Georgia reunion, Family graves, research and a presentation, part 1.

Geri Murphy, Jeff Smith and Jeanie Schaffner
at the graves of Soapy Smith's grandparents
Dr. Ira Ellis Smith and Ellen Stimpson Peniston
(Click image to enlarge)

In 2007 I went to Coweta County, Georgia to give a presentation on Soapy Smith for the Newnan/Coweta County Historical Society. Plans soon evolved into a small family reunion and a grand tour of family research. Starting March 23, 2007 I had 1-1/2 days to do and see everything I wanted. When I got back home I remember that I was in great back pain and that I slept for 13 hours straight.

Besides the presentation and seeing and meeting family members I had a places I really wanted to see. One was the Dr. Ira Ellis Smith mansion where Soapy was born. More on the mansion in the next post. It seems that the hardest place in the world for me to get answers from, let alone a response, is from Coweta County, Georgia. Before my planned trip there I could never get a response from anyone there in the county or the historical society. Once my presentation was scheduled I had plenty of free flowing correspondence. The trip opened a whole new world of family information while I was there, but once I returned home that flowing well closed up tight as a snare drum once again. Since 2007, although I have written many times, I have not received a single response, just as before.

One of the main places I really wanted to see was the Oak Hill cemetery where most of the early Smith's are buried, however, for decades my family searched unsuccessfully for the Smith graves known to be there. We knew they were located at the Oak Hill cemetery but the cemetery records were wrong as to the location. Long ago sections of the cemetery were renamed and numbered but the changes were apparently never properly recorded and the old location information was discarded. Generations of family members, including my aunt and uncle searched the cemetery grounds in vain. I could only hope that I might be more successful.

Before I arrived, Dan Dietz, vice president of the historical society, and his wife Donna began compiling a history of the Smith's in Coweta for me. They knew I wanted to try to locate the graves while I was there so Dan and Donna went hunting on their own. They found that the Peniston family of Coweta was connected to the Smith's so they at least located those graves for me. While looking around the Peniston plots Dan happen to look on the other side of some bushes and completely by accident he stumbled onto the "lost" Smith plots. The graves were found while I was on my way to Georgia from California so I was unaware of the find until I arrived. As per our conversations once I settled into my hotel room I called Dan for the planned visit to the Oak Hill cemetery before dinner to see if we could locate some of my descendants. I had already been up since 3 am and was very tired but I knew having only 1-1/2 days I could not afford to waste a minute. Within fifteen minutes of getting into my hotel room Dan was driving me to the cemetery in a nice two seat topless sports car.

Jeff during his Soapy Smith presentation

We spent about 1-1/2 hours talking and looking over the Smith family graves in the cemetery. I think I took about 50 photographs I was so excited. Dr. Ira Ellis and Ellen Peniston Smith were there, along with several of their children, their wives and grandchildren. That time spent in the cemetery was golden. I would have gone home happy if I was forced to cancel the rest of my trip. There are photographs of graves in the links to other posts pertaining to this blog at the bottom.

l to r: Jeff, Jeanie, Danny, Christina and Geri.

At 7 pm that night the historical society set up a dinner meeting at one of the local restaurants in Newnan, which turned into a family reunion. It was there that I had the pleasure of meeting my cousin, Geri Murphy, the vice president of the Soapy Smith Family Trust for the very first time. I also got reacquainted with Jeanie Schaffner, another cousin, whom I had not seen in several decades. With Jeanie were her children, Danny and Christina ("Tinni"), who I had never met before. At the time Jeanie lived in Newnan and Christina  was offered a position at the Male Academy Museum. The only one missing at the dinner that I was looking forward to meeting was Ellen Rafeedie, a family member who has done great work in the genealogy department. After dinner I was driven back to the hotel and finally got some greatly needed sleep.

