GOS73pqPUkUTgLsY9-cgf8wa0qFnDZWK77b7QI149a7Eq_Ncw7Mpi4_Uht1Xp_-I477JX7YN_OeW05sjpHnTUJ_zZyqOn9j3MEQT6PILLMPxhGp3aUN5wUu1tcwLTiJKcJmBU3pE/s2644/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%201%20_%20enhanced%20deciphered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2156" data-original-width="2644" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyim3C2Vk8WUx4F7maxp4Jy7EsjTqA9JEOZNnuNhv-y38eDJFfPv4GOS73pqPUkUTgLsY9-cgf8wa0qFnDZWK77b7QI149a7Eq_Ncw7Mpi4_Uht1Xp_-I477JX7YN_OeW05sjpHnTUJ_zZyqOn9j3MEQT6PILLMPxhGp3aUN5wUu1tcwLTiJKcJmBU3pE/w640-h522/Soapy%20STAR%20notebook%20_%20page%201%20_%20enhanced%20deciphered.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's "star" notebook</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Page 1 - deciphered<br />1882</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Geri Murphy</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Click image to enlarge</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Here is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you agree, or do you see something else? All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! I will update the new information to this post.<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 1:</u></b> "Salem [Oregon] Sept 18th"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 2:</u></b> "to [Sept] 24th" </span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> These are planning notes. Soapy made plans and then later (in this case on page 5) he wrote the actual dates he was in the location as well as the amounts he made. He had initially planned to be in Salem, Oregon, from September 18 to September 24, but actually operated from </span><span style="font-size: medium;">September 18 to September 22.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> the year is 1882, which was determined on page 5. </span><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 3:</u></b> "Baker City [Oregon] Sept"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 4:</u></b> "27th to Oct 4th"</span></li></ul><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> Though Baker City, Oregon, from September 27 to October 4 is listed, it does not appear in the notebook again. I found no city or county fair in 1882, it may be that Soapy decided to skip Baker City, or upon arrival he did no work. </span><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 5:</u></b> "George Ebell, Secretary" [Maybe a fair or city secretary that Soapy met? Online and newspaper search came up with only one reference to a "George Ebell" in regards to water rights in an ongoing court case since 1888.]</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 6:</u></b> "Union, Oregon"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 7:</u></b> "Oct 9th to 16th"</span></li></ul><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Interpretation:</u></b> Soapy lists Union, Oregon, as a possible stop. The County of Union did have a fair, but "Union, Oregon is not mentioned again in the notebook, thus it is unknown if Soapy stopped or operated there.</span><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 8:</u></b> Appears to be "Olympia City" [Washington Territory]. I cannot read this clearly as Soapy scratched it out. Page 5 does not list "Olympia," but page 8 does. It is not known if he went there. He may have scratched it out as a planned stop.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 9:</u></b> [Scratched out] Do I see "1st" on the far right end?</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 10:</u> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">[Scratched out] I see a "4" on the far right end.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 11:</u> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">[Scratched out]</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Can't decipher.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 12:</u> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">[Scratched out]</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Can't decipher.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 13:</u> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">[Scratched out]</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> There is a town name "[Wilsonville? Milwaukie? Winston? Willamina? Williamette?]. Looks like "Sept 4" on the right.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 14:</u> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">[Scratched out]</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> "L?" Perhaps "Lake?" [can't decipher the rest, maybe "Falls City?"] I see "Sept" at the end.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 15:</u></b> "Walla Walla [Washington Territory] Oct 5th"</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Line 16:</u></b> "and last 5 days" [?]<br /></span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><br />Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"...but in my humble opinion, I'm no hustler. You see, neighbor, I never go looking for a sucker. I look for a champion and make a sucker out of him."</i></span></div></blockquote></div>
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<br /><br /><br />Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-32510451531973987872023-07-06T14:20:00.002-07:002023-07-23T03:58:15.877-07:00Soapy Smith shoots up 14th and Glenarm streets in Denver, 1894.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF24BvdpkgdTkdJfzh_uQLG01wUSQS-i7WbgS6TmUiL4qbY_SlHDRyZUtNykfEDnysRW5zjcokXh5K7BD2UGavRQXJDQstfzrfM0IdY-VGCMIPJ7OtHxFVkhRCsEO8xC2RjQFLFXXWOl279gAMMHaCofoUoqbR9Lb5TDdPLlaKAHLw4kg2EE8-ZF4WUI/s2092/Denver%20newspaper%20July%201893.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2092" data-original-width="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF24BvdpkgdTkdJfzh_uQLG01wUSQS-i7WbgS6TmUiL4qbY_SlHDRyZUtNykfEDnysRW5zjcokXh5K7BD2UGavRQXJDQstfzrfM0IdY-VGCMIPJ7OtHxFVkhRCsEO8xC2RjQFLFXXWOl279gAMMHaCofoUoqbR9Lb5TDdPLlaKAHLw4kg2EE8-ZF4WUI/s16000/Denver%20newspaper%20July%201893.jpg" /></a></div><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDSo5yzncRYC4GcSmiip-tZJKfSBMx9Qx7ONYIJ1DOiK92umU8ZqG_TbSVFt7susgONc0OEbuL2-uVp9ieLrgIYeh2zSnay7D8zTiFAQBns6cILkQXFbTX7f6QfQ_lgnrdTKlH2s0pzL4hsRFcr5kuRe5xGlE2MBMgS7lmOapiNgofxSIk0g7YxqcgC4/s209/Blog_Letter_T.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="100" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDSo5yzncRYC4GcSmiip-tZJKfSBMx9Qx7ONYIJ1DOiK92umU8ZqG_TbSVFt7susgONc0OEbuL2-uVp9ieLrgIYeh2zSnay7D8zTiFAQBns6cILkQXFbTX7f6QfQ_lgnrdTKlH2s0pzL4hsRFcr5kuRe5xGlE2MBMgS7lmOapiNgofxSIk0g7YxqcgC4/s1600/Blog_Letter_T.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">he colonel swore he thought the cartridges were blanks and went laughingly on his way.</span></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> An unknown Denver newspaper, dated "July 1893," clipped out and saved by Soapy Smith himself. This comes from my cousin, Jefferson R. “Little Randy” Smith collection.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
WAS SURGEON’S DAY</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
The Red Fire Cracker Cut Many Red Tricks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
KEPT THINGS GOING WARMLY</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
Disasters Began Long Before the Fourth Dawned Luridly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
NUMEROUS SERIOUS ACCIDENTS</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Colonel Jefferson Randolph Smith Turned Loose for Old Glory at 1 O’Clock A. M. —An Acrobat From Illinois Was Next Heard From—A Plumber at the Gumry and a Boy on Blake Street Patched Up by the Surgeon—The Worst Accident of the Day Happened at Rocky Mountain Lake—A Seven-Year-Old Boy Shot—Cannon, Crackers, Pistols, Explosives of All Description Get in Their Work.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> It was surgeon’s day at police headquarters. Unreliable toy cannons, stray bullets, erratic powder crackers, the booze of patriotism and other things incidental to a proper celebration of “The Fourth” furnished cases in plenty to Drs. Mack and Jarecki. The nation’s birthday anniversary began prematurely, so far as casualties marked it, by the sad death of John D. Mannix on Larimer street, soon after 10 o’clock Wednesday night. From that on the ambulance and …[sentence indecipherable]… to gather rust on their wheels and at midnight they were still making arbitraries. Not many arrests were recorded, owing to the tradition obtaining among police officials that the liberty of American citizens, particularly embryonic citizens, may verge toward license without much check on fire cracker day.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> About 1:15 o’clock a.m. notification that the [?] had been formally opened was telephoned to police headquarters from Fourteenth and Glenarm streets. It was a startling report that a man with black whiskers, a soft hat, a big revolver and a public</span><span style="font-size: medium;">—</span><span style="font-size: medium;">spirited jag, who looked like [words indecipherable] insurgent, had turned himself and his armament loose on the residents there.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
It Was Only Jeff.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> An officer who went to investigate discovered that the author of the scare was Senor Colonel Jefferson Randolph Smith, amusing himself by shooting 45-caliber bullets through the windows of the Glenarm bar. The colonel swore he thought the cartridges were blanks and went laughingly on his way.</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym-UAP22fLmpFpHdPKRJeXGcj-vlMNvsCBtB1hS9zv5Xa0TkeBRyRj7kI7B2-roDvMyWVMLqRIjz7q32m-yiALlHQ0jilVtYL42KYXq89uqINRgtdwULdauLItvv0wJt9dr4GxV4RhsVZtceFtbliSZBZe7b-2pMLsI-xqyxEoIgQwMgvpoHAnwq37oQ/s425/Soapy_Shooting.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="226" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym-UAP22fLmpFpHdPKRJeXGcj-vlMNvsCBtB1hS9zv5Xa0TkeBRyRj7kI7B2-roDvMyWVMLqRIjz7q32m-yiALlHQ0jilVtYL42KYXq89uqINRgtdwULdauLItvv0wJt9dr4GxV4RhsVZtceFtbliSZBZe7b-2pMLsI-xqyxEoIgQwMgvpoHAnwq37oQ/w340-h640/Soapy_Shooting.jpg" width="340" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fantasy depiction of Soapy shooting up the town</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Apparently, Soapy was not arrested for the offense. Probably drunk, he had disturbed the peace, endangered public safety, and destroyed private property, and yet was seemingly allowed to go on his way. Did he privately recompense the owners of the Glenarm? Probably—unless Soapy thought he owed them the damage.</span></div><br /><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"We must never forget that we are human, and as humans we dream, and when we dream we dream of money."
