Soapy Smith ill over some caned tamales

POISONED
San Francisco Chronicle
May 19, 1898

(Click image to enlarge)

APTAIN [SOAPY] SMITH POISONED BY CANNED TAMALES.

 

San Francisco Chronicle
May 19, 1898

The friends of “Soapy” Smith are somewhat alarmed because of a sudden illness which last night seized the captain of the “Skagway Guards.” It is feared that Captain Smith has been poisoned by some canned tamales he ate.

Joseph D. Barry

Witnessed and reported by Joseph D. Barry, a reporter stationed in Skagway, Alaska. Besides this article, Barry played an important role in Skagway history reporting on the "Bunko Men and Their Tricks," San Francisco Chronicle, April 10, 1898, and later acted in the capacity of an official witness and jury member in the May 31, 1898, inquest into the death and robbery of prostitute Ella D. Wilson, who may have been murdered by associates of the soap gang.

 

 

Visit the Soapy Smith Soap Box blog

 

Joseph D. Barry
Nov 21. 2022

Joseph D. Barry: page 506.

"After Canada Bill lost his pile in a backwoods village gambling shack, George Devol demanded, "Don't you know that game is rigged?" Canada Bill replied: "Of course, I know the game is rigged. But it's the only game in town."

—George Devol

Artifact #67 envelope addressed to Capt. Jeff. R. Smith [Soapy Smith], July 14, 1898

Capt. Jeff. R. Smith
Artifact #67
Envelope - front
Jeff Smith Collection

(Click image to enlarge)

apt Jeff. R. Smith
Skaguay, Alaska

      Artifact #67 is an envelope sans the content letter, addressed to "Capt. Jeff. R. Smith, Skaguay, Alaska." The stamp and the front postmark are present, reading, "San Francisco Cala, Jul 14 - 6 a.m.," meaning that it left San Francisco at that hour. It was sent six days after Soapy had been shot and killed in the shootout on Juneau Company Wharf, July 8, 1898.

      Soapy went by "captain," his rank in his personal militia, the Skaguay Military Company, created for use in the Spanish-American War of 1898. 

Capt. Jeff. R. Smith
Artifact #67
Envelope - back
Jeff Smith Collection

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The back of the envelope has the postmark, showing that it arrived in Skagway, Alaska on July 24, 1898. Note that postmark reads "Skagway" while the address on the front of the envelope reads "Skaguay."  The original spelling was "Skaguay" with a "u." In 1898 the postmaster in town decided that it should be spelled "Skagway" with a "w." Many towns people did not appreciate the change of spelling to THEIR town, and the spelling varied between the two spellings into the 1900s. Also take note of the wax sealer.

"I asked him [Soapy Smith] to let me see his guns, and I noticed that they were Colt 38-calibre with the heavy stock of the 45. He said he liked the heavy stock because it was steadier in the hand."

—Saunders Norvell, Forty Years of Hardware, 1924

How Soapy Smith conned his way to be Grand Marshal of the July 4, 1898 parade, Skagway, Alaska

Soapy Smith in July 4th parade
Skagway, Alaska 1898
Broadway and Fourth Ave.
Note Soapy is on the left of center, behind Joe Brooks.
Behind him is Brooks' Pack Train
Where is the Skaguay Military Company?
Where is the Fitzhugh Lee wagon?
Courtesy of
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

(Click image to enlarge)

ow Soapy Smith conned his way to be Grand Marshal of the 4th of July

With the approach of the July Fourth 1898 holiday, Skagway, Alaska was filled with great excitement. The Commercial Club, consisting of business owners, took early control of planning the celebration and appointed a committee to arrange “for the proper observance and celebration of the glorious Fourth.” Skagway would have a parade, of course, and the committee decided it would consist of three divisions and three marshals, with Commercial Club President C. W. Everest as grand marshal. The commonly held historical belief is that Jefferson R. Smith, alias "Soapy" led the July 4, 1898 parade in Skagway, but according to pre-July 4 records and newspapers, Soapy was designated marshal of the 4th division, the position at the very end of the parade. The committee had planned the parade, but Soapy was planning to make it memorable.