Jeff swindles family member Christina during the presentation

My family and I made plans for the following morning to meet at the cemetery so they could see the Smith plots. I was too excited and drove out  a little early to the cemetery to have some time alone with our rediscovered ancestors. Dan, from the historical society decided to join us and we spent 1-1/2 hours researching and admiring the graves.

Jeanie studies the artifacts in the Smith Room
Male Academy Museum
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At around 10 am we all traveled over to the Male Academy Museum where Dan gave a personalized tour of the city's prized collections. The museum is housed in a 19th century school house. Each room is devoted to a particular section of Newnan's history, dating from 1828 to the 1950's. The main attraction for us was the Smith room which contained artifacts brought to Newnan by covered wagon from Virginia by Dr. and Mrs. Ira Ellis Smith. There were also artifacts and belongings from Ira's children who made their homes in Newnan and Coweta County. Unfortunately, my medication made my hands shake and most of the photographs I took in the museum came out very blurry.

Family heirloom at the museum.

Lunchtime we held court at the Redneck Cafe' where family member, Ellen Rafeedie met up with us. Ellen brought several copies of her latest version of the family tree and we spent the better part of 2 hours talking. Ellen is a great historian and story teller and has my full admiring respect as a historian.

We left the restaurant with a 2 pm appointment at the Smith plantation house where Soapy was born.  I'll talk about that in an upcoming post.

That night I gave my presentation at the Depot History Center to around 100 attendees. I was well received and met several more distant relatives I did not know existed. Afterwards Geri, Jeanie and I went out to eat and then over to Jeanie's loft. I never did slept well that night. I had maybe an hours worth before I had to make my way back to Atlanta for my flight home. I surely hope I have the opportunity to return one day.

August 8, 2011, June 3, 2011, May 29, 2010, April 16, 2010, April 6, 2010. 

Early Smith family in Coweta County: pp 19-27.

AUGUST 16
1923: 20 members of the Denver Blonger gang are arrested in a raid that ends Blonger rule in the city.

Jeff Smith

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A time capsule in Skagway

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In 1998 I had a custom ink stamp made for the 100th anniversary of Soapy Smith's death. You can see the stamp on the postcard above. I bought a few of the Soapy postcards from Dedman's Photo Shop in Skagway, stamped them and then on July 8 I went to the Skagway post office and had them postmarked.

Front of postcard
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We were having a family reunion so I took one of the postcards and had all the family members sign it. This card was given to Jeff Brady of the Skagway News who in turn gave it to the Skagway Centennial Committee for a time capsule. The capsule was buried in July 1999 inside a stainless steel vault in Centennial Park. It will be dug up in 2099. We will report on that.

Story and list of items in capsule
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Jeff Smith

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Adrian Bricker and the Smith clan in Skagway, 1998

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Ever since joining Facebook on a regular basis and creating a Soapy Smith profile good things have been happening. No, I haven't been playing Farm Wars,  and their other games, but I have been meeting some very interesting people. Adrian Bricker is no exception.

In 1998 when my family had a reunion in Skagway, Alaska Adrian happen to be driving his tour bus. He no longer lives in Skagway, or drives people around on tours, but his memories of meeting my family and I are among his favorite. How can myself and my family not be humbled by that? In the last few days I have been corresponding with Adrian who has helped bring back great Skagway memories of my own. Following is some of our conversations. Adrian writes that,

... someone who has made a living telling the stories of 'your' [he's talking to my Soapy Smith profile] adventures, and had the pleasure of driving your family on tour, (honoring the 100 year anniversary of the shootout with Mr. Reid), I told every guest I ever had, that, "if you want to tell a good story, you have to have a good guy, and a bad guy...And, while 'You' may have been occasionally bad, 'ol Frank Reid was NO BETTER...and had he not died as well, from the gun battle, we'd prolly be telling stories about HIS lawless ways, and HIS illegal tactics." Hope all the family is doing well!! :)

Perhaps, in your research, you have found some corroborating (or not), of the 'telegraph' office, that was supposedly run by 'You'...whether or not it WAS true, it was one of my favorite stories to tell...