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—"George Lang"<br />played by Ricky Jay, The Spanish Prisoner</span></blockquote>
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<br />Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-12967223492754588952023-06-15T07:20:00.001-07:002023-06-15T07:20:39.205-07:00FINDING SOAPY SMITH’S BIRTHPLACE<div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygLDZwG2tLExViSxChJ6P7YfgHRN2RdMOAFqYA-7SxUPY_WLYijqL0GuyiTUQF_Fo6t9LgWlWNPoRRDjO-XdgsLX2s2GdN2lD4gnoGypqje6GOZ8lEXnS2Sdv1QdqD0vG_P2MppPjy8Gkg0yiKmwi8vshPHaQYk7wt4Lqu7z2jZGi4UOrkWXqEQ64/s840/100_0178.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygLDZwG2tLExViSxChJ6P7YfgHRN2RdMOAFqYA-7SxUPY_WLYijqL0GuyiTUQF_Fo6t9LgWlWNPoRRDjO-XdgsLX2s2GdN2lD4gnoGypqje6GOZ8lEXnS2Sdv1QdqD0vG_P2MppPjy8Gkg0yiKmwi8vshPHaQYk7wt4Lqu7z2jZGi4UOrkWXqEQ64/w640-h480/100_0178.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Same style home, by same builder</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">What Dr. Ira E. Smith's home may have looked like about 1840<br />Newnan Historical Society says homes were not painted<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZcR12YNS6R23qXrqkXr1gUnul-g7wavn_Oms7yD0Im1DlE6WaymuguZTNtx-jyrnUrBYtqlE5h-_creVtkakn-zp2fBYT8FC8KP69SNIildFhMYbRUI0tWBL5nDLzklRiPfn4HgToWewnFvY6uy-5rJ80cx6FJKrC5zO092dXuFCiCC1C9lVbY5F/s196/Blog_Letter_F.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="95" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZcR12YNS6R23qXrqkXr1gUnul-g7wavn_Oms7yD0Im1DlE6WaymuguZTNtx-jyrnUrBYtqlE5h-_creVtkakn-zp2fBYT8FC8KP69SNIildFhMYbRUI0tWBL5nDLzklRiPfn4HgToWewnFvY6uy-5rJ80cx6FJKrC5zO092dXuFCiCC1C9lVbY5F/s1600/Blog_Letter_F.jpg" width="95" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>INDING SOAPY SMITH’S BIRTH PLACE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Latest regarding the home of Dr. Ira Ellis Smith and Ellen Stimpson Peniston.</b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> In researching my family history for the book, <i>Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</i>, I learned that my great-grandfather, confidence man Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith II was born in the home of his grandfather, Dr. Ira Ellis Smith.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8fgt7KgYfxqyElzr17uj1TST4wFdZSt81DP14ZkFrnhbZRcy1hJ6yoACgPr9BSIHATe2RYrSHpE6EOcJNJ0MZm44whvBs4HuB__wdhk5pSnqU5FPDUsYZyKY-jcOT3utg5LDrBQ1ojH65QNoaQO5iMHA5aBQ6EMs_svZpv8Y2QUcDdf60zEfl_pH/s1600/02%20Smith%20house.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8fgt7KgYfxqyElzr17uj1TST4wFdZSt81DP14ZkFrnhbZRcy1hJ6yoACgPr9BSIHATe2RYrSHpE6EOcJNJ0MZm44whvBs4HuB__wdhk5pSnqU5FPDUsYZyKY-jcOT3utg5LDrBQ1ojH65QNoaQO5iMHA5aBQ6EMs_svZpv8Y2QUcDdf60zEfl_pH/w640-h448/02%20Smith%20house.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Ira Ellis Smith home</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Circa 1970-80s.<br />Photo by Joseph Jefferson Smith and James Rothmund Smith<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> On March 25, 1828, the state of Georgia held a land grant lottery for the sale of land ceded to the state in a treaty with the Creek Indians. Dr. Ira Ellis Smith (1794-1869) won the right to purchase land in the Sixth district of Coweta County, named for the large Coweta Indian population in the region. The land Dr. Smith purchased was thirty-nine miles southwest of the future city of Atlanta and seven miles beyond the settlement of Newnan. On April 1st, five days after the auction, Dr. Smith bought land in nearby Fayette County. It appears that he may have moved closer to his new property in Coweta, moving from Oglethorpe County, Georgia until the house could be constructed (Coweta Co., deed book A, p. 102. “John Houston of Fayette to Ira E. Smith of Oglethorpe Co. for $500 land in Dist 6.”)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukLQw0PlcWpQdwJ_oxbGB7PoFIu3ixRbstQQNPvyMz5ygivE525Z6bU-kHHThG7MKaDsunP8JwOvJ3M1FVqir2OsgwB_WEN5sU9hGKbv4vPZ_cwx_8N_Ko8qrG0WR-Yl4-h7DTmgYXHGozSSEuFZX2xKZj9ViGo5C6N-tw9V6u_veyTdQwU_kDk_R/s1024/NewnanSmithHouse_1960s%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1024" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukLQw0PlcWpQdwJ_oxbGB7PoFIu3ixRbstQQNPvyMz5ygivE525Z6bU-kHHThG7MKaDsunP8JwOvJ3M1FVqir2OsgwB_WEN5sU9hGKbv4vPZ_cwx_8N_Ko8qrG0WR-Yl4-h7DTmgYXHGozSSEuFZX2xKZj9ViGo5C6N-tw9V6u_veyTdQwU_kDk_R/w640-h484/NewnanSmithHouse_1960s%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Possibly the oldest known photo of Dr. Smith's home</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Circa: 1960s-70s<br />Photo by Joseph Jefferson Smith<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)<br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The Smith’s are said to be one of the first families to reside there. Ira was well-liked and succeeded as a physician and planter. His popularity gained him a seat in the House of Representatives for the Sixth District in the Georgia Legislature; he served from 1832 to 1837 and again in 1851. He was elected a state senator in 1839, 1841-42, 1849, and 1853. According to Edwin Smith, a grandson of Ira, “the Smith family was equal in standing to any in Georgia, … claiming descent from long lines of well-known people.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXPBTmXpMVlwGC93gZmPFL_hw_Vzidwe4mubvhs2NU6RJu4AX2t4GqQpdObaug6dVP9IRZukVCN-hMmD_5E6EDw47KdKgWmXCe9RA2ySsp66wxSq5_XZKLkpHcX8ZvNf9j6x2tqlrCSlHFXh12DXDub5AHXHbcG4iUGNv_ZSvqHnyJUazAHeugQ8Z/s1565/Capture%20photo%2051_3%20of%20Shoal%20Creek.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1262" data-original-width="1565" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXPBTmXpMVlwGC93gZmPFL_hw_Vzidwe4mubvhs2NU6RJu4AX2t4GqQpdObaug6dVP9IRZukVCN-hMmD_5E6EDw47KdKgWmXCe9RA2ySsp66wxSq5_XZKLkpHcX8ZvNf9j6x2tqlrCSlHFXh12DXDub5AHXHbcG4iUGNv_ZSvqHnyJUazAHeugQ8Z/w640-h516/Capture%20photo%2051_3%20of%20Shoal%20Creek.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Smith home</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">1983<br />Courtesy of Vintage Aerial<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div></div></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Ira Ellis Smith’s wife, Ellen Stimpson Peniston (1802-1860), in a letter from her sister to a niece, is described as the “Belle of Virginia” and “the Flower of Georgia.” Another family letter boldly states that she was the most educated lady in Georgia. Another letter by Ellen’s brother John Gilbert Peniston tells of a duel fought in September 1820 over the sixteen-year-old Ellen. It took place in St. Petersburg, Virginia, between R. C. Adams and James B. Boisseau. She was “Educated in Baltimore,” and</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
her accomplishments equaled her personal charm, so it was no wonder that she should have many lovers. Admiring friends gave her a party in her honor. During the evening one man showed her such marked attention that her escort became jealous and challenged his rival to fight a duel. The next day the word came to Ellen that both men had been killed. A sad shock to her, though she loved neither of them. … In old Blandford churchyard both men, Adams and Boisseau, were buried.</blockquote></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Ironically, the attending physician at the duel was Dr. Ira Ellis Smith. Between 1830 and 1835, Ira had a plantation mansion built on the land he bought in Coweta County, christening the home “Shoal Creek.” It was located “seven miles east of Newnan, close to Thomas’ crossroads on the Old Wynn’s Pond Road.” From the outside, the house is imposing, appearing larger than it is on the inside. A large center hall is flanked by two spacious rooms, a small kitchen, and a sitting room. Upstairs are two large bedrooms, each with fireplace. Some of the original furnishings and family heirlooms are on permanent display in Newnan at the Male Academy Museum, where young Jefferson “Soapy” Smith obtained his education.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsQBrf4wA1ssgLNHWPSGDkL028s5BFaWaAMESPDBHxt4JFJGzbeGPARGK_rSiy1-aVa3q8Dws22jke4npyBUuM3g8n1uxKWoq0qAUlyoYrl3Wn2eE3kbKa7PlnkeIkwSSqKJlEAKp2v1YK_9LJT0COOOrQ1LvUCIs3Gk39SSynwHdIsEIk37_wq3s/s1566/Capture%20photo%2051_4%20of%20Shoal%20Creek.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1566" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsQBrf4wA1ssgLNHWPSGDkL028s5BFaWaAMESPDBHxt4JFJGzbeGPARGK_rSiy1-aVa3q8Dws22jke4npyBUuM3g8n1uxKWoq0qAUlyoYrl3Wn2eE3kbKa7PlnkeIkwSSqKJlEAKp2v1YK_9LJT0COOOrQ1LvUCIs3Gk39SSynwHdIsEIk37_wq3s/w640-h514/Capture%20photo%2051_4%20of%20Shoal%20Creek.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Smith home</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">1983<br />Courtesy of Vintage Aerial<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div> <span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Cotton and corn were grown on the Smith Plantation, supplementing the income from Dr. Smith’s medical practice. In 1844 Moses P. Kellogg came to Coweta county to be a teacher. With a large family to educate, Ira offered Kellogg a teaching job and a place to live in the Smith home. There he would teach eight of the Smith children. School was held in a small room added to the rear of the house. Arrangements were made to open a school on Fayetteville Road for children from the surrounding area. One of Kellogg’s brightest students was Ira’s son Luther, who went on to become president of Emory College.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4Rs8-nDKJKDWM0RDu39OnM6z7IGVPbPa_N85MXnno3MeToFMAKGz-JI_Vglf3x8Lr8fTd9SP89pWYalC3QcLas_cehcULv5YScIIiZqWeXqEAuXXRG9eB0D_HV-MWmbzI-i_T8Kc1Rpp6Ho6EE01OEuq_a-DK-F7gctbVd9A9g10RVXCMLvVuuDJ/s1194/Posey%20rd%20and%2034%20Ira%20Ellis%20Smith%20house%20lot..JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1194" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4Rs8-nDKJKDWM0RDu39OnM6z7IGVPbPa_N85MXnno3MeToFMAKGz-JI_Vglf3x8Lr8fTd9SP89pWYalC3QcLas_cehcULv5YScIIiZqWeXqEAuXXRG9eB0D_HV-MWmbzI-i_T8Kc1Rpp6Ho6EE01OEuq_a-DK-F7gctbVd9A9g10RVXCMLvVuuDJ/w640-h442/Posey%20rd%20and%2034%20Ira%20Ellis%20Smith%20house%20lot..JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where the land is believed to have been</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Posey Road and Hwy 34<br />Courtesy of Google<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div></div></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Of Dr. Smith’s eleven children, the fifth was Jefferson Randolph Smith Sr. (1831-1902), a lawyer who married Emily Dawson Edmondson (1837-1877). Around 1859 Jefferson Randolph and Emily moved in with Dr. Smith at Shoal Creek to help care for his ailing wife, Ellen. Another Ellen, the daughter of Columbus Darwin Smith and the granddaughter of Ira, named Ellen Smith Faver, also moved to Shoal Creek. She moved in after her mother, Nancy Edmondson, died on October 21, 1860. Two days later Ira’s wife Ellen also died. Ten days later, November 2, 1860, Jefferson Randolph Smith II (1860-1898) was born. Edwin Bobo Smith, a cousin of Jefferson R. Smith II (Soapy), also came to live in the home for a time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4DHym0bNaM_gKFlFpXyqkQea6OcmkWeJ2FgqKNnFJ1uwbpQFbq7I4zWPVnXYi0QgHFYYa9SlbKe9rQfXO5WECmdjFfmNbU1Fr-U9JiEeHWKuYt5XbV9I1upJPQwX7CSmeEI6ptGgEU5uI689uGV9B2wy2KisD2pMpZM60_rafxHrAAiBT9nvOeWs/s840/100_0160.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4DHym0bNaM_gKFlFpXyqkQea6OcmkWeJ2FgqKNnFJ1uwbpQFbq7I4zWPVnXYi0QgHFYYa9SlbKe9rQfXO5WECmdjFfmNbU1Fr-U9JiEeHWKuYt5XbV9I1upJPQwX7CSmeEI6ptGgEU5uI689uGV9B2wy2KisD2pMpZM60_rafxHrAAiBT9nvOeWs/w640-h480/100_0160.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's birth place as it looked in 2007</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">486 Pete Davis Rd, Coweta County, Georgia</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Dr. Smith soon moved to the home of his son, Ira Ellis Caspar Wistar Smith. Dr. Smith died in 1869. Jefferson and his parents moved out of the house around 1875-76, moving to Texas to escape Reconstruction. The owners of the Smith house for the next 118 years is currently unknown. I was introduced to Jannar Davis and his wife, the owners of the house in 2007.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The house was set to be razed in 1994 to make room for a parking lot when Jannar Davis and his wife purchased it and moved it to property the Davis’ owned.</span><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> In 2007 I gave a presentation on Soapy Smith to the Newnan Historical Society. I was able to see the Ira Ellis Smith house at the new location, but due to time constraints only drove by the original land location.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt-s0zuQ33Q8Oj-P4mMVsmnbRZUUUS_MW06XeH8sfGph49ZH-gHn2c8UGFA4UE8Yniye5OB-X2jOCpmiLbIKkh7yQ-i68GVEba-0Q3kmt4A6RNBn4RYTsuEdKRVlMdffP9Nk3HBXqj5-FqIliOvAl30AYDNGXmMZS0m3FoYJc6O9GPTDuJ7phDfKb/s669/SmithHouse_1968.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="669" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt-s0zuQ33Q8Oj-P4mMVsmnbRZUUUS_MW06XeH8sfGph49ZH-gHn2c8UGFA4UE8Yniye5OB-X2jOCpmiLbIKkh7yQ-i68GVEba-0Q3kmt4A6RNBn4RYTsuEdKRVlMdffP9Nk3HBXqj5-FqIliOvAl30AYDNGXmMZS0m3FoYJc6O9GPTDuJ7phDfKb/w640-h544/SmithHouse_1968.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's birth place as it looked in 1968</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Original location-side view<br />Corn can be seen growing in the field<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo by Joseph Jefferson Smith and James Rothmund Smith</span></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> After returning home I realized I did not have the needed addresses or contact information for neither the original land location or the address and contact information for the Davis’, and could not obtain any assistance from anyone in Coweta County.</div></span> <span style="font-size: medium;">In early 2014 the Davis’ were able to get the house listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in December they sold the home and moved to Seminole, Florida. Letters addressed to them have been returned so for now their contacts are once again missing.</span></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL3RqnumGIPvUnx9HuxGX6J8xADXNaxWWrOTwktG-1FtnGIX4_PSylmKD1yvB7a3isczhCUwRm71LjaJaO3NcAzYoZnCRALeMLIt3zPcHogX3wcOcNewgcditMY74AfnCIoT14ha4nbsBy2zFeOW261_E9qfPTZqXLK5k8tMogSgGrI3uNVeOpQ6R/s836/Capturehousetoo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="836" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWL3RqnumGIPvUnx9HuxGX6J8xADXNaxWWrOTwktG-1FtnGIX4_PSylmKD1yvB7a3isczhCUwRm71LjaJaO3NcAzYoZnCRALeMLIt3zPcHogX3wcOcNewgcditMY74AfnCIoT14ha4nbsBy2zFeOW261_E9qfPTZqXLK5k8tMogSgGrI3uNVeOpQ6R/w640-h458/Capturehousetoo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith's birth place as it looks in 2023</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">486 Pete Davis Rd, Coweta County, Georgia</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Courtesy of Google</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Sixteen years would pass before I met Sid Brown, a retired law enforcement detective, and his wife, a genealogy researcher, who told me that between them, “if we can't locate the Davis’, then he's left the country.” They were able to find the location of the house’s current location (486 Pete Davis Rd, Coweta County), and the general location of where the original lot was located (Hwy 34 East and Posey Rd.). Eve Graybeal Olsen from the Coweta County Georgia Genealogy group on Facebook added in her findings, maps and photographs, and together we all narrowed the location of the land where the house originally stood, but as the land has been built upon since 1994, including the introduction of a side-street, the exact placement of the Smith house is still a mystery, But, photographs taken from the air in 1983 show farmland on both sides of the house, leading to the assumption that both sides of the land on each side of the side-street belonged to the Smith home, perhaps the house sitting directly in the center, perhaps in the center of the side-street itself.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<b><u>SOURCES</u></b></span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;">
Sid Brown (Sid helped greatly. Without Sid Brown I would still not know the address of the house or the location of the land where the home originally stood. Thank you, Sid!).</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Eve Graybeal Olsen</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Vintage Aerial</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /><a href="https://vintageaerial.com/photos/georgia/coweta/1983/ICO/51/3" target="_blank">Photo #1</a><br /><a href="https://vintageaerial.com/photos/georgia/coweta/1983/ICO/51/4" target="_blank">Photo #2</a></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2009/09/click-image-to-enlarge-dr.html" target="_blank">Sep 10, 2009</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2011/08/georgia-reunion-family-graves-research.html" target="_blank">Aug 16, 2011</a><br /><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2011/08/georgia-reunion-family-graves-research_18.html" target="_blank">Aug 18, 2011</a><br /></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFPw0pPur5aH3g5mmnLhVtNKmgsahUq3x7QFMe0sUAQt7GqTFxaMCmAPqnuS41kn9FhCEk4gqvghSaHEO76XG-lpvL1yxNPkHXd36se-P_ukSQK4jAEyCH97cCjdA4-DC2QGtzLWdiLhs8/s320/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Dr. Ira Ellis Smith house</span></b>: <span style="font-size: medium;">pp 20-23.