Line-up for July 4 parade?
Is that Soapy?
Third Ave and State
Courtesy of
Darcie Culbeck
and
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

 
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     Soapy was a very patriot man. In nearly all of the photographs of his numerous saloons and gaming houses in Colorado and Alaska between 1887-1898, there are American flags flying and red, white, and blue bunting draped across the façades. Surely, he reasoned, given his great success with the May 1 parade, no one knew better how to lead a celebration and stir a crowd’s emotions than he. Being dead last no doubt sat ill with Smith, captain of the Skaguay Military Company. There is no official  record of Soapy's complaint about his positioning in the parade. The committee had planned the parade, but Soapy would make sure no one would remember it. He had a plan, and he likely did not bother trying to change the committee’s minds about putting him at the end of the parade. In fact, adding another division at the very end of the parade may have been Soapy’s idea!

Is that Soapy Smith?
Close up from above photograph
Courtesy of
Darcie Culbeck
and
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

 
(Click image to enlarge)

     In the earliest plans for the parade, Soapy’s name does not even appear. On July 1 his name is added as marshal of an added fourth division. The Skagway News published the program.

[1] Grand Marshal, C.W. Everest and aids J.F. Burkhard and A.P. Tony
[2] Band
[3] Marshal First Division—S.L. Lovell and aids
[4] Veterans
[5] Children’s’ Float with Goddess of Liberty
[6] News boys
[7] Chilkat Indians
[8] Grotesque characters
[9] Bicyclists
[10] Marshal Second Division—C.N. Hanson and aids J.G. Price and Sam Roberts
[11] Knights of Pythias
[12] Ladies Cavalcade
[13] City Brewing Float
[14] Gentleman’s Cavalcade
[15] Skaguay Brewing Float
[16] Floats and displays of Skaguay business and industries
[17] Marshal Third Division—F.W. Whiting and aids Messrs. Heney and Wilson
[18] Railroad employees
[19] Mechanic’s Floats
[20] Marshal Fourth Division—Jeff R. Smith and aids Wm. Tener and J. H. Brooks
[21] Skaguay Guards and “Fitizhugh Lee”
[22] Man of War Float
[23] Brooks' Pack Train.

Soapy before or just after the parade
The round badge dates this photograph
Jeff Smith's Parlor is seen at the far left
The Hotel Mondamin where Soapy lived is at the far right
Courtesy of
Royal British Columbia Archives

 
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The parade will form on Broadway at 1:30 p.m., and after parading the prin- [unreadable line] … front of the city hall where speeches will be delivered by the orators of the day, Messrs. R. W. Jennings, Walter Church, Judge Sehlbrede and Dr. Campbell.

Courtesy of
Royal British Columbia Archives

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      After the speaking, the athletic sports will take place on and contiguous to the Seattle and Skaguay dock, as follows:

1. 100 yard Foot Race, open to all.
2. 50 yard Sack Race, open to all.
3. 100 yard Fat Men’s race—contestants must weigh 200 pounds or over.
4. 75 yard Ladies’ Race, open to all.
5. Bicycle Race.
6. Tug of War—8 men.
7. Climbing Greased Pole, open to all.
8. Horse Race, ¼ mile, at low tide.
9. Indian Canoe Race, at low tide.

Prizes were donated by local businesses, including clothing, accessories, cigars, stationary, and a keg of beer. Frank Clancy, a partner of Soapy’s, donated a bottle of wine.

     Monday July 4, 1898 was the most festive day seen in Skagway up to that time. First thing in the morning the city was shaken by thundering echoes as shotguns were fired and dynamite placed under anvils was detonated. Red, white, and blue bunting brightened city buildings. American flags and patriotic banners fluttered everywhere in town. According to some accounts, Jeff and his associates handed out candy, peanuts, and firecrackers to the children.