I really enjoy hearing and talking to fans of Soapy Smith. In regards to the fake telegraph office I wrote Adrian and told him that,

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Skagway, in its infancy, lacked a government, a newspaper, and record keeping. I believe the telegraph office swindle was there for just a very short time. The only corroborating evidence is from early stampeders writing about Skagway. None of the victims were willing to admit their gullibility at being taken in such a simple fashion. There is no provenance that it actually took place, however, no where in history have I read of a similar swindle. It's just so Soapy for anyone to have invented the story...

_________

[The following is from Alias Soapy Smith]

One of the more brazen scams Jeff worked on stampeders was the Telegraph Office. Travel between Skaguay and Seattle took about a week, and after that long at sea, the weary traveler was eager to be in touch with loved ones and associates at home. Seeing an opportunity, Jeff opened a telegraph service that would send a message anywhere in the US for only $5. More could be made than just this fee, however. Upon entering the “office,” a victim learned the key operator had stepped out for a moment but would soon return. Encouraged to wait, he would be surrounded by newfound “friends” who chatted with him and offered the usual pastime games of chance. When the key operator appeared, if the victim still had the $5 fee, he could send his message. If believed to still have funds enough, he would be followed and after a short time informed that a reply telegram had arrived and awaited him back at the office—for an additional $5. Then the friendly games of chance might be employed again to obtain even more, if not all, of the victim’s money.

In 1897-1898 no telegraph line ran to Skaguay, but the line from the Telegraph Office that disappeared into Lynn Canal made it appear there was. A line did not reach Skaguay from Juneau until 1901.

The Soapy Smith telegraph swindle is one of the very few  moments in his life span of adventures that there is currently no provenance for. I am positive that one day something will show up, perhaps in the form of  a miners diary or letters from early residents.

Adrian also wrote that he was also hoping

someone from your family, has photos from the visit, in 1998, including the sign in the lobby of the Golden North Hotel, which read 'Reid and Smith Families please check your weapons at the front desk'...was a great visit, but was to busy talking, and driving, to get any pics.

I was your driver, and guide that day, you and the Reids were there...it was one of my favorite days as a guide, and remember most of the tour...love to hear your 'sign' story...and, of course, to see it posted here, for all to see!! :)

(Click image to enlarge)

Adrian, it is such a pleasure to meet you once again. You are helping me relive that wonderful trip. The story of the Smith/Reid family warning placed at the registration desk of the Golden North Hotel by owner, Dennis Corrington is a funny one, and now I learn that you were impartially involved.

Dennis likes his practical jokes. He and my father were similar in that regard. My father had what he called, the "sting board." Anytime he was able to win a bet by setting up his friends with a joke he placed the funds on the board as a place of honor. For many years my father and his friends went to great lengths to con one another. Dennis and I often talked about ways to fool people and that sense of humor backfired once when Dennis pretended to find gold and a gun within the walls of the Golden North during restoration. Many in Skagway did not appreciate the joke. I did, but I knew where Dennis was coming from. Dennis "stung" me for $5 when I was in Skagway in 1998 and I still laugh thinking about it.

Dennis, being the prankster, had made the little framed sign (see photo above) and put it behind the hotel desk for all to see, especially the Smith and Reid family members. Naturally I noticed it, however, there was a problem. He had spelled Reid as Reed. Being the polite guest I said nothing to him.  Adrian noticed the sign and its misspelling of Reid and let Dennis know. Late one night, near the end of the trip, members of my family, Dennis, and his daughter were gathered in his hotel saloon talking and drinking. It was a great time and I hated to know that soon I'd be going back home. Dennis skillfully brought up the sign so that I would mention the misspelling of Reid. I bit, and hard. I told him that Reid was spelled wrong and he adamantly denied that he had made any mistake. We went back and forth, setting me up for the kill by introducing a small friendly wager of $5. I thought I had a "sure-thing" and took his bet. He had me go get the sign, still hanging on the wall until that's when I found out that the sneak had recently changed the sign to the correct spelling. That little episode had me thinking of my father and his sense of humor and brought back fond memories of him.