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"A rich man is either a scoundrel or the heir of a scoundrel."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—Spanish Proverb</span></blockquote>
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<br /></div></div></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-6931331594644297092023-06-02T06:07:00.000-07:002023-06-02T06:07:19.156-07:00Soapy Smith's Childhood Education<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBcS_mCAMQwSo-5VSYXrREFSbKdR26Jn-5e-mkORPGBCveOC5MllLOHTB_0wywjCU95_CM_f8FPhQA7-CiB9KDzBuPhtvuE8wrRmDKjUvqejUF4rxnmJg-8Wh4OYtvS4Yr-ar1eZFr5470nluJNMGGKHcx8ZcGgbX02YGQCJFhASHvPY5GMY8DoDP/s628/The%20Independent%20Blade,%20Newnan%20Nov%202%201860.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="455" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBcS_mCAMQwSo-5VSYXrREFSbKdR26Jn-5e-mkORPGBCveOC5MllLOHTB_0wywjCU95_CM_f8FPhQA7-CiB9KDzBuPhtvuE8wrRmDKjUvqejUF4rxnmJg-8Wh4OYtvS4Yr-ar1eZFr5470nluJNMGGKHcx8ZcGgbX02YGQCJFhASHvPY5GMY8DoDP/w464-h640/The%20Independent%20Blade,%20Newnan%20Nov%202%201860.JPG" width="464" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Male Seminary and Normal School,"</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Independent Blade</i><br />Newnan, Georgia<br />November 2, 1860,</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDU--gsWfJzvbZkaA7zaIoqaECvDRm8cjbUjsGITI3UjRhDgoGw9uTprytNxo1phCeCU6Uxz27ZQ_MUVInlptvHramVb7214dNhYElNB9Ebad5PV1uBByUaLAU05UonRKWQjYxU8g6A-rLujXbknj2zeAwqJp_5lhkVh_R1vpjD-obxkNppFJwlXXw/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDU--gsWfJzvbZkaA7zaIoqaECvDRm8cjbUjsGITI3UjRhDgoGw9uTprytNxo1phCeCU6Uxz27ZQ_MUVInlptvHramVb7214dNhYElNB9Ebad5PV1uBByUaLAU05UonRKWQjYxU8g6A-rLujXbknj2zeAwqJp_5lhkVh_R1vpjD-obxkNppFJwlXXw/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">OAPY SMITH'S CHILDHOOD EDUCATION</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The Smith family passed down the history that young Jefferson Randolph Smith II had enrolled in "a Sabbath school, and was able to continue his education throughout the war, after the war’s end and on into Reconstruction." I believe the ad from the <i>Independent Blade</i>, a Newnan, Georgia newspaper dated November 2, 1860, is for the school Jefferson may have attended. In researching Soapy all these decades I found that a major portion of the family history turned out to be true. There is no provenance regarding this particular school but Newnan was not that large of a community, and the heading of the ad, "Male Seminary and Normal School," caught my eye.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> A Christmas speech written for the Sabbath school play in 1871 shows clear evidence of a good education and signs of wit.<br /><br /><blockquote>
Newnan, GA. Dec. 24 1871<br /><br />
Friends and Patrons. Ladies and Gentleman, we heartily welcome you on this festive occasion. With buoyant and grateful hearts we commemorate the nativity of Him at whose birth the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy. Let the community for its blessings, rejoice, and especially should we as a Sabbath school rejoice, that we have been blessed with such kind patrons and efficient teachers. And how can we express our gratitude (and admiration) for this beautiful tree? A tree is known by its fruits, and this one is one that speaks for itself. It must have sprung from a generous soil in a genial clime. Leaden with such rich and luscious fruit, its bending boughs are more persuasive than speech; and the masich[1] it bears would puzzle Linnaeus[2] to classify or name it. Ladies, in our hearts we thank you for it. Again a hearty welcome and a joyous festive Christmas eve to all.[3]</blockquote><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">
<b>NOTES</b>:<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">[1] masich: may be mastic, “1. A gum or resin which exudes from the bark…. 2. An evergreen shrub yielding mastic gum….” It fits with the following named botanist who was challenged to name its origin. (OED)<br /><br />
[2] Linnaeus: Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), famed Swedish naturalist and botanist, established system of nomenclature for taxonomy of plants. His published works number 180. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1892)<br /><br />
[3] Copy of original sent to John R. Smith by Joseph J. Smith, 12/08/1969. The original (location currently unknown) is nicely hand written in cursive and very readable. Someone, in different script, perhaps his mother, wrote at the top, “Jeffies Christmas Welcome, Sabbath School play.”<br /></span></div><div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog</a></span></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Never play cards with a guy nicknamed after a city."</i></span></blockquote></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—Unknown</span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-49648378526075986882023-05-31T10:21:00.000-07:002023-05-31T10:21:07.848-07:00Soapy Smith's father and maternal grandfather, Georgia, 1861.<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHm45CR_0AMN1KogJJxENpVyq-NU13A6VsKOHwbs0ADseMND3hqSfxI4C7geU8FCZBOPPdxOxUyfDZ-9p71dJMPxk83RdU5IBg5bXECs9o3axjDxau3RbV_Yf7vkbQUKejT4iZF3wuJg2ky2eBK39wdmxEzVxKVDn71qEu4UtRdnbCTr0m18-9H7R/s629/The%20Georgia%20banner%20&%20sentinel%20_%20Newnan_Ga%20Feb%201%201861.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="629" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHm45CR_0AMN1KogJJxENpVyq-NU13A6VsKOHwbs0ADseMND3hqSfxI4C7geU8FCZBOPPdxOxUyfDZ-9p71dJMPxk83RdU5IBg5bXECs9o3axjDxau3RbV_Yf7vkbQUKejT4iZF3wuJg2ky2eBK39wdmxEzVxKVDn71qEu4UtRdnbCTr0m18-9H7R/w640-h204/The%20Georgia%20banner%20&%20sentinel%20_%20Newnan_Ga%20Feb%201%201861.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jefferson R. Smith, Adm'r.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Georgia Banner and Sentinel</i><br />Newnan, Georgia<br />February 1, 1861</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2BaLjsdurafJLj86bqLYf3o3OKhCl1Lgcz9RIYXK9sI0zQyfHG87yzL0Fm_SgrrLEFnLWVDiKlE22tFu5JbPdRzAApbFzBLdUQSJW9qqIqJfoz-YU1R2-xa259bfj9vC2mMToMTJ83klsBhzCVDwzI908Ci8tFO9CuM4854ZQnrlXpzOCTwAoBv1/s202/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="106" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2BaLjsdurafJLj86bqLYf3o3OKhCl1Lgcz9RIYXK9sI0zQyfHG87yzL0Fm_SgrrLEFnLWVDiKlE22tFu5JbPdRzAApbFzBLdUQSJW9qqIqJfoz-YU1R2-xa259bfj9vC2mMToMTJ83klsBhzCVDwzI908Ci8tFO9CuM4854ZQnrlXpzOCTwAoBv1/s1600/Blog_Letter_S.jpg" width="106" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">oapy Smith's father and maternal grandfather.</span></div>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Jefferson Randolph Smith, Sr., (1831-1902) is my great-great-grandfather, father of Jefferson Randolph Smith, II (alias "Soapy"). Jeff Sr., was an attorney in Newnan, Georgia. The newspaper clipping is from the </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Georgia Banner and Sentinel, </i>of </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Newnan, dated February 1, 1861 just about two months before the start of the Civil War. The clipping shows that Jeff Sr., is administrator for the estate of Joseph Henry Edmondson (often spelled <i>Edmundson</i>).<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Joseph </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Henry Edmondson (1792-1858) is my 3rd great-grandfath</span><span style="font-size: medium;">er. Joseph is the father-in-law of Jeff Sr., as Jeff Sr., married Joseph's daughter, Emily Dawson Edmondson, who would give birth to Jefferson Randolph Smith, II (alias "Soapy"), making Joseph, Soapy's maternal grandfather. At the date of this clipping, Jeff II ("Soapy") is age four months. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> There are very few known samples of the two newspapers in Newnan, Georgia in existence so I am lucky to find my ancestors named.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_3pHuHXFPOFr3US631zE1mwkIwzcVKJ7CeUugZ--AwSeWK1fQSZRsmmuJMEk3gcHw76Q4ZTv5f58QeKMRxG98SUYIMMiyolc7FQN4Woq1NT5bEm3CfFUkdpQzmNR8AtB3aTWS5ZvidSiJom5QA9gV--cCFEEiywQYJWEU4KsRtrPFsyI-_f7Zw9U/s440/60235050_129567928999.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="250" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_3pHuHXFPOFr3US631zE1mwkIwzcVKJ7CeUugZ--AwSeWK1fQSZRsmmuJMEk3gcHw76Q4ZTv5f58QeKMRxG98SUYIMMiyolc7FQN4Woq1NT5bEm3CfFUkdpQzmNR8AtB3aTWS5ZvidSiJom5QA9gV--cCFEEiywQYJWEU4KsRtrPFsyI-_f7Zw9U/w364-h640/60235050_129567928999.jpg" width="364" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joseph Henry Edmondson</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> Oak Hill Cemetery<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjx6YzN4L0VeiE0-0Ug7i1lBCPfZB86_YFuLZzqzLGrJ5Jh-RyUuEnNBuo-mBFwBKpAEqNUNPrtjilWJdRSSZjaUYTc1TBxGrVmomMdjlruwAqMMeDnQnkjhmQN6-5yrqH3-_iTuDCnOC8I_A8Tuuu6hqKdDK12nd9I9LMzQQZ7Pa4cabtwvp1914j/s700/43224956_125608901175.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="467" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjx6YzN4L0VeiE0-0Ug7i1lBCPfZB86_YFuLZzqzLGrJ5Jh-RyUuEnNBuo-mBFwBKpAEqNUNPrtjilWJdRSSZjaUYTc1TBxGrVmomMdjlruwAqMMeDnQnkjhmQN6-5yrqH3-_iTuDCnOC8I_A8Tuuu6hqKdDK12nd9I9LMzQQZ7Pa4cabtwvp1914j/w426-h640/43224956_125608901175.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joseph Henry Edmondson</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> Oak Hill Cemetery<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8T-zPs1XD6Ah_bIioaB-F2oqpqk-F3xuuaDlgb-Bixhs_tXx68BvTbHkpYIIsSI3c5dIc0NObd6XPeUzN-zuDEgWsUkIXRibE-zN8QaXs0lfYbJHMDT0h94W_Z8UmYesq4lIFVyyqJg-wg7tdhhBZ6k0vBP4XfTlvQxi1ciDE8qLvhwCxRgPDSQ0/s250/c47474ab-af92-4d6b-8761-5bc4b05c191d.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="250" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8T-zPs1XD6Ah_bIioaB-F2oqpqk-F3xuuaDlgb-Bixhs_tXx68BvTbHkpYIIsSI3c5dIc0NObd6XPeUzN-zuDEgWsUkIXRibE-zN8QaXs0lfYbJHMDT0h94W_Z8UmYesq4lIFVyyqJg-wg7tdhhBZ6k0vBP4XfTlvQxi1ciDE8qLvhwCxRgPDSQ0/w400-h269/c47474ab-af92-4d6b-8761-5bc4b05c191d.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joseph Henry Edmondson</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> Oak Hill Cemetery<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>SOURCES</b> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43224956/joseph-edmondson?_gl=1*1wddmqi*_gcl_au*NjQ2NzAzMDEyLjE2ODU1NDUyNzI.*_ga*NjY4NDM2MjU4LjE2ODU1NDUyNzI.*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*NWUwY2JjM2UtZTQ2Yi00ZjA4LThkY2YtMjNhZDU0NTUyODE4LjEuMS4xNjg1NTQ5MzcyLjMyLjAuMA.." target="_blank">Find-A-Grave</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A History of Coweta County from 1825 to 1880</i>, by W. U. Anderson, p. 19.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpYC4_537DnN2KZJk_qzu83EfFJ7y-ZrA5aUBlSCkKe4byPAlGdWU8AvZb0EPIE9SQ3pkGCWvh7WDA8mRsLmjyk5SlFWdcl1_Em3kXvVZfPYRqlV_UOTDMlabyLIoXIUgjr8jQ0jV11ZB/s1600/Blog_extra_19.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Joseph Henry Edmondson</u> <br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2010/04/soapy-smiths-aunt-francis-edmundson.html" target="_blank">Apr 07, 2010</a></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2010/05/soapy-smiths-grandfather-joseph-e.html" target="_blank">May 29, 2010</a> <br /></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2012/03/click-image-to-enlarge-t-hese-kind-of.html" target="_blank">Mar 20, 2012</a></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Win if you can, lose is you must, but ALWAYS cheat!"</i></span></blockquote>
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<br /></span></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-57364693883300754172023-05-03T07:08:00.008-07:002023-05-24T17:47:24.867-07:00Soapy Smith and the quote: "Charity covers a multitude of sin."<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmVX7qyrckCdI93xA6PNFXIZZRdq4txrLydqO62g_I7E7ABfPhh8qhaLHWcjzxB1awdzkbauzjSa_-j9ZrokPasHvOTgQvfPeVtghqkYS0SNl6SFWfgffmyUKwBWXee_eKx9gzwiCJUyb4Q0ihXFdMrUwybjbGDYWJEwULSAkVgm9VOqAd68vNfwV/s841/343476802_1331469874391895_5417670978514919407_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="841" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmVX7qyrckCdI93xA6PNFXIZZRdq4txrLydqO62g_I7E7ABfPhh8qhaLHWcjzxB1awdzkbauzjSa_-j9ZrokPasHvOTgQvfPeVtghqkYS0SNl6SFWfgffmyUKwBWXee_eKx9gzwiCJUyb4Q0ihXFdMrUwybjbGDYWJEwULSAkVgm9VOqAd68vNfwV/w640-h330/343476802_1331469874391895_5417670978514919407_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>harity covers a multitude of sin."</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I posted the above quote image on my Facebook group, <i>Soapy Smith's Old West</i>, and friend Markie Whalen asked if "the ends justify the means?" I occasionally hear from people who believe that because I am a descendant of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, that I am guilty of defending his crimes. Below is my response to that allegation.<br /> No, I do not believe that the "ends justify the means." Nonetheless, "Soapy" was indeed known for his charity around the west, as well as his crimes. In turn, I ask the question, If Soapy's crimes are not lessened because of his charity, should Soapy's charities be lessened because of his crimes? <br /> Personally, I don't believe that charity reduces the severity of the criminal act, but there are many who do believe this. Just ask anyone who follows Democratic and Republican politicians!<br /> "Charity covers a multitude of sin." This expression above originated in the New Testament (I Peter 4:8): “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”<div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The bunko sharp walks up to the man on the street, claiming his acquaintance at once. A gentleman who has seen this done several times says: “It is perfectly astounding how they impose upon a man when they have once settled upon him. They walk up with the most perfect air of gratified surprise, grasp the man’s hand warmly and shake it vigorously. The man is astonished at first, but time after time, after a short conversation I have seen them walk off arm in arm."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—<i>Evening Post </i>(San Francisco), May 6, 1876</span></blockquote>