Fitzhugh Lee float
Before the parade, in front of Jeff Smith's Parlor
Note the flag carrier, believed to be in
front of the Skaguay Military Company
Courtesy of
Royal British Columbia Archives
James A. Sinclair Collection

(Click image to enlarge)

     The parade’s fourth division had four parts: Captain (1) Jeff R. Smith, gang member William Tener and Joe Brooks. (2) The Skaguay Military Company and the Fitzhugh Lee float, (3) The Man of War float, and (4) The Brooks' Pack Train. The "Fitzhugh Lee'' float centered around a caged American bald eagle captured alive outside of Skagway by two men, who brought it to the city and gave it to Soapy in honor of his patriotic efforts in creating the all-volunteer Skaguay Military Company and offering its services to President McKinley during the Spanish-American War. Once the parade got under way, Soapy rode his dapple-gray horse alongside the J. H. Brooks as planned, but the only known photograph of Soapy in the parade shows that he is not leading the Skaguay Military Company or Fitzhugh Lee (photograph at top of article). Soapy is actually behind Brooks and to the left, not in the front center, like one would assume a grand marshal would place himself. Soapy is known to have craved the attention of the citizenry, so the question is begged, was his moving away from the center stage intentional? We know from photographs that “Fitizhugh Lee” was definitely decorated to be in the parade, consisting of a large wood and wire cage on a wagon decorated with six American flags and traditional tri-colored bunting. John Clancy’s six-year-old son, Frank, dressed as Uncle Sam, riding on the wagon behind the driver. However, a considered look at the parade photograph shows it is missing—in fact, that quite a bit is missing. The one known photograph taken of Soapy during the parade, and it offers some clues. There is more in that photograph, made conspicuous by their absences, that better offers us clues as to what could have happened that day.

Fitzhugh Lee float
Photo taken on Broadway during parade
Proof it was in the July 4 parade

 
(Click image to enlarge)

     No known newspaper accounts about the parade are known to exist. However, there are numerous published eyewitness accounts from people who witnessed the parade. Not a single eyewitness account is known to exist that states Soapy was positioned at the rear of the parade. All of them remember seeing Soapy at the head of the parade. Witnesses also spoke of seeing the Skaguay Military Company, but why would Soapy not be leading them as shown in the one existing photograph?
     Soapy was very proud of the Skaguay Military Company he commanded as it's captain. He led it, parading it through the streets of Skagway on May 1, 1898, and no doubt he was wanting to lead it again for July 4th. Since formed on March 19, 1898, Soapy had had his military unit drilling. A June newspaper account reported that the Company drilled "every night" (Sitka Alaskan Report 06/01/1898).

Only known photograph ofSoapy Smith in July 4 parade
Brooks Pack Train behind him
 Where's the Skaguay Military Company?
Where's the Fitzhugh Lee float?
Courtesy of
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

(Click image to enlarge)

     In the parade photograph, Joe Brooks and his Pack Train has a sign advertising the pack train, but the division marshal is without one. A closer look at Soapy shows that he is off to the left, and behind Brooks, not in the middle, as one might assume a fourth division marshal would be.
     Soapy's history reveals a man who rarely gave up or gave in unless forced to, and even then, not without resistance. The parade committee chosen by Skagway merchants hardly seemed a threat to Soapy, so it is likely he had a plan to circumvent its will. So what did Soapy do to get to the front of the parade? What was his strategy? A plan so effective and generally pleasing that it remains a part of the annual July 4 parade tradition in Skagway to this day. Here is what I think happened during the parade that day.

SOAPY SMITH STEALS THE DAY.

     The parade moved south down Broadway towards the bay, with Soapy’s contingent at the very rear for the entire length of the parade. As the parade reached the end of its procession, Soapy put his plan into action. Riding his horse, he dashed up and down the length of the parade line-up, announcing that they should turn around and make another pass back through town. Everyone had worked hard on their floats and costumes and on getting organized, so in the spirit of the 4th of July, the idea of more parading probably sounded like fun. Having announced the proposed idea, and before the parade divisions could make a complete turn circle, Soapy convinced the parade entrants to simply turn about face and start the parade up again, from where they were. Soapy turned his horse and galloped back to the end of the parade, which was now the front of the parade, and started the procession, with him at the lead. Suddenly, out from the side streets, appeared the Skaguay Military Company, Fitzhugh Lee, and the Man of War Float, moving into place right behind Soapy’s horse. With Soapy now at the head of the parade, he led it back up the street before anyone could do anything, but follow along.