Adrian says he,

... prolly drove 2500 trips, in 8 years of guiding, so they do kinda run together, but there are a few trips that were 'standouts', and your family was one! :)

Skagway Telegraph Office: page 480.

Jeff Smith

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Ira Ellis Caspar Wistar Smith and Columus Darwin Smith: Confederate cavalry.

With the recent Memorial Day and the History Channel's presentation of Civil War Week in honor of the 150th anniversary I thought I'd contribute two posts I made back in 2007 on the old site.

Soapy Smith had two uncles that served in the Confederate Cavalry. They were Ira Ellis Caspar Wistar Smith and Columbus Darwin "Lum" Smith. Both survived the war.

(In regards to Ira Ellis Caspar Wistar Smith please
see June 9, 2011 and June 16, 2011)

Ira Ellis Caspar Wistar Smith

01/22/1840 - 08/17/1903

(Click image to enlarge)

 
Ira was 20-years-old at the start of the Civil War. He joined the Confederacy under Colonel William Phillip's Legion Cavalry Battalion, Company D. They became known as the Coweta Rangers.

Phillips' Georgia Legion was organized during the summer of 1861 and mustered into Confederate service that fall. Like almost all Confederate Legions, the unit contained infantry companies, cavalry companies and a battery of light artillery. It had originally been thought that legions would operate with all three arms of the service together ( similar to the Combat Team of the Second World War), but it was soon found that the unit operated more efficiently with its elements detached. Phillips' Georgia Legion served with its elements separated from each other after July of 1862 .

Phillips' Georgia Legion's Cavalry Battalion was organized in 1861 with four companies (G,H,I & K). It was expanded during the spring of 1862 with the addition of two newly recruited companies (N & P). It served as a six company battalion until May, 1864, when the four company 4th Alabama Cavalry Battlion was attached to the Legion Cavalry. (Technically, under Confederate War Department regulations, the unit should have received a Confederate States designation once it contained companies from more than one state but here is no record that this ever took place.) The 4th Alabama Cavalry Battalion was reassigned to the Jeff Davis Legion Cavalry on July 11th, 1864 but the order was not carried out until November. At the same time that the 4th Alabama Battalion was reassigned, a "spare" 11th company from the Cobb Legion Cavalry was transferred to the Phillips Legion and became Co G.

Like almost all Civil War units, Phillips' Legion's Cavalry Battalion was often known by an alternate designation derived from the name of its commanding officer. Name of this type used by or for the unit are:
John B Willcoxon's Cavalry
William W. Rich's Cavalry
William B.C. Puckett's Cavalry

Phillip's Legion, Georgia Volunteers --- Col. William Phillip's in command.
Cavalry Battalion - Lt. Col. William Wofford Rich
Company G/A. - "DuBignon Cavalry" or "Governor's House Guards" - Charles DuBignon (resigned August 1862), James Hall Nichols - Cobb, Hall and Baldwin Counties.
Company H/B - Johnson Rangers" - William Wofford Rich, John F. Milhollin (KIA November 1863), Thomas G. Wilkes-Cobb and Bartow Counties
Company I/C - "Cherokee Dragoons" - William B.C. Puckett, Eli C. Hardin -Cherokee County.
Company K/D -" Coweta Rangers" - Dr. Robert Leeper Young Long (resigned April 1864), John B. Willcoxon (resigned 7/3/1862), Hugh Buchanon - Coweta, Carroll and Bibb Counties.
Company N/E (mustered in 5/12/1862) - "Bibb Cavalry" - Samuel Scott Dunlap, Arthur F.Hunter - Bibb County.
Company P/F (mustered in 5/16/1862) - Wesley Wiles Thomas - Coweta, Henry, Newton and Carroll Counties
Company G - "Richmond Dragoons" - F. Edgeworth Eve - Richmond County

(The above information on Phillips Legion comes from Randy's Texas)

(Click image to enlarge)

Ira survived the war and became a doctor. He married once and had nine children. He died at home in 1903. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan, Georgia. His grave includes a marker for his military service. If you are so inclined you may leave virtual flowers and a comment on his online grave site at Find A Grave, HERE.