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<br /></div></span></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-60232331808398651212023-04-14T17:17:00.005-07:002023-04-17T11:30:42.823-07:00Soapy Smith in Leadville, Colorado, December 1888<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtDMAlWjy7oKKWBpSBTSL6HdmJDg45ilz-xgVwLTNdW_BuDJBGkgc74qwbuEYvlQath4R2TAkwDMMoO6v2LK2W73HpKPh8qcFsDu0iJmbBW4O5-RxwBWdsXZPDts_6gFbe2ui5YUEaULGzHY_Ux_N4R3G-aRg7qaxTSxVpolOWsfvSobKcyYbLpMC/s5827/Los_Angeles_daily_herald_1896-01-12_23.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5827" data-original-width="729" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtDMAlWjy7oKKWBpSBTSL6HdmJDg45ilz-xgVwLTNdW_BuDJBGkgc74qwbuEYvlQath4R2TAkwDMMoO6v2LK2W73HpKPh8qcFsDu0iJmbBW4O5-RxwBWdsXZPDts_6gFbe2ui5YUEaULGzHY_Ux_N4R3G-aRg7qaxTSxVpolOWsfvSobKcyYbLpMC/w80-h640/Los_Angeles_daily_herald_1896-01-12_23.png" width="80" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">‘Soapy’ had his fangs in deep</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Los Angeles Daily Herald</i><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">January 12, 1896<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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… “The night I struck Leadville, just to show I didn’t hold myself higher than the residents of Leadville, I went into Richardson’s and bought $50 worth of chips, all for the honor and glory of Kentucky Flat. In one hour and a half I was standing up against the stove thinking it over. I didn’t have enough money left to buy a split [a bet on the faro table], and the essentials for the celebration hadn’t been paid for.<br /> “While I was chewing on the situation by the stove, in comes ‘Soapy” Smith with a stranger called ‘Doc.’ You know ‘Soapy?’ He was the most capable bunco man that ever came over the divide. He had a record of ‘conning’ a policeman out of his star. The man with ‘Soapy’ was drunk and clamorous for a game. He had his pockets bulging with money. I heard afterward he’d sold his mine over in Clear Creek, and came over to go into the silver. ‘Soapy’ had his fangs in deep. His scheme was not to rob the man outright, but he had it fixed up with the faro dealer —to do the job smooth and clean, and leave no place open for future criticism. Smith just borrowed money from his friend to get into the game, and as fast as a card came out of the box the dealer grabbed off ‘Soapy’s’ stake, win or lose. They played entirely with $50 bills. ‘Doc’ had ‘em wrapped up in packages of ten. I didn’t know there were so many $50 notes on earth as he flashed up, and I yearned for one of the bundles; just naturally sickened and pined for it. He went on with the game, not winning and not losing, same as drunks always play. I invented a scheme to coax him out and rob him. I had a plan that would have worked, but I discarded it. I couldn’t turn crook, tough as my own luck was. All the time this foolish man was shoveling out money in $500 lots to ‘Soapy,’ and the dealer was mowing it away in his lap, it came so swift. Presently the drunk says he’ll step out into the barroom for a drink. Then I says to myself. ‘Here’s where you get action,’ and I followed him through the swing doors into the saloon.<br /> “He was holding on to the bar, waiting for the drink. I makes a quick step to him and whispers, ‘Smith wants some more money.’<br /> “The ‘doc’ makes a kick about the kind of luck his friend seemed to be playing in, but goes down in his vest for the stuff. He tossed out a little roll, which I counted in my room over in the hotel. It was $488. The price of two bottles he and ‘Soapy’ Smith broke somewhere was gone from one of those $500 packages. Kentucky Flat had its celebration all night.<br /> “That, Grant,” said The Busted Prospector, “was the nearest I ever came to turning a crooked trick.”<br /> “Oh, there was nothing wrong about that any more than any other kind of robbery—just plain stealing, that’s all,” said Crumley.<br /> “No, it wasn’t robbery,” argued the Prospector. “I might have stood him up and got the whole bundle. It was finding it.” —William E. Lewis in Chicago Times-Herald.
</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"> Was Soapy in Leadville in December 1888? According to the Leadville Herald Democrat Soapy was reported in Leadville on May 1, 1888.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>One of the slickest and best known rascals in the whole western country is reported … on his way to Leadville…. The gentleman … —Soapy Smith—is known to many people in Leadville, as he has been here frequently, and always with … a small valise filled with small cakes of soap in little boxes, and a very pretty Mrs. Smith, who travels with him.</blockquote><p> The individual telling the story said he went into "Richardson's" to gamble. In looking at the city directories for 1882-1890, I found one, Rufus Richardson listed as owning a restaurant at the rear of 123 W. 5th in 1887. On the Sanborn maps of 1886 and 1889 the address is listed as a store. <br /> For the entire story of this amazing confidence man, you can read my book, <b><i><a href="https://klondikeresearch.com/product/alias-soapy-smith-paperback/" target="_blank">Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</a></i></b>.<br /></p><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Having got him partly or wholly drunk, he is in a fit condition to understand the beauties and mysteries of 'bunko.'"</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—<i>Evening Post</i> (San Francisco)<br />May 6, 1876</span></blockquote>
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<br /></div></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-45997753934517670132023-04-12T16:59:00.011-07:002023-04-17T11:40:26.082-07:00Did Soapy Smith operate in Sacramento, California in 1887-88?<div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhPAb7sCVgtTrMEFCVIA9P7qShx9C10WkQr-yKDrg_oKrFb7W-0wWuLJsY386bmPJgAw1wKaqbkqliZbneFV-R7o0fReWjxJtWDfYjszebJtFz-Qc6FFossNWC9TCDTEEbLQH1GlFMoRNcq-c9pXIMIUC94zdTfsY_aR8b3R8aSZYzusTzgshclYJ/s739/Sacramento_Daily_Union_1887-09-22_6.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="739" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhPAb7sCVgtTrMEFCVIA9P7qShx9C10WkQr-yKDrg_oKrFb7W-0wWuLJsY386bmPJgAw1wKaqbkqliZbneFV-R7o0fReWjxJtWDfYjszebJtFz-Qc6FFossNWC9TCDTEEbLQH1GlFMoRNcq-c9pXIMIUC94zdTfsY_aR8b3R8aSZYzusTzgshclYJ/w640-h254/Sacramento_Daily_Union_1887-09-22_6.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The soap trick man</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sacramento Daily Union</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">September 22, 1887</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EcGrz_Bc0TOlhiwi51XxFSTXS-CRPCvw8Iqg-7oQIVVHf0b_CNDDIS5k5jdufT0CYTbe7S1HcqItI-i59IBRtmGsslmb9Z5DDfZxCeBECdkL98ujs_4tui1nteoRBR7Fitg_vTpDyB8feVxGzLlW0aMHphcxwjaGLriK42txoV3SWpygZoBH6pw6/s205/Blog_Letter_W.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="99" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EcGrz_Bc0TOlhiwi51XxFSTXS-CRPCvw8Iqg-7oQIVVHf0b_CNDDIS5k5jdufT0CYTbe7S1HcqItI-i59IBRtmGsslmb9Z5DDfZxCeBECdkL98ujs_4tui1nteoRBR7Fitg_vTpDyB8feVxGzLlW0aMHphcxwjaGLriK42txoV3SWpygZoBH6pw6/s1600/Blog_Letter_W.jpg" width="99" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">as Soapy Smith operating at Sacramento, California in 1887-88?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(quick answer: Maybe.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> On <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/04/was-soapy-smith-in-sacramento.html" target="_blank">April 23, 2023</a> I published a story on the possibility that Soapy Smith operated his prize package soap racket in Sacramento, California, in mid-July 1885. My conclusion is that “The timing, between June 23 and August 1, 1885, is right, thus Soapy may have operated in Sacramento, California, on July 14, 1885.”</span><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">Since posting that story I have found two more newspaper clippings in which a prize package soap racket operator worked the streets of Sacramento in late September 1887 and mid–February 1888. The following is from the </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sacramento Daily Union</i>,</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> September 22, 1887.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
The soap trick man—the sharper who gulls the verdant by offering for sale little packages of soap, into which he ostensibly puts a $5 greenback, the purchaser finding to his disappointment that it was only a pretense—has commenced business on the streets. His scheme is little if any better than the shell game for the public.</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
This newspaper account is dated just over two years after the initial prize package soap man in Sacramento, July 15, 1885. All I have at this time is circumstantial evidence that I supply from Soapy’s timeline, via my book, <b><i><a href="https://klondikeresearch.com/product/alias-soapy-smith-paperback/" target="_blank">Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</a></i></b> and my extensive files. We need to keep in mind that it is possible that any one of the three, or even all of them, are different individual bunko men. One, two, or all three may be Soapy. Also possible is that none of them is Soapy Smith. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> In 1887 Soapy was an established criminal and political power in Denver, Colorado. He was married and had a child on the way. Though well established, Soapy still needed to leave Denver periodically, for short periods of time, sometimes longer, depending on the severity of his crimes, until the memory of his crimes were swept under a rug. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I investigated the known traveling plans and locations of Soapy, and whether he was in Denver previous to and post September 22, 1887, to see if a trip to Sacramento was possible. Following is what I uncovered.</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;">On January 1, 1887, the <i>Rocky Mountain News</i> reported that Soapy had made a trip to St. Louis to see his wife when she was close to giving birth. Though eight months previous to the soap man in Sacramento, this is the first of many trips Soapy made going east of Denver. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">A February 13, 1887, letter to Jeff shows he had been in
St. Louis with his wife and baby son during Christmas. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">A month after their son Jefferson was born, he wrote to his wife Mary on March 19, 1887, Mary and the baby were still at her mother’s in St. Louis, and trips were still being made to see them.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">In July 1887 the <i>Rocky Mountain News</i> somehow got hold of Soapy's travel itinerary and published it.</span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote><blockquote>
Soapy Smith, one of the local celebrities of Denver and one of the most pushing business men in the city, left last Tuesday evening in the rain for a month’s sojourn in the East. While absent he will give away small samples of Denver’s best soap and new crisp fifty dollar bills among his friends at Saratoga, Long Branch, Coney Island, Brighton Beach and other health and pleasure resorts. We are sorry to lose “Soapy” from among us, but will console ourselves by allowing the “Hifen” to unload its surplus amount of “soft soap” on the susceptible candidates. With Smith out of the way, the “Hifen” has no rivals in the state.</blockquote></blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> How did the <i>News</i> obtain Soapy's itinerary? Possibly a reporter had cultivated a source within the soap gang. Equally possible, though, is that Soapy or a confederate purposely led a reporter to believe that Soapy was headed east when actually he went in another direction. No evidence shows he went east at this time. He may have gone as far east as St. Louis to see his family or in the opposite direction altogether. Soapy could not afford to have his actions and his comings and goings generally known because whether true or untrue, his reputation linked him to any criminal event within his general vicinity. Another concern for Soapy was that publication of his travel plans would not only alert the law but also any rivaling bunco operations. Either entity, or both, could spell trouble. So he learned to be secretive or to misdirect the newspapers and his enemies when he planned on traveling. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Soapy acted as timekeeper in a boxing match on November 18, 1887, eighteen miles from Denver.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"> So, we see that Soapy left Denver in July, about two months before a trip to Sacramento would be made. We also know that about two months after the Sacramento trip, Soapy was "eighteen miles from Denver." <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Technically, the timing is right for Soapy to possibly have gone to Sacramento. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilV-3a6aAfhl0GPTcEWjU-A5RDEw4PXxMBfhcMkH3aWHnl9rg8qdzpqsRL6DthIENsIlEtKb0Duh_IcJKQUwNUAAOW4YmUfhlsrHIoM0Q-8JiLH5_YM1968yrkyeXMJO1Fei0IFpkFKzNPtnFfyhTKaLXXvwjKna41xsK_dDm6NI8LCKrLH8tVctuq/s766/Sacramento_Daily_Union_1888-02-14_4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="766" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilV-3a6aAfhl0GPTcEWjU-A5RDEw4PXxMBfhcMkH3aWHnl9rg8qdzpqsRL6DthIENsIlEtKb0Duh_IcJKQUwNUAAOW4YmUfhlsrHIoM0Q-8JiLH5_YM1968yrkyeXMJO1Fei0IFpkFKzNPtnFfyhTKaLXXvwjKna41xsK_dDm6NI8LCKrLH8tVctuq/w640-h240/Sacramento_Daily_Union_1888-02-14_4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ordered the police to stop the soap trick man</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sacramento Daily Union</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">February 14, 1888</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></span></div>