     This is when Soapy and his Military Company shined. They had been practicing for months, and were ready to make their captain proud. Reverend John Sinclair reported that “At scheduled intervals the Guards would exercise a neat maneuver and fire a volley into the air as Jeff would lift his hat, acknowledging the plaudits of the crowd. It was Soapy’s greatest hour.”
     Always the planner when it came to managing a crowd, Soapy would have had his many friends, supporters, and particularly members of his gang, spread out among the spectators, boosting enthusiasm and excitement as Soapy would bring his mount to a stop and the military company would perform some sharp maneuver. Then lifting his hat and waving to the crowds to acknowledge their approval, he would lead on, guiding his mount from side to side to present himself. Of course, it is not known what Soapy actually did during the parade. Besides Sinclair’s accounting, this is just a possible scenario. However, it actually was Soapy at the head of his Skaguay Military Company, and they must have put on a spectacular show for him to be remembered as the grand marshal of the parade over 120 years later.

JEFF SMITH'S PARLOR
Before or after the July 4 parade
Soapy Smith is to the right of the Parlor door
Soapy's horse is the light colored one

(Click image to enlarge)

     Today, visitors to Skagway on July 4 will witness the parade make it’s way going in one direction on Broadway, and thanks to Soapy Smith, once the last entry reaches the end, the parade turns around and travels in the opposite direction, along Broadway.
     Official plans did not include Soapy as a speaker, following the parade, but of the post parade activities, Reverend Sinclair wrote in his diary, “Soapy was much in evidence. He was seated on the platform along with Governor Brady, Dr. Campbell and Messrs. Church, Humbert and Everest.” Soapy might have considered some stratagem by which he would be called upon to say a few words, such as planting members of his gang in the audience who could easily stir up the audience in wanting to hear a few words from captain Jeff Smith, the "grand marshal" of the parade. No record shows that Jeff actually addressed the crowd, but knowing Soapy, it seems unlikely that he would not have tried. The Skagway News reported how the fourth “was a great day for amateur photographers, as every man, horse, mule and float was ‘snapped’ at on every corner….” These picture-takers probably photographed the decorated speakers’ platform as well. Rev. Sinclair is reported to have taken up a good picture-taking position, but photographs of this venue, and the rest of the parade, have yet to surface. Hopefully one day they may.

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PARADE

William Saportas
"One of the 'sure thing' men"
Member of the Soap Gang
July 4th parade
Courtesy of
Cynthia Brackett Driscoll

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Childrens Float with Goddess of Liberty
Courtesy of
University of Alaska, Fairbanks

(Click image to enlarge)

Ben Moore
July 4 parade
Courtesy of
University of Alaska, Fairbanks

(Click image to enlarge)

"A portion of the fourth of July street parade"
Moving north on State Street
Courtesy of
Cynthia Brackett Driscoll

(Click image to enlarge)

SOURCE:
Examining That Fiend in Hell: The Legend

"On this evening my friend “Soapy” seemed very depressed. He gave me a very interesting account of his life. He had never intended to be regarded as a bad man. He killed his first man in self defense. He just could not help it. It had to be done. He was terribly sorry and the next man also made it necessary for him to Snuff out his candle."

— Saunders Norvell, Forty Years of Hardware, 1924

JULY 10

1679: The British crown claims New Hampshire as a royal colony.

1776: The statue of King George III is pulled down in New York City.

1778: In support of the American Revolution, Louis XVI declares war on England.

1821: The U.S. takes possession of Florida, being sold by Spain.

1832: President Andrew Jackson vetoes legislation to re-charter the Second Bank of the United States.

1861: Fort Breckenridge, New Mexico Territory (Arizona) is demolished and abandoned by Union troops during the Civil War.

1863: Idaho Territory is created.

1866: Edison P. Clark patents his indelible pencil.