_________________________________

Columbus Darwin "Lum" Smith 

08/22/1828 - 01/12/1911

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Soapy's uncle, Columbus was 33 at the start of the Civil War. He volunteered in the 2nd Regiment, Company F (Cavalry) under Commander Thomas M. Jones, known as the Georgia State Guards and the Coweta Cavalry. Company F was organized in August 1863 as a six month service for local defense. He made the rank of Second Lieutenant. I could not find anything more on his regiment and company.

(Click image to enlarge)

Columbus, like Ira, survived the war and became a doctor. He married twice and had three children that I know of. He died in Atlanta in 1911 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Newnan, Georgia. His grave includes a marker for his military service.

(Click image to enlarge)

If you are so inclined you may leave virtual flowers and a comment on his online grave site at Find A Grave, HERE.

* If you have more information to share about Ira Ellis Caspar Wistar Smith and Columbus Darwin Smith please leave a comment or email me.

Jeff Smith

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Howard Clifford: Author-Historian-Friend

Howard Clifford was a friend. The last time I saw him was in 1998 in Skagway, Alaska at the 100th anniversary memorial for the gunfight on Juneau Wharf.. We were on a symposium panel on "Who killed Soapy Smith" with different views as to who did the dirty deed. It was fun, and I couldn't have picked a better opponent to match up against. After that I lost contact with Howard. No one seemed to know where he was. I gave up trying to contact him after a few years figuring he had a quiet passing. Occasionally I would think about him and Google his name only to come up empty handed. The other night I thought of him and this time I found him. He had indeed passed, but many years after I had thought. I regret not being able to tell him how much he meant to my family and me.

The year was 1973. The place, Seattle, Washington. I was 15-years-old and with my parents attending the Pullen auction of Alaskan artifacts. My father wanted, and did, purchase Soapy's roulette table and grave marker. My parents put us under a different name so that the auction house would not know that the family was bidding on artifacts for fear of falsely raising the prices. The auctioneer, Greenfield Galleries, was simply the best I have ever witnessed. It took four days to auction off the entire Harriet Pullen collection, mainly because there was so much, but also because the auctioneer was slow and precise. There was no yapping, yelling confusion you see and most other auctions. I don't know how many times he would say, "going one, going twice..." and then stop to add a story about the artifact. Although he was doing this to raise the price he did it in such a way that was very entertaining. I have few memories of my 15th year of existence, but I do remember a lot about that four days.

There were lunch breaks in which my parents would go have a drink at a local tavern (to calm down and discuss bidding plans). They gave me money to go eat on my own and so everyday I went to a lunch counter a few doors down. I was amazed at how friendly everyone was to me. What I didn't know was that they were big time bidders from Alaskan and Canadian museums trying to figure out who my parents were because of the bidding wars. My father failed to tell me not to tell anyone who we were, and I did. Hell, I told everyone who would listen! I think it was the very first time in my life that I was able to talk about Soapy to someone other than my own family. Everything worked out fine with the bidders as they made a deal with my father, not to bid on items he wanted and he wouldn't bid on items they wanted. We came home with a truck load of Alaskan artifacts, some of which have found their way back to Skagway. Besides the bidders, Howard Clifford talked to me. He was the most knowledgeable person on Soapy I had ever met outside of the family so it was a lot of fun talking to him. On the second day he asked me to introduce him to my father, which I did. Howard then set up a meeting in our hotel with Robert Sheldon, who as a young boy, had witnessed the pre-shootout argument of the gunfight on Juneau Wharf.