<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Two years, seven months after the first recorded soap scammer in Sacramento, California, and almost five months after the last incident, the mayor of Sacramento orders the city police to "put a stop" to a "soap swindler." The </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sacramento Daily Union</i>, </span><span style="font-size: medium;">February 14, 1888 published the blurb.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
Mayor Gregory yesterday ordered the police to put a stop to the soap swindler’s operations on K street. Why does the Mayor make fish of one and fowl of another? Why does he not give the same orders regarding the Chinese lotteries and the faro banks?</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Is it Soapy Smith or another soap sell operator? Again, I am working with circumstantial evidence from Soapy's timeline via my book and files. In 1888 Soapy's criminal and political empire in Denver, Colorado, is larger and more powerful than it was five months previous. In 1888 he opens his first saloon enterprise, the Tivoli Club. His wife and child are back at home in Denver, in their new home. Did Soapy travel back to Sacramento? Once again, </span><span style="font-size: medium;">I
investigated the known traveling plans and locations of Soapy, and
whether he was in Denver previous to, and post February 14, 1888, to see if
a trip to Sacramento was feasible.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;">From January through May 1888, Denver citizens read little of Soapy Smith in the Denver newspapers. There seems to have been a reform movement going on within the city, demanding police action.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">On </span><span style="font-size: medium;">January 26, 1888, the <i>Rocky Mountain News</i> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">reported Soapy's role of timekeeper during a boxing match in Boulder County, Colorado. During the match one of the boxers
was knocked down, and possibly when Soapy completed the ten count mark
before the downed fighter again arose, the referee either did not hear
Soapy's ten count indicating the fight was over or he chose to ignore it and let the fight continue. Accusations of foul play were made
but with no apparent repercussions. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">On January 31, 1888, Police Chief Henry C. Brady had his
officers sweep the streets of confidence men and tinhorn gamblers.
Fourteen men were arrested, all within proximity of Larimer and
Sixteenth streets. Seventeenth Street, where Jeff was based, was
seemingly ignored. Soapy was likely out of the city, having been in Boulder for the boxing match there. Likely Soapy operated his prize package soap racket in surrounding towns, but likely not Boulder itself. Could be that this is when he headed to Sacramento.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">At some date after February 12, 1888, when the building's owner received permission from the city of Denver to open a saloon, Soapy's Tivoli Club saloon and gambling house opened its doors. The earliest mention of the Tivoli Club is published in the <i>Rocky Mountain News</i> on November 22, 1888, due to an anti-gambling raid by the city police. If Soapy went to Sacramento, then it is probable that the Tivoli opened well after February 12th.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">On July 8, 1888, Soapy was definitely back in Denver when he swindled two men who reacted with their fists. “A ‘soap’ man and two grangers [farmers] got into trouble yesterday morning, in which the grangers, as usual, got the worst of it.”</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">I was surprised when the first Sacramento date, July 14, 1885, fit into Soapy's timeline making it possible that it was Soapy operating the prize package soap racket there. However, I did not expect all three Sacramento dates to fit into Soapy's timeline. However, there is no provenance yet, so it could simply be a good coincidence. All three will go into my files as "possibles." <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-58145427966126535972023-04-03T11:33:00.027-07:002023-04-12T17:04:34.256-07:00Was Soapy Smith in Sacramento, California in 1885? <div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3fnHW8JgeKNEibnvTz9Qtt5aKHCWS6cKVYeHhTAXVlqC_mTa9fo8BP_J0sO8XMhZUKMWFONbjDRVBodzMBiT-FkNnNySF4j3DCo72MPF3B-99F1JAGg42HicqEl61qIDX3Zvn65rvzeC0KwN4vAWFpRz9r1_L7Otp7pFMkKqCgRcYf71LWVdY_F5/s783/Sacramento_Daily_Union_1885-07-15_4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="783" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3fnHW8JgeKNEibnvTz9Qtt5aKHCWS6cKVYeHhTAXVlqC_mTa9fo8BP_J0sO8XMhZUKMWFONbjDRVBodzMBiT-FkNnNySF4j3DCo72MPF3B-99F1JAGg42HicqEl61qIDX3Zvn65rvzeC0KwN4vAWFpRz9r1_L7Otp7pFMkKqCgRcYf71LWVdY_F5/w640-h378/Sacramento_Daily_Union_1885-07-15_4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The "soap man"</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sacramento Daily Union</i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">July 15, 1885</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">as Soapy Smith in Sacramento, California in 1885?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The quick answer: Very possible.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I came across the mention of a "soap man" in the <i>Sacramento Daily Union,</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
July 15, 1885.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
The gambling games following the circus found Sacramento a poor place to operate in yesterday, as the Chief of Police shut down upon them all in short order. In fact none of the schemes, including those of the “soap man” and the “greenback man,” were allowed to commence. Even the individual who sold articles, promising to give a prize with each, was advised to close his operations.</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> My
first thought is "could this be Jefferson Randolph Smith, alias
'Soapy?'" Though on the rare side, there were other prize package soap
racket men operating in the West, so my first task is to find any
circumstantial evidence indicating that it could be Soapy. One way to accomplish this is to search my book, <i><a href="https://klondikeresearch.com/product/alias-soapy-smith-paperback/" target="_blank">Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</a></i> and my files to see where Soapy was at
during the period of the newspaper facts, which in this case is previous and post July 15, 1885. Usually I can determine, on a possibility scale, whether it could be Soapy Smith or not. What I gather goes into my files for possible future discovery that may alter the potential feasibility of the "soap man" being Jefferson "Soapy" Smith. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The following information comes from my book and files.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> Soapy's name was absent from the Denver newspapers for much of 1884 and for the first five months of 1885. He seems to have kept an extremely low profile as he established himself in the city. During this period, he might still have been traveling, and one trip might have led to a stay of many months. Eight years later, in 1893, the <i>Rocky Mountain News</i> published Soapy's own words that he had gone to operate at the World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans, which ran from December 16, 1884, to June 2, 1885.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">The absence of Soapy's name from the newspapers ended in May 1885 when J. Brockman, a Denver resident, had Soapy arrested for swindling him. Soapy did not want to return the victim’s money. The <i>Rocky Mountain News</i> reported the incident.</span><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;">The arresting officer, Henry W. Barr, did not have enough evidence to prove that Soapy had actually swindled Brockman, so he arrested Soapy for being in violation of the city lottery ordinance and had him held in jail pending receipt of $500 bond. The following day John P. Kinneavy, saloon entrepreneur and Soapy's friend, posted bail. At the trial on the lottery charge, attorney Judge Miller represented Soapy and was able to get him off with a fine.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Smith claims that he does not pretend that everyone can be lucky and was very indignant when Judge Barnum fined him $25.00. He gave notice that he would appeal the case.</blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
No appeal of the case is recorded. On the day of the trial, the city council passed an ordinance against schemes like the soap racket, including <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>any person who shall be engaged in any fraudulent scheme, device or trick upon the streets, through fares or public places or elsewhere in the city, or who by the aid, use or manipulation of any article or articles, thing or things what so ever in packages, boxes or otherwise arranged, whereby persons are induced, or sought to be induced, to purchase any such packages, articles or thing with a view to obtaining money, jewelry, or other property therein contained or therein connected in any manner. And it shall constitute no defense.</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
The ordinance seemed designed to stop Soapy in particular and all bunco men in general.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Soapy was able to continue his street business for a solid month before the city council adopted a resolution on June 23, 1885, to rescind his peddler’s license. Soapy then left Denver for an extended cooling off period. For forty-two days, from June 23 to August 1, 1885, there is no sign of him. Then his name appeared in an August 2, 1885, news account of a boxing match in Rawlins, Wyoming. Soapy was the timekeeper. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The timing, between June 23 and August 1, 1885, is right, thus, the conclusion is that Soapy Smith may very well have been operating in Sacramento, California, on July 14, 1885.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>ADDENDUM</u></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are two more dates in which Soapy Smith could have operated in Sacramento, California. You will find them both <a href="https://soapysmiths.blogspot.com/2023/04/did-soapy-smith-operate-in-sacramento.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </span><br /></div><div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Son, one of these days in your travels, a guy is going to come up to you and show you a nice brand-new deck of cards on which the seal is not yet broken, and this guy is going to offer to bet you that he can make the Jack of Spades jump out of the deck and squirt cider in your ear. But, son, do not bet this man, for as sure as you are standing there, you are going to end up with an earful of cider."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—Damon Runyon</span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-40217848246860506732023-03-12T08:38:00.018-07:002023-04-12T20:29:10.962-07:00Possible victim of the Soapy Smith gang, Denver, 1884.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CWw_sxh6cKJIvfWE67GRiCL7lg6jnOm5JgrKosvJl967-NkU7cwuNri2akR2e01cqZgbkI_I03ElIBSwJ-o1spyBaKUMIXqoMd-rQH5KYdTDCYIzw9sR-s21UmV1OoTJtoajo946sFXQKITsrjpJg9tGz7Tb4_ZfJaQ4zoxkUfNHTbu9ylupH7S6/s764/Omaha_daily_bee_1884-06-25_3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="764" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CWw_sxh6cKJIvfWE67GRiCL7lg6jnOm5JgrKosvJl967-NkU7cwuNri2akR2e01cqZgbkI_I03ElIBSwJ-o1spyBaKUMIXqoMd-rQH5KYdTDCYIzw9sR-s21UmV1OoTJtoajo946sFXQKITsrjpJg9tGz7Tb4_ZfJaQ4zoxkUfNHTbu9ylupH7S6/w640-h176/Omaha_daily_bee_1884-06-25_3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Roped-in</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Omaha Daily Bee</i><br />June 25, 1884<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<i> </i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>OSSIBLE VICTIM OF THE JEFFERSON R. SMITH GANG.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Omaha Daily Bee</i><br />
June 25, 1884<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
COLORADO.<br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Col. Fletcher, a tourist from Boston, was roped-in by the bunko men of Denver and relieved of $1,000.</span></span></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The story of Soapy Smith can be had in the book, <i><a href="https://klondikeresearch.com/product/alias-soapy-smith-paperback/" target="_blank">Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</a></i>.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>NOTES</u></b>:</span></span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
$1,000.00 in 1884 is the equivalent of $33,472.95 in 2023.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">According to the Rocky Mountain News there were at least two, possibly three bunko gangs operating in Denver at this time. For certain "Doc" Charles Baggs and Jeff R. Smith were operating in Denver at this time.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jeff R. Smith was not known as "Soapy" Smith until May 1885, neither was the gang known as the soap gang. </span></span><br /></li></ol><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"In many cases the bunko sharp is compelled to return a portion of the money to avoid such trouble, and sometimes comes to grief at the hands of the law. In such cases the matter is compromised with the man, his money is returned and he is induced to leave, so that when the case comes up for trial the sharp escapes for lack of prosecution."</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—<i>Evening Post</i> (San Francisco)<br />May 6, 1876</span></blockquote>