1877: Five masked men, probably the Sam Bass gang, rob a Deadwood, Dakota Territory stagecoach heading to Nebraska. No passengers or money was on the coach. The robbers asked about the next coach driving towards Deadwood. That coach was warned and hid at a ranch until certain the robbers had left. Soapy Smith would later witness the shootout that ended the life of Sam Bass in Round Rock, Texas.

1881: Outlaws, Frank and Jesse James rob the Davis and Sexton bank in Riverton, Iowa of $5,000.

1886: Outlaw, Sam Archer, of the Archer Brother gang, is on trial for murder. He is found guilty and will hang. Vigilantes will hang his older brothers, Tom, Mort, and John Archer without a trial.

1890: Wyoming becomes the 44th state to join the Union.

1898: Soap Gang member, Van B. Triplett hides out in the hills after Soapy Smith is killed, in Skagway, Alaska. Hunger becomes too much for him, and he sneaks back into town to eat. He is recognized and arrested while eating breakfast at the Pack Train restaurant. Later in the afternoon gang members, John Bowers, “Slim Jim” Foster, and George Wilder are captured in the hills, north of the town.

1900: The logo, “His Master’s Voice,” is patented. The logo for the Victor Recording Company shows the dog, Nipper, looking into the horn of a gramophone machine.

1901: Outlaws, Cole and Jim Younger are released from the Stillwater, Minnesota penitentiary.

1902: Etta Place and Harry “The Sundance Kid” Longabaugh sail to Buenos Aires aboard the Honorius from New York, working as a purser and stewardess.

Soapy Smith Has Cashed In: Died With His Boots On And A Cigar In His Mouth

"SOAPY” SMITH HAS CASHED IN
Rocky Mountain News
July 17, 1898
(article is transcribed below)

(Click image to enlarge)

OAPY SMITH HAS CASHED IN."
"Smith died with his boots on and a cigar in his mouth."

Below is the entire transcribed article from the Rocky Mountain News, July 17, 1898.

“SOAPY” SMITH HAS CASHED IN

_____

Survived His Big Fourth of July Celebration by Four Days.

_____

Tried to Break Up An Indignation Meeting With a Gun and Got Killed.
_____

Victoria Dispatch Confirms the story of the Passing of One of the Most Notorious and Picturesque Characters of the Western States.

_____

Special to The News.

SEATTLE, Wash., July 16.— “Smith died with his boots on and a cigar in his mouth,” is the way Mr. Laney of San Francisco, who came in on the City of Seattle, describes the taking off of “Soap” Smith at Skaguay in the forenoon of Friday, July 8. Mr. Million of Mt. Vernon, Wash., who came in on the Cottage City, told the story leading up to the killing as follows:
     “J. D. Stewart, a young man just out from Dawson City, had offered a sack of gold dust weighing from twelve to fifteen pounds for sale at one of the banks, when he was told by a party by the name of Bowers that he could get more for the gold than the bank offered him. Thereupon he followed Bower into a little building back of “Soapy’s” place, where two others were in waiting. The buyers then began to discuss the weight of the sack, and while one of them was ‘hefting’ it the other two caught Stewart and held him while the third man ran away with the gold. It was soon noised about that Soapy’s gang had again got in his work, and a committee of the leading citizens called on Smith and informed him that the dust must be returned. Concerning this interview there are some different stories on it being that “Soapy” agreed to have it returned by 4 o’clock in the afternoon if no “roar” was made in the papers.
     “Immediately afterwards Smith began to fill up and get troublesome, arming himself with a Winchester and declaring himself to be looking for trouble. He paraded the streets, declaring that he would not have to return the dust, and anyone who did assist was no friend of his.
     “During the evening a meeting of the citizens’ committee was called in Sylvester hall, but as it was not large enough an adjournment was taken to the Juneau wharf, which is a long, narrow wharf running nearly a mile out into the water.
     “The committee met about two-thirds down the wharf from the shore and four guards, one of whom was City Engineer Frank Reid, were stationed at the shore to see that no one went on the wharf to disturb the meeting. Smith heard of it and started for the wharf with his rifle. On finding himself followed by a number of citizens and some of his own friends, he faced about and drove the entire crowd off the street. He then marched straight up to Reid and attempted to force his way past him when a scuffle ensued, during which Smith struck Reid over the head with his rifle and shot him in the right leg.
     “At the same instant Reid shot Smith in the leg and then fired a second shot, striking him in the heart, killing him instantly.
     “There are two stories concerning the manner in which the dust was obtained, one being that the Klondyker lost it on the threadbare Monte game, but the weight of the evidence seems to be in favor of the hold-up. The people could scarcely believe the report of his death at first, but it is said that when it became a certainty the universal expression was one of gratification that Skaguay had at last been rid of the leader of as desperate a gang of toughs as ever infested a frontier city.
     “The United States Marshal and the mayor of the city were believed to belong to the gang, and as a result the former was arrested and thrown in jail and the latter run out of town. In all twenty-seven of Smith’s gang were arrested and a hanging bee would have resulted had not the United States soldiers interfered, the commanding officer only preventing it by threatening to declare martial law if mob violence was resorted to.”