Howard turned out to be a big fan of Soapy's. He wrote numerous book about the Klondike gold rush in in all of them he paid tribute to Soapy. Some of his books are.

• Much about Totems. (1962)
  
• The Skagway Story: A History of Alaska's most Famous Gold-Rush Town and Some of the People Who Made that History. (1974)
• Rails North. The Railroads of Alaska and the Yukon. (1981) 
• Doing the White Pass. (1988)
• Soapy Smith: Uncrowned king of Skagway (1997)
• Alaska/Yukon Railroads: An Illustrated History (1999)
• Alaska adventures: Wyatt Earp and friends (2000)
• The Soapy Smith Tragedy (reprint)
• Soapy Smith: Bandit of Skagway (reprint)
• Correspondence of a Crook (reprint)

His books were factual with sources, with the exception of  Soapy Smith: Uncrowned king of Skagway. Not only did he not use the information I supplied him, but he added a lot of fiction which really disappointed me as he used to be so adamant about non-fiction history. minus that book I consider him a great researcher, historian, and friend. My "Howard Clifford" file is packed with letters from him as we correspondent consistently until I lost contact with him in 1998.

Howard Clifford running for his life

 
What I didn't know about Howard Clifford was that he was an award winning photographer. But, the wealth of fascinating experiences that have colored Howard Clifford's life are all surpassed by one—the run for his life on the collapsing Tacoma Narrows Bridge, "Galloping Gertie," in 1940.

On the morning November 7, 1940 Clifford was in the Tribune office when word came that Galloping Gertie was in trouble. The newspaper dispatched Clifford as back-up cameraman along with veteran reporter Bert Brintnall. Clifford shot several photos of the bridge's last moments. By late afternoon, the spectacular images were sent across the country.
.       

January 5, 2011
September 7, 2010 
December 15, 2009 
 

Howard Clifford: page 9.

Jeff Smith

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Actors and Scenes in the Soapy Smith Tragedy

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The above postcard was purchased in 1977 at the Hegg photo store. I believe they can still be purchased there but they are not online. I do not know the date of this creation but I do know that the original is a part of the Itjen and Rapuzzi collection and was displayed in Jeff Smith's Parlor when it was a museum. I assume that the original is being restored and will once again reside inside the Parlor as a part of the Soapy Smith museum. In 1977 my parents and my brother went to Skagway with my uncle, aunt and cousin Joanne. Although the museum had long closed to the general public, George Rapuzzi gave us a tour of the Parlor so I had the opportunity to see the place as it actually looked.

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Above is the original piece which was rather large, perhaps 48" x 36." I recall it was in a hall way of sorts, where the walls were too close to get back far enough to take a good photograph. My dad took the above picture and as you can see he had to take it at an angle.

Courtesy of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Parks
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The above photograph is pretty much how the Parlor looked when I saw it in 1977. The print was hanging on the left wall, beyond the door in the rear of the photo.

Jeff Smith

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Barbara Meeks, Sue Henry, and Soapy Smith

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Most people who come across Soapy's history and wish to contact me don't have too difficult of a time being able to find me. Googling Soapy Smith or Alias Soapy Smith is the easiest way as my sites are number one on most search engines. Searching for Jeff Smith doesn't work so well as there are far more famous Jeff's in the search engines listed and I didn't bother seeing how far back I was listed.  Most people also search regarding recent events so everything is fresh and new, but what happens when the information they are working with isn't so fresh?

Every now and again someone finds me using a little elbow work Today, I'd like to introduce to you, Barbara Meek, a persistent elbow-er, who brightened up not only my day, but that of an author I worked with back in 1996 whom I haven't talked to since the late 1990s. A new friend is made and an old one rekindled. 