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<br /></span>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-22470204553379695712023-03-10T07:47:00.005-08:002023-04-12T20:31:36.080-07:00BUNKO THIEVES of San Francisco in 1876, and their comparison to the Soapy Smith gang. <div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjmfQd8rzzPPozwzCQD50iN1g-9axnK0lM6BBepHPX7oTP9WvOKlEf9BFhGhZu82Oe63uOr4FK_iPG3mBmejVRCar1CANBD47MhuwoEgcTNl-fsiKVGYOFegaIEzfmd0G6ekSVZ1uyX7kSVFIDWQYH1gm6YLoJL6Zxxtunt7XQ_IIhZNc3134SiV2/s8522/Evening_Post_1876-05-06_1.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="8522" data-original-width="1752" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjmfQd8rzzPPozwzCQD50iN1g-9axnK0lM6BBepHPX7oTP9WvOKlEf9BFhGhZu82Oe63uOr4FK_iPG3mBmejVRCar1CANBD47MhuwoEgcTNl-fsiKVGYOFegaIEzfmd0G6ekSVZ1uyX7kSVFIDWQYH1gm6YLoJL6Zxxtunt7XQ_IIhZNc3134SiV2/w132-h640/Evening_Post_1876-05-06_1.png" width="132" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">BUNKO THIEVES</span><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Evening Post</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">(San Francisco)</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">May 6, 1876</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuyeVGiRMKf5ienTmjuKEndoVCgXWA78fimdplgR3AKGSQF65yQLwoJAVpC3yCdX1crLZ7xaOymCPK0-UDk9sc0WjM-3LmiuKukb0KfRNBWbO2KOexbTdtJlArE1qV48RKZ5_3LkyjV5LEQojBaOMk865vD-6diCL70dvLKHcxkb0zS11VTgJxgFz/s199/Blog_Letter_B.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="102" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuyeVGiRMKf5ienTmjuKEndoVCgXWA78fimdplgR3AKGSQF65yQLwoJAVpC3yCdX1crLZ7xaOymCPK0-UDk9sc0WjM-3LmiuKukb0KfRNBWbO2KOexbTdtJlArE1qV48RKZ5_3LkyjV5LEQojBaOMk865vD-6diCL70dvLKHcxkb0zS11VTgJxgFz/s1600/Blog_Letter_B.jpg" width="102" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">unko thieves of San Francisco in 1876</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">and their comparison to the Soapy Smith gang. </span><br /></div>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Though the article is written well before Soapy’s criminal reign in Denver, it gives a number of comparison clues to how the soap gang in Denver operated. I will add my thoughts and notes within the article. These were not written down rules, but rather common sense in the art of manipulating human nature for the most profit without being arrested. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
<i>Evening Post</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
(San Francisco)</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
May 6, 1876</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
BUNKO THIEVES.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
The Shrewd Swindlers with Whom San Francisco is Infested.</span><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
Their Haunts and Ways of Taking In the Unwary—Some of the More Notable Characters—How Railway Travel is Injured by Their Operations—Fleecing Tourists from Australia.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
“Will you walk into my parlor?” said the spider to the fly,</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
It’s the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
And I have many pretty things to show you when you’re there.”</span></div></blockquote><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
[Soapy Smith appreciated the poem, "The Spider and the Fly" by Mary Howitt (1829) and it's unintended comparison to the bunko man and the victim. In the mid-1890s he picked up a print of The Web of Arachne
by Fernand Le Quesne and is believed to have hung it inside the Tivoli Club in Denver. When he opened his saloon in Skagway, Alaska, he hung the print on the wall and fittingly named the saloon, Jeff Smith's Parlor.]</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGS-ERTPkJfvNhJ6cGyFBTlC0OxcS5fxymgb8zRb255qIOYxJ0awkkWn3M0KjZWicUCf2FOdpWtAVU1wDcHMoz-topLdF6rjDwzTxetlHaoU5Yag1J_SgdLWA_87HFFZfc2vroeEzCAuXXg7H9XZ2Job2VauIIAt52mwMw4kee_ODxS6f0ChDv1MF/s960/116356489_2566736403640995_7037851037668773468_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="708" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGS-ERTPkJfvNhJ6cGyFBTlC0OxcS5fxymgb8zRb255qIOYxJ0awkkWn3M0KjZWicUCf2FOdpWtAVU1wDcHMoz-topLdF6rjDwzTxetlHaoU5Yag1J_SgdLWA_87HFFZfc2vroeEzCAuXXg7H9XZ2Job2VauIIAt52mwMw4kee_ODxS6f0ChDv1MF/w472-h640/116356489_2566736403640995_7037851037668773468_o.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Web of Arachne</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">by<i> </i></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Fernand Le Quesne</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>Had the author of the composition from which the above lines are taken chosen to set forth the preliminaries to the invitation, she would, no doubt, have presented an interesting detail of the measures taken by the sagacious spider to insure an acceptance of his invitation by his intended victim.
Externally, the appearance of Monsieur Spider was such as to inspire confidence and respect. Natural defects were overcome by artfulness, and the ordinary ungainly appearance improved as much as possible. The natural ugliness of the arachnidan visage was concealed by an open, winning smile. The hairy legs were brushed into glossy smoothness, and though rather thin, seemed the perfection of gentility. The rasping voice of ordinary occasions was softened into one more seductive in tone, and, in short, the tout ensemble of the tempter was as much altered for the better as the necessities of the occasion demanded and the funds at his command, and the furnishing of his toilet-table, would allow. Not only in this direction but in others was his sagacity manifested. (much of next sentenced missing) … crack in the wall, where the potent attraction of a ray of sunshine, or some other equally strong inducement, caused the congregation of an unusual number of flies at that point. His sagacity was further manifested in the selection of one fly in particular to whom he should extend the invitation. It was not offered to flies in general, but to a single individual, and we are led to believe that as the spider, concealed in the darkness of his inner den, looked out upon the passersby, he let one after another pass unheeded, and paid no special attention until he caught sight of one whose particular fatness excited his appetite or whose unsophisticated appearance promised an easy victory. Then</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
THE TEMPTER SIDLED FORTH.</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
Clambered gently over the meshes of the net until the outer one was reached, and dangled there in suave composure waiting the coming of his victim, who upon arriving was gracefully saluted with the compliments of the day. The advances being pleasantly received the conversation took a more confidential turn, and soon the fly could not fail to see what a great impression his shapeliness and talents had produced upon his particular friend the spider. No doubt it curiously happened, according to the statement of the spider, that before taking up his present location he had dwelt near the family of his young friend the fly, knew his father and mother well and all the family. All this, however, was but preliminary to the gentle invitation couched in the nicest language and offered in the softest tones. “Will you walk into my parlor?” The fly confiding and flattered, willingly consents, is ceremoniously assisted inside by the spider, who can hardly restrain himself from satisfying at once his appetite, is taken up the dark pathway, beyond the light of day and the reach of his friends and adds one more to the list of the latter’s victims, while he diminishes the number of fools in the world by one. This occurrence is a common one, and takes place more frequently, perhaps, in our city than anywhere else. The spiders are human beings—the term men would flatter them too much—who, having in the great process of evolution descended direct from the tarantula, display all the villainy, treachery and lack of principle characteristic of that animal, with a corresponding amount of knavery and cowardice. Their dens are scattered about the city, hidden from all eyes, save those of the sharper, his victim and the police. The webs, invisible though they are, await the traveler on every corner, though they are most numerous on Montgomery street, on and near the corner of Bush, and from there up to Kearny. Here, also, the spiders may be seen in full force every day, dressed shabbily or fashionably, as suits their purse or the object they have in view. Gamblers, pickpockets, ropers-in, confidence men, monte men and blacklegs of high and low degree, throng the principal thoroughfares with nothing, save in the lower grades, to indicate their trade, and</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
<blockquote>UNDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MEN OF RESPECTABILITY,</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
<blockquote>Except by those “fly” enough themselves to know them and their doings. In this “profession,” as in all others, there are different grades of “honor,” according as the work performed is difficult or easy. The burglar who skillfully breaks into your house at night looks down with contempt upon him who merely snatches your watch in a crowd, and quite as contemptuously does the latter, proud of his own skill, look upon the sneak thief who creeps through an opened front door, takes an overcoat and umbrella from the hat-rack and stealthily crawls off to his pawnbroker. The majority, however, prefer swindling to stealing. It is more genteel in the first place, is much less precarious and there are more avenues of escape in case of arrest. The only stock in trade required for the business is a knowledge of human nature, a glib tongue, a thorough lack of principle and a previous acquaintance with some branch of swindling. These qualities make up the sharper, and as they are possessed in a greater or less degree determine his status among his brethren. As the capabilities of the members of the gang vary, so do the means by which their, or rather his, mind as to the method of approach and the way in which to work. It is a matter of often-expressed wonder how the gentlemen who “toil not” managed to keep well dressed and well fed, and yet the swindling business offers as great, if not greater field for individual enterprise than any other. From a “hogging” faro game, bunko and the more aristocratic methods of swindling, down through the intermediate stages of three card monte, the strap game, card and billiard games generally, loaded dice, etc., to the humbler practices of “standing in” with clothing dealers, the ways of turning a dishonest penny are varied and numerous. The sharpers live at the expense of travelers, either from the outside country, from the East or more distant localities, who, unacquainted with the city and its denizens, fall an easy prey. This city, owning to the number of people who are constantly coming and going, the immigrants and travelers from the East and from Australia and China, is</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
<blockquote>A CHOSEN SPOT</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
<blockquote>For the fraternity, and the number of them is something startling. Then, in addition, their ranks are receiving constant accession from the hoodlums of the city, the greatest ambition of many of them being to be successful card throwers, or sharpers of some sort. The one department of “bunko” swindling claims the attention of a large number, who working methodically and carefully, are successful to a far greater extent than the few complaints and tales of distress that are told at the Police Office would lead one to imagine.</blockquote>[The number of known successes is few as they were not published or written down, minus a few examples of profits Soapy noted in his private notebooks and writings as he traveled from town to town in the early days as a nomad bunko man and his operations in Denver and the Tivoli Club. In Denver he was able to pay his gang, his debts, and afford a good life for his wife, Mary and their children, purchased properties, at least one home, and charity to the needy. According to his Mary, at the time of his death Soapy had made near 40 million dollars (stolen).]<br /><blockquote>The “bunko” men are divided into two distinct gangs, one “going for” the more aristocratic passengers from the East and Australia, and the other for the immigrants and steerage passengers, called “stinkers” in the elegant parlance of the gang. Though well known to each other, the bunko men usually hang together in gangs of three or four, that number being all that is needed to operate at one time. Their loafing places are, as stated before, around the corners of Bush and Montgomery and Bush and Kearney streets. They are also scattered along Kearney, and at the corner of Kearny and Commercial streets there is a saloon which forms their general headquarters.</blockquote> [Not much different years later within the soap gang organization. Unlike the article, the soap gang in Denver was often divided into numerous groups in numerous locations on and around Seventeenth street, between the Union Depot and Larimer street. There were big mit (fake poker) games, the auction house, the gaming rooms of the Tivoli Club, etc. They also hung together in groups of three or four. When Soapy went to Skagway, Alaska for the very first time in 1897, he went with two other bunko operators, and it was three of the gang that robbed John Stewart in July 1898.]<blockquote>It is a small, shabby place on the northeast corner, and is kept by a little old man familiarly called “Uncle” by the bunkoists. “Uncle” is a short, fat man with a bald head, who may usually be seen, for all the world like a bloated spider, standing near the door of his “dive.” His head is bald with the exception of a few locks around the sides, his face is red and bloated; his nose so swollen by toddy efflorescence as to have become shapeless and spread over a large part of his face; his eyes are deep-set and small, with a villainous twinkle; a long tobacco-stained gray beard partly conceals a dirty shirt; and altogether he seems fitly named when designated as the elder relative of so promising a family. Around his place and in it may usually be seen a number of sharps and bunko men; those who gather there are as a general thing members of the plebeian division of the gang. This plebeian division is presided over by one "Blewy,” who makes periodic trips out into the country, gets acquainted in various towns, and is therefore prepared, when the harvest season is over, and the “hands” have come to town for a good time, to show them around, exhibit the elephant and the “lively flea” to them, and</blockquote></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