_____

DIED PLAYING HIS OWN GAME

_____

Quick With a Gun, but Not as Quick as He Used to Be.

_____

Friends of “Soapy” Smith, the notorious bunco man, gambler and gun-fighter, are loath to believe that at last he has passed in his checks and gone the route eventually taken by all gun-fighters.
     The first report was to the effect that Smith was killed June 10, and gave no particulars concerning his death. It is now positively stated, however, that “Soapy” is no more and while the friends of Smith are anxious to learn the full particulars of the last bloody affray of the gambler’s life, they are inclined to believe that there is a good deal of truth in the reports.
     “Soapy” was known throughout the West and his sudden passing away will not be a great surprise to his friends and acquaintances. While he lived in this city he figured in innumerable fights and was ever ready with a revolver. In his palmy days he was surrounded by a gang of as clever bunco men as was ever organized in the West. Visitors by the score were fleeced of their money in Smith’s big gambling house, known as the Tivoli, at Seventeenth and Market streets.

Of Local Notoriety.

During his stay in Denver Smith was almost continually in trouble. Although he was not strong physically, or of large stature, he managed in almost every case where trouble started to play his part of the game without flinching. The Smith gang of bunco men were partial to strangers and they seldom attempted to fleece anyone who was well known in this city. They kept constant watch at the Union depot and roped in hundreds of visitors. Few escaped the clutches of the crowd, for no swindling game in the country was run on smoother lines than Smith’s.
     The leader often claimed to be a public benefactor, saying that he and his gang often were the means of causing men to renounce gambling. “A man will be lured into a gambling g hell,” said Smith, “and fascinated so that he will go again and again. After a man comes once to my place he is cured of gambling absolutely. He doesn’t want any more of it.”
     The full name of the character was Jefferson Randolph Smith and he was dubbed “Soapy” by one of his fellow-craftsmen many years ago. He first appeared in Denver shortly after the Leadville excitement, and old-timers will remember him as the fakir who stood a couple of hours each day upon the street corners in the lower part of the city, selling soap to all who would buy. There were many buyers, as each was thoroughly convinced that by investing a few dollars for a bar of soap he would have a chance of drawing out a cake wrapped in a $50 or a $100 bill.
     Of course the game was a “sure thing” for Smith. He made an immense amount of money at it. Two or three hours’ talk a day would net him hundreds of dollars.
     By means of the soap game Smith first introduced himself to the Denver public. Other “sure thing” men saw a genius had come into their midst, for it is an acknowledged fact that the soap man “skinned” them all.

Particular About His Family.