A number of days ago I received the following email,

I have a Sony e-book and tried to find your book The True Story of Jefferson Randolph Smith by Jefferson Randolph Smith III. But I couldn't find it in the Reader Library. The only book they had on this subject is Klondike. Can you please do whatever it takes to get your books in this library.

Thank you,
Barbara Meek

When I read the email the first time I thought it was the beginning introduction to a sales pitch from someone at the Reader Library trying to get me to shell out the money to have my book placed in their eBook sales listings. I'm not a fan, let alone knowledgeable, of eBooks yet. I'm one of those die-hards who like to hold my books. I also understand that footnotes and source listing are an ongoing issue that raise the prices for eBooks. Being a historian who loves to research my books footnotes I am not ready to give that up just to have my book on a contraption. I'm sure people said that very sentence about most great new devices. Hell, I remember wondering why people would ever need a computer in their homes. Oh God, I'm old! I digress...

I wondered where Barbara got the idea that the name of my book was The True Story of Jefferson Randolph Smith, and that my name was Jefferson Randolph Smith III. The latter made me think of Cathy Spude who continues to call me that, knowing full well it's not my name. Regarding the title, I just figured Barbara forgot the true title as she was typing the email to me. I always respond to my emails and did so with Barbara's.
 

Hello, Barbara.

The name of my book is, Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel by Jeff Smith (I'm not Jefferson Randolph Smith III). There are currently no plans to put my book on ebook. From what little I understand about ebooks placing all my footnotes, etc. would be cost prohibitive. My publisher is a smaller firm in Juneau, Alaska. I'm very sorry but the only way you will be able to read my book is to do it the old fashion way. Books can be ordered in several ways. Click this LINK to see more. You might enjoy the page even if you don't plan on buying a book.

If there is anything else can help you with please don't hesitate to write.

Jeff Smith

Barbara did not hesitate to write,

Hello, Jeff,

Ok, thanks, I will do this. Where I received my information was from a book called Death Takes Passage by Sue Henry. It mentioned on page 79 that Jefferson Randolph "Jeff Smith, IV, Soapy Smith's great grandson wrote the book The True Story of Jefferson Randolph Smith. Just so I know, is this incorrect information?

Thank you for this information. I'll be ordering your book soon.

Thank you again,
Barbara Meek

That email explained everything to me. I went through my library and found my sacred copy of Death Takes Passage and all those long-gone memories of writing and talking with Sue Henry came flooding back to me. That period of my life from 1996-1998 was fantastic. The Klondike gold rush centennial was being planned and executed and Soapy and I were right there in the mix. I was invited to be one of the few passengers on the Spirit of 98 during it's reenactment of bringing a ton of gold into Seattle. The reenactment included actually bringing a ton of gold into Seattle on that ship one hundred years to the day. The Washington State Museum in Tacoma asked and received from me, a loan of several artifacts of Soapy's for a room devoted to him during a special exhibit on the history of the gold rush. This kept me from being on the ship but enabled me to make the trip to Seattle and be on the docks when the ton of gold arrived! I have always believed Soapy was there on the docks when the original ship, the Portland arrived into Seattle July 17, 1897. It was a great time, which you can read about and see some photographs I took on a page devoted to the event.

I now understood where Barbara was coming from and told her so.   

Hi, Barbara.

Ok, now I know where you're coming from. That is me depicted in the book. I wanted to be the bad guy in the end but Sue's publisher felt there might be legal issues so I ended up as an unknowing pawn in the books heist. The book was written in 1997 and my book did not come out until 2009. In 97 I did not have a title yet, lol. Thank you for sharing that with me, it will probably make the pages of my blog, if you don't mind.

... Sue Henry did her very best to base her fictional story around a real event. I was actually supposed to be on that ship during the ton of gold reenactment but a museum loan and offer beat them out of my commitments. In fact, because the museum was in Tacoma I made arrangements to spend the day in Seattle and met the ship coming into dock. Soapy very well might have been in Seattle down on that dock in 1897.