TEACH THEM THE WAYS OF THE CITY.</blockquote></span><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">
Such tuition, however, is slightly more expensive to those that have money than would be lessons on the best method of swaying a nation from Queen Victoria. One of “Blewy’s” right hand men is a man who may be seen every day around the saloon above mentioned. He is a man about five feet ten inches high, wears a dark gray suit of clothes, a flat black felt hat, such as is usually sported by hoodlums, and has a red, wrinkled face, with sandy mustache and short chin whiskers. His face has a hardened, “tough” look, and his expression invariably causes the observer to wonder when he got out of San Quentin. The aristocratic division is run by “Slim Jim’s Brother,” a brother of the notorious monte man. Chicago Jack. Boston Charley and Tibbetts have already been hauled up before the Police Court on charges of bunko swindling, and Tibbetts is now spending a term in the County Jail. Slim Jim’s brother, “Chicago Jack,” and Harris are about the same hight[sic], five feet eight, or a little below it. They dress on ordinary occasions somewhat alike, in dark suits, usually wearing short sack or frock coats. Harris wears a soft, dark felt hat—has black hair, slightly curling, a black mustache, and an incipient beard on his chin. He dresses to be seen around the corner.</span></blockquote> <span style="font-size: medium;">[Likely that the moniker of "Slim-Jim" was pretty common, but then again, it's hard not to imagine that it could be referring to "Slim-Jim" Foster of the Skagway, Alaska, soap gang who assisted in the robbery of miner John Douglas Stewart, that also involved the game of three-card monte.]</span><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">These men and their associates are expert cardsharpers, and are up in</span></blockquote></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: medium;">
ALL KINDS OF SWINDLING.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
But their attention has been of late devoted principally to bunko. Whenever an Australian steamer gets in they are on the alert. Around the railroad offices on Montgomery street can be counted any number of them, and their adroitness is a matter of astonishment even to those who know their skill and mode of acting. Two Englishmen run with the gang who are evidently Sydney birds, and these make themselves especially useful. Among the number are men who have traveled in many parts of the world, through the East, in Europe, and in Australia, and are sufficiently conversant with the various cities to make themselves appear to have many acquaintances and to be well known there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
It is the custom for one or more of the gang to go down to the steamer on its arrival, “spot” the newcomers that look most promising either for greenies or money, and note to what hotel they go. A glance at the hotel register afterward tells the place from which they came, and so the sharper is able to inform his confederates of the name of the selected person and where he hails from, together with such other information as might be gained from a confederate on board the steamer or from any other source.</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">[No need to "glance at the hotel register for the soap gang in Denver as the local newspapers published who was at which hotel, giving their name and where they hail from and sometimes their occupation and why they are in Denver, whether it be business or pleasure. This made obtaining victims from the hotels much easier than those in 1876 San Francisco gangs could.]</span><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">That member of the gang who is best acquainted with the place in question then makes it his business to become acquainted with the man and gain his confidence. He may impose upon some acquaintance of his intended victim and obtain an introduction, or he may follow the latter until some very natural way of making his acquaintance presents itself. Nearly every one of the sports has some “gal” in some one of the low concert saloons who introduces him as Mr. Smith, of the London and San Francisco Bank, or Mr. Brown, of the Bank of California, and the greenhorn usually takes it all in and is gratified at forming so aristocratic an acquaintance. Very commonly, however, no circumlocution is used, and the bunko sharp walks up to the man on the street, claiming his acquaintance at once. A gentleman who has seen this done several times says: “It is perfectly astounding how they impose upon a man when they have once settled upon him. They walk up with the most perfect air of gratified surprise, grasp the man’s hand warmly and shake it vigorously. The man is astonished at first, but time after time, after a short conversation I have seen them</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
WALK OFF ARM IN ARM,</blockquote></span><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">The victim seeming quite [rest of sentence missing]. An invariable accompaniment of the unexpected meeting is an invitation to drink, usually given by the latter, and the two go off to a saloon “kept by a friend of mine” to get the libation that renews the acquaintance. The first meeting usually takes place on Montgomery street, and the drinking saloon selected is a little den on the south side of Sutter, between Montgomery and Sansome near the middle of the block. It is a small, dark place in the rear which is a small board patrician through the door of which a green-baize covered poker-table is visible, and where a small game is usually going on. The two go to this place and get a drink, and the liquor is usually “snuffed” to such an extent that whatever the victim selects for a drink is sure to go to his head and intoxicate him in very short order. Having got him partly or wholly drunk, he is in a fit condition to understand the beauties and mysteries of “bunko.” The sharper confidentially informs him that he has<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />JUST DRAWN A PRIZE IN A LOTTERY.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />And invites him to accompany him to the office and get the money. To the office then they go. These offices are situated in various places, each gang having its own. No one of them remains long in the same building, owing to the precarious nature of the business, but moves, as soon as a good haul has been made, to some other locality. The office is fitted up with ledgers, advertisements of lotteries, and is represented as an agency. A doctored copy of the statutes concerning lotteries, and the rules governing them, lies where it will be likely to seen. The successful candidate receives his prize in bona fide gold coin, and is usually given another ticket which he generously offers to his newly-found friend, or by drawing with it and winning so excites the latter’s cupidity that he is anxious to try his hand, and a “special drawing,” as provided for in the rules, is inaugurated for his benefit. There is really no game at all to it, but it is so explained to the victim that there seems to be<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />EVERY CHANCE OF WINNING</span><br /></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">
And none of losing. The cards are drawn from a box and are twenty-six in number, twenty-five being blanks and one entitling him to a prize. When the cards are drawn, the rule is that when a blank comes out the player must “represent” or double-up, or lose what he has already put up. Inspired by the fact that the prize card is sure to come in time, and feeling confident in the game, inasmuch as the man who is conducting it puts up an amount equal to his every time, he keeps on doubling till his funds are exhausted and he cannot come to time, when the “Cashier” coolly sweeps the board and informs the victim that he has lost. A great deal of discretion has to be exercised by the sharpers in picking out men who will not “squeal.” That is, after losing their money, raise a row about it, have the men arrested, and so on. In many cases the bunko sharp is compelled to return a portion of the money to avoid such trouble, and sometimes comes to grief at the hands of the law. In such cases the matter is compromised with the man, his money is returned and he is induced to leave, so that when the case comes up for trial the sharp escapes for lack of prosecution.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">[Very little difference in the operations between the San Francisco gangs of 1876 and Soapy Smith's gang in Denver of the 1880s-90s, where there are many examples in which the newspapers report that the victim did not show up to court and the prosecution had no choice but to drop its case. In Denver and later in Skagway, Alaska, this developed into the unconventional procedure of arresting the victim, as well as the con man, in order to make sure they appear in court]</span><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the most pernicious modes of gaining the confidence of the travelers, adopted by the sharp, is to represent himself as a railroad agent for some of the Eastern routes. This has really hurt the travel here, the railroad men say, and given</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />A VERY BAD REPUTATION TO SAN FRANCISCO</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />Among the foreign traveling public. The Englishmen coming here from Australia are the best game for the sharpers, partly on account of their being usually well supplied with money and partly on account of their ignorance of this city and “its ways that are dark.” Besides this they are not in the habit of squealing, unless they are severely bitten. One of them who came up two steamers ago related his experience. He met a man who was going east on the same train with him, at least that was his statement, and they went around to see the sights together. They wound up, both comfortably “full,” in a saloon on Merchant street, almost in the shadow of the City Hall. Here the Englishman was shown a magnificent gold quartz specimen by his friend, and they and some others raffled for it. Shaking dice for this led on to shaking for money, and, as the Englishman phrased it, “Buggah, the fellahs if they didn’t cozen me out of twenty-five souvrins.”</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />THE HAULS MADE BY THE SHARPS</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />Are sometimes very large. Slim Jim’s brother made one haul of £1,400 sterling from one man, £500 of it being sovereigns and the rest £5 notes. The sovereigns he exchanged for United States money in a broker’s office on Montgomery street. The sharps frequently go into the broker’s offices with English gold and notes in smaller amounts. How it happens that they are allowed to carry on their game when from “Nibsy,” the curly-haired “snide jewelry” man, to “Liz,” the bunko apprentice they are all well known to the police is a problem which “no feller can find out. Every day some one is swindled, and the sharpers grow fat while the police smoke good cigars on the street corners. There has been of late among the railroad offices some talk of a vigilance committee to clean the fellows out, as they are all well known, and if no other remedy can be had it certainly would be a good thing for them and for the city.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">[Although not confirmed via the newspapers, it is likely that "every day some one is swindled" in Soapy's Denver kingdom as well. It is circumstantial evidence that Soapy worked almost every day, including New Year's Day, etc. In Denver there was little to fear of vigilantes, but it was vigilantes that ended Soapy's life in Skagway, Alaska. Read the whole story in my book, <i><a href="https://klondikeresearch.com/product/alias-soapy-smith-paperback/" target="_blank">Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</a></i>]</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-23794646578512590602023-03-03T09:21:00.014-08:002023-04-12T20:33:41.253-07:00Did Soapy Smith operate in Benson, Arizona in 1885?<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-NmuCluljcFc998GF9eDgeGZD--e0SVpxwk80bTZeUF9aO4tG0177WLPfbNCsnEmg-Y2IRj1jTv_MQ-jDBN8eMFSVs_dpZp00Kc7zjgAFYvmjiHMi4wkrwwk4gNXHfqYC1QMYH0THMh20pdH-Vc31uF85N2U0-o1necO7qZm2ceUVZ8C8n_9W6bU/s1143/Daily_Tombstone_1885-09-02_4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="814" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-NmuCluljcFc998GF9eDgeGZD--e0SVpxwk80bTZeUF9aO4tG0177WLPfbNCsnEmg-Y2IRj1jTv_MQ-jDBN8eMFSVs_dpZp00Kc7zjgAFYvmjiHMi4wkrwwk4gNXHfqYC1QMYH0THMh20pdH-Vc31uF85N2U0-o1necO7qZm2ceUVZ8C8n_9W6bU/w456-h640/Daily_Tombstone_1885-09-02_4.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soapy Smith in Benson?</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Daily Tombstone</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">September 2, 1885</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Daily Tombstone</i><br />
September 2, 1885<br /><br /></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-size: medium;">
Went Broke.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Tim and Brigham, two well known Johns, went to Benson Tuesday to take in the circus and among other sights they saw there was a man selling soap, wrapped around which was greenbacks of various denominations, among others, a $50 note. Our two knights of the lines watched the soap vendor unwrap the bill and show it, and then placed it in the box again for over half an hour, and both had their eyes upon what they thought to be the package containing the $50 bill. They then pooled their issue and forfeited a dollar for a package, picking out the right one, as they supposed. After they had got the package they walked up the track for a distance of half a mile, so that nobody would know of their good fortune, and opened the package, when lo, there was nothing there but a piece of soap worth possibly a quarter of a cent. This so enraged our two friends that they returned and kept buying soap until they went broke, and as a consequence, we learn that the Bisbee stage will only run every other day hereafter.</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The timing is right, but without the </span><span style="font-size: medium;">identification of the man selling prize package soap in Benson </span><span style="font-size: medium;">it remains a question to answer. It is known that Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith operated in numerous locations in Arizona between 1882-1883, but what about September 1885? Soapy was not the only prize package soap man working the West. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> It is known that in 1885 Soapy was rising as a criminal and political force in Denver, Colorado. Soapy's name was absent from the Denver newspapers for much of 1884 and for the first five months of 1885. He seems to have kept an extremely low profile as he established himself in the city. During this period, he might still have been traveling. The absence of Soapy's name from the newspapers ended in May 1885 when J. Brockman, a Denver resident, had Soapy arrested for swindling him. Soapy was able to continue his street business for a solid month before the city council adopted a resolution on June 23, 1885, to rescind his peddler’s license.<br /> Thus Soapy left Denver for an extended cooling off period. For forty-two days, from June 23 to August 1, 1885, there is no sign of him. Then his name appeared in an August 2, 1885, news account of a boxing match in Rawlins, Wyoming. Soapy was the timekeeper.<br /> Soapy's name does not appear in Denver newspapers again until October 3, 1885, when he and another bunco man named Mike Rainey were arrested for assaulting John Koch, a probable victim. Koch failed to identify his attackers as Jeff and Rainey, so they were discharged. This means that the time window (August 2 - October 3, 1885) opens the possibility that the soap man in Benson may very well have been Soapy. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Read the entire story of Soapy Smith in, <i><a href="https://klondikeresearch.com/product/alias-soapy-smith-paperback/" target="_blank">Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel</a></i>. <br /><br /><br /> </span><br /></div><div>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-79317099599414770552023-02-28T09:52:00.002-08:002023-02-28T09:52:58.095-08:00Soapy Smith in Tucson, Arizona 1882<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gnrjyVc4Y13GCKcEcJB33RX7VAgxZe3-9ryLwqaysGCbwoAL3gBFM4TjAchJkyLHSCQOMoiPG0EyJTWCNk3EqaQVtnaVJ_iLAlrNZSQ1SsbirFwxFvqxcxZCj3GC6mOKNlf0ydDv8J3fBRLp2dihn-2yi-q_kvToVaZZInkdOTfl8fL_tkt8h2sc/s1262/Arizona_citizen_1882-12-17_5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1262" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gnrjyVc4Y13GCKcEcJB33RX7VAgxZe3-9ryLwqaysGCbwoAL3gBFM4TjAchJkyLHSCQOMoiPG0EyJTWCNk3EqaQVtnaVJ_iLAlrNZSQ1SsbirFwxFvqxcxZCj3GC6mOKNlf0ydDv8J3fBRLp2dihn-2yi-q_kvToVaZZInkdOTfl8fL_tkt8h2sc/w640-h578/Arizona_citizen_1882-12-17_5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The soap fiend</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Arizona Citizen</i><br />
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Tucson, Arizona)<br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">December 17, 1882</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />(Click image to enlarge)</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Arizona Citizen</i><br />
December 17, 1882<br />
Tucson, Arizona<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
The soap fiend with his little trick is again in town, taking in the
four bits and the dollars of the unsuspecting verdants. The game is to
roll up little bits of soap in paper with an occasional bank note
enclosed, and then mixing all together sells the privilege of choice for
the figure named. In nineteen cases out of twenty the buyer gets his
nubbin of soap and the blue paper, but the bank notes, like hen’s teeth,
are too scarce for him to find. If the business be neither honorable
nor respectable, it is, at least, one out of which considerable can be
made.</blockquote></span></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<b>Note</b>: I believe that the “blue paper” is the wrapper around Sapolio Soap brand. Rather than unwrapping the soap package and wrapping it back up again, which took time and could be messy and sticky, all that was needed was to slip the currency under the blue band. <br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgDFTupl_wZRJ8yx9e-ecbxWKV4Gib_dUWevcZZ_2zxbSFvOg4uKlZz459ylxb8LMm5IIqVRpQfg5EBRRxpeGCAhWaVtvgPkV9Xawu6S-eHezfqa98Om-CN26B6fbEhHR15JYIA3piOzmqjy3uSYWSnd83NaN0dC1zblqxwfWXBInn07ZuOGFrI6e/s1600/s-l1600z.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgDFTupl_wZRJ8yx9e-ecbxWKV4Gib_dUWevcZZ_2zxbSFvOg4uKlZz459ylxb8LMm5IIqVRpQfg5EBRRxpeGCAhWaVtvgPkV9Xawu6S-eHezfqa98Om-CN26B6fbEhHR15JYIA3piOzmqjy3uSYWSnd83NaN0dC1zblqxwfWXBInn07ZuOGFrI6e/w640-h360/s-l1600z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cake of Sopolio soap</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">with blue paper band</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
In 1882 Soapy was traveling around Arizona, operating in Tucson, Tombstone, Phoenix, and likely Prescott.</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Look high, look low, and we see that gamblers actually form the majority of the world's inhabitants."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">—James Runciman, Side Lights, 1893</span></blockquote>
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<br /></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4127229959267257059.post-39959155918720231582023-02-03T11:46:00.004-08:002023-02-05T06:25:18.928-08:00Did Soapy Smith go to Virginia City in 1885?<div><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45yAkjInCEh3UkwfjKEXkKACxu1eh9pNyaqGXTEynrsgHwhsD-3NwU-qFAmEOSeUz-nN4av50PfxRDGfGcFiNgygHVKG-NMgulI4myOBUoq9bGR1UOrMumHdY_qpbzquYgkQBInlPt8z4WiYHJvTosW1jl3S4f3Cu2u0gNvH-Dt_g0pRw-M2Qp28i/s605/Lyon_County_times_1885-07-04_4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="605" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45yAkjInCEh3UkwfjKEXkKACxu1eh9pNyaqGXTEynrsgHwhsD-3NwU-qFAmEOSeUz-nN4av50PfxRDGfGcFiNgygHVKG-NMgulI4myOBUoq9bGR1UOrMumHdY_qpbzquYgkQBInlPt8z4WiYHJvTosW1jl3S4f3Cu2u0gNvH-Dt_g0pRw-M2Qp28i/w640-h254/Lyon_County_times_1885-07-04_4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Soap Selling Fakir</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Lyon County Times</i><br />Nevada<br />July 4, 1885
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">id "Soapy" Smith go to Virginia City in 1885?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the <i>Lyon County Times</i>, </span><span style="font-size: medium;">July 4, 1885, there is a mention of a "soap selling fakir."</span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote> The soap selling fakir who offered such splendid inducements to Carsonites and a few Daytonites on circus day, is said to have cleared up about $800 in Virginia City. Where is the fool killer?</blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The following day, July 5, 1885, the <i>Weekly Elko Independent</i> (Nevada), quotes the <i>Virginia Chronicle</i> (Virginia City, Nevada)<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYm-9VN5e8ouUa8BYBLnX_-XyyhG-n7yhwBmHuN-JB1x-7oeoYlfnni1TSwEvWOwGHP-NZFnvgygImOXoL37ZT3Y0LgUvvZ2q7aUG0_YYdokKQ-tsy92YwutOC1m7TTjl7rJ5nH0s1StySoeH6UiqWohAhqrRtNIXONI-Qyk0wG9oEGw5XKZIbvfq/s1057/Weekly_Elko_independent_1885-07-05_5.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="794" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYm-9VN5e8ouUa8BYBLnX_-XyyhG-n7yhwBmHuN-JB1x-7oeoYlfnni1TSwEvWOwGHP-NZFnvgygImOXoL37ZT3Y0LgUvvZ2q7aUG0_YYdokKQ-tsy92YwutOC1m7TTjl7rJ5nH0s1StySoeH6UiqWohAhqrRtNIXONI-Qyk0wG9oEGw5XKZIbvfq/w480-h640/Weekly_Elko_independent_1885-07-05_5.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Soap Selling Fakir</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Weekly Elko Independent</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Nevada<br />July 5, 1885</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />(Click image to enlarge)<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Soap Selling Fakir.</b><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
<blockquote> The fakir who offered such splendid inducements to our citizens to acquire sudden wealth by purchasing a cake of his soap and receiving an envelope alleged to contain a $100 bank note in return, is said to have cleaned up $800 last Monday. Several prominent citizens contributed materially toward swelling the hawker’s receipts to such a handsome sum. Among those who invest most liberally, was a learned professor, a prominent hardware merchant, a druggist and a well-known carpenter. The men are not particularly anxious to achieve notoriety as speculators in a scheme where they have since learned that “the more you put down the less you take up,” and in contrast with which three-card monte and ten dice games are sure things to bet on.—Virginia Chronicle.</blockquote> Is this Soapy Smith in Nevada in 1885? There are several mentions of the prize package soap sell racket being operated in Nevada, specifically in Virginia City, and the timing was indeed right for the prize package operator to be none other than Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> In 1884-85 Soapy was working to create an empire in Denver, Colorado, and is known to have traveled about the Western states and territories during this period.<br /> In May 1885 Soapy had inadvertently sold his prize soap to a local resident in Denver. Soapy had a rule of not involving the local Denver citizens in his scams, and this was the first time, in print, that he swindled a Denverite. This was also the first time the alias of “Soapy Smith" was used in print. It placed a "target" on Soapy's back. The city of Denver had sold Soapy the business license, and to protect its reputations, the city quickly passed an ordinance forbidding 'cash prize schemes,' pointed directly at Soapy's prize soap sales. <br /> Nine days later, Soapy was again in the news. A fight broke out between a victim of the soap sell and one of Soapy's men at the corner of Arapaho and Sixteenth Streets. On June 23, 1885, the city decided to rescind his peddler’s license. Soapy left Denver for an extended cooling off period, fully intending to return. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> During the periods when Soapy was not in Denver, he toured around the country operating the soap sell racket. Finding articles of prize package soap operations, let alone any provenance that the soap "fakirs" listed in the newspapers were "Soapy" Smith, is difficult as very rarely did the con men stay around long enough to be arrested and/or interviewed. <br /> For forty-two days, from June 23 to August 1, 1885, there are no sign of Soapy in Denver or the newspapers. Ten days after leaving Denver, on July 4, 1885, the first newspaper report of the “soap fakir” in Virginia City appears. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Newspaper accounts regarding soap racket operators and Soapy Smith stopped being published. Soapy's name does appears again on August 2, 1885. He is</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> in Rawlins, Wyoming</span><span style="font-size: medium;">, where he is the </span><span style="font-size: medium;">timekeeper during </span><span style="font-size: medium;">boxing match
being fought there. Manager of one of the
boxers is Soapy's personal friend, famed lawman and gambler Bat Masterson.<br /> Soapy returns to Denver and in August 1889 is</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> held by the grand jury to answer for assault with
intent to kill.<blockquote>He was present yesterday in the criminal division of the
district court and gave a bond of $1,000, John Kinneavy becoming his
bondsman.
</blockquote> In that four years between 1885-1889, there are no other reports of "soap fakirs" in Virginia City or Nevada. Soapy leaves </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Denver on August 26, and in his September 2, 1889, letter to Mary,
he wrote that he was going to Spokane Falls. No records of his
activities there nor anywhere during his absence have yet been found, perhaps until now. </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> After four years of no reported "prize soap swindles," the <i>Carson Daily Appeal</i> for October 9, 1889, publishes the following simple message.<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUanoWNoUTWR1GjBLNHmfwBAwtPSijvPw5zaiQbqRZnRFAwZiYjcOkBG3UOMcVH039u5Qw2SrYe_eI0hsbMNMri2OkcB0anSkDCmimGTkbUG80mjGxC_eh0wnK8mwtS4_RtA_EYEgL8X4FH2_1aUM68FkmMWci6xjNtd3gHvHjDJi_siMosEgYvvpD/s764/Carson_daily_appeal_1889-10-09_4.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="764" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUanoWNoUTWR1GjBLNHmfwBAwtPSijvPw5zaiQbqRZnRFAwZiYjcOkBG3UOMcVH039u5Qw2SrYe_eI0hsbMNMri2OkcB0anSkDCmimGTkbUG80mjGxC_eh0wnK8mwtS4_RtA_EYEgL8X4FH2_1aUM68FkmMWci6xjNtd3gHvHjDJi_siMosEgYvvpD/w640-h136/Carson_daily_appeal_1889-10-09_4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Soap Selling Fakir</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Carson Daily Appeal</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Nevada<br />October 9, 1889</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><blockquote>
“Look out for the swindling soap games.”</blockquote> Eight days later, on October 17, 1889, after a fifty-day absence, Soapy returns to Denver. Note the timing coincidences in this story from 1885 to 1889. Though it can certainly be a coincidence, it can also be addressed as circumstantial evidence that Soapy Smith paid a visit to Virginia City in 1885. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"If he knows the exact position of only one of the 52 cards, he will eventually win all the money in sight."</i></span></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: medium;">—John Scarne</span></blockquote>
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<br /></span></div>Jeff Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680146273701688630noreply@blogger.com0