Sue and I talked over via mail and telephone numerous times to get her facts straight. The changes made were not the fault of hers. At the time I thought my book would be completed by the time hers came out. I was only off by 12 years!


Jeff Smith

You can preview Death Takes Passage at this link. Page 20 is where I am introduced and my character begins

Barbara writes,

Hi, Jeff,

Yes, Sue is an excellent writer and I absolutely love her books, as I love Alaska. I do understand about her research vs your research. And I know she tried her best to be totally accurate. I know you missed a real treat by missing that particular boat ride, but know it was enjoyable to meet the ship in Seattle. You're right, Soapy may have been there in 1897. I think it would be an honor to meet you and discuss your research/book and also to meet Sue. I am so glad she writes books around the AK area.

First, to try to find you and the book, I went to the Reader Library for my e-book. This did display a book by another author about Soapy, other characters back then and about the Klondike. but I wanted to read your book since you are directly related to Soapy and I know the facts would be, without a doubt, correct. I'm not saying the other author isn't correct, but I know you definitely are. . But, you're right, I found you by Googling "Soapy Smith" and it referred you to me.

Barbara Meek

Barbara ordered my book and her and I have continued to write to one-another everyday since.  In one of the conversations we discussed Sue Henry and how Barbara really wanted to let her know how much she enjoyed her books. I looked through my files from 1996 and found a letter from Sue that had her phone number. It has been 16 years since I last talked with her on the phone and naturally figured there was a good chance the phone number was no longer correct. Amazingly, it was! I told Sue about her special admiring fan, Barbara and Sue wanted me to make sure I told her that she really appreciated her devotion. Sue wanted Barbara to know that her latest book will be out hopefully in the fall of this year. Sue and I then caught up on old times and what has happened since. It was real nice to talk with her again. In fact, Death Takes Passage now sits on my nightstand where I am enjoying it as much as I did when I first received it.

In Barbara, I think I've found a life-long member of Friends of Bad Man Soapy Smith, as well as a personal friend.

Jeff Smith

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Soapy Smith and the Gillette, Colorado bullfight.

August 24-26, 1895 promoter Joe Wolfe held the very first bullfight held on U.S soil. The location was Gillette, Colorado; just down the mountain from Cripple Creek it was the equivalent of gambling haven Las Vegas, Nevada. According to sketchy records Soapy Smith made a deal with Joe Wolfe to operate the gambling concession just outside the bullfighting arena built for the 3-day event. The above photograph does show a large tent outside the ring big enough for a makeshift saloon and casino.

March 19, 1896 Soapy was again in Gillette where he was arrested on an unspecified charge. He stayed at in the town at least 10 days but it is unknown if he was there a free man or incarcerated.

The above pictures tells some of the history of the bullfight along with a sample of the poster Wolfe used to advertise the event, an event ticket a newspaper account from the Rocky Mountain News and some photographs of the actual bullfight. The history of the bullfight is also depicted in Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel. There is no record of Soapy’s adventure there so there is little to report new. What I did want to share was a few of the interesting photographs of Gillette and the bullfight, then and now; now being my trip to the site in 1985.

(Click image to enlarge)

Yesterday and today

Author, historian and curator of the Cripple Creek museum, Leland Feitz took me on a private tour of the Gillette town site. Having Mr. Feitz as my guide was special as he authored Soapy Smith’s Creede [date?] a great little booklet about Soapy’s time in Creede, Colorado.

Mr. Feitz showed me Gillette at ground level and then took me up the hillside so that I could see the outline of the racetrack from above. On the ground level you really can’t see much but everything seems to pop out at you when looking down upon it all.

There is very little left in Gillette but some foundations. The town was built in a flood zone and within a few decades even the bank vault was washed away.

The two photos above show the bank vault as it looked in the 1950s and what is left of it today.









pp. 389-90, 408.











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