His earnings ran up into the thousands the first year of his residence in this city. He traveled alone at that time and had little to do with gamblers and bunco men. While he was peddling prize soap upon the streets his wife and children lived respectably in a pretty house on Seventeenth Avenue. Their neighbors did not know that the head of the little family was a swindler. Smith always had the highest regard for his wife and children and he kept them away from the tough people among whom he spent much of his time.
     His soap business made him many enemies. Occasionally a swindled customer would attempt to get his money back, but “Soapy” seldom returned a cent to a “sucker.”
     For some years he lived quietly and though he became involved frequently in fights at his soap stand he managed to keep out of jail. In those days the police did not interfere with street fakirs of Smith’s stamp, and in fact they sometimes assisted “Soapy” in getting rid of an obstreperous victim who insisted upon the return of his cash. In 1889 he became weary of the monetary incident to the selling of soap, and left the city with a gang of shell game men for the West. At Pocatello, Idaho they found another … [last sentence is cut off] … presence. A fight aboard a train near the town resulted and Smith shot and seriously wounded John Belcher, a member of the opposing gang. The dispatches regarding this fight stated that three men from Pocatello drew their arms on the Denverites and put them all to flight except Smith, who stood his ground and blazed away with a six-shooter.

Gun Plays in Denver.

Smith was arrested but was quickly discharged. Later “Soapy” returned to this city and next came into prominence in connection with a shooting scrape at the Turf Saloon on Larimer street. In a fight at the bar Smith jerked out his revolver and shot Jack Devine in the shoulder. The occasion for the shooting arose from the fact that Smith, who was an important political figure at that time, had thrown his support to John Hagley who was running for alderman against Jack Noonan. The latter, it was reported, induced Devine to beat Smith, and as Devine was at that time under indictment for murder Noonan thought he had engaged the right man for the job.
     Three weeks later “Soapy” took several shots at one William Flynn, who had been trying to get some money which the “sure thing” gambler had secured from him. In the fall of 1891 “Soapy” dragged a detective out of bed at the Good block and beat him over the head with a revolver. The detective, “Mitch” Roberts, was connected with Gleason’s agency and had in some way hurt the feelings of Smith. The latter claimed that the agency had attempted to “shake him down” for $200 for the privilege of running the Tivoli gambling house at Seventeenth and Market. At any rate Roberts was terribly beaten and Smith, too, was in bad shape when taken to the police station. He handed over to Chief of Detectives Howe a revolver covered with blood.

Removal and Decline.

About this time the Tivoli began losing a thriving business. Joe Bowers and W. H. Jackson, both shrewd bunco men, were engaged by Smith and many a stranger was taken to the house under one pretext or another and bilked of every cent in his possession. Most of these unfortunates were shipped out of town very soon after their money fell into the hands of the Seventeenth street sharks. Some of them complained to the police. The gang was ordered to “let up” for awhile and they moved their headquarters to the White Front saloon at Edgewater and there carried on their nefarious work for several months without interruption. They were protected by officials and though hundreds of complaints were lodged against the White Front, nothing was done to close the place.
     In the summer of 1893 Jeff Smith was present at the killing of “Shotgun” Smith. A tin horn gambler, which occurred in front of the Tivoli saloon. Jeff was credited with the slaying by some of his acquittances. Bascom Smith, his half brother, was arrested for the crime and was sentenced to serve one year in the county jail. Shortly before the killing of “Shotgun” Smith Soapy had a fight with a “sucker” at the Tivoli, and stabbed him in the back with a knife. In the fall of 1893 the railroad companies complained of the Smith gang, and demanded that it be broken up. Some of their patrons lost hundreds of dollars before reaching up town. Being taken into custody by the gang eye they had proceeded a block from the Union depot.
     During the city hall war Soapy showed his readiness to fight for his party. He offered his services to the Republicans, and on the day of the memorable bloodless battle he was stationed in the tower of the city hall with a desperate gang of heelers. They had sticks of dynamite, which they proposed to throw among the attacking force.
     When the Populists came into power Soapy began losing his grip. A closer watch was kept upon his Seventeenth shop. One afternoon Policeman Griffith placed George Wilder, one of Smith’s men, under arrest for swindling and this made Smith angry. Later in the day Soapy caught Griffith in the Tivoli and beat him over the head with a revolver. The officer took his medicine and made no complaint against his assailant. Two weeks later Wilder was again taken into custody for working a bunco game, and Smith called at the police station to sign a bond for his release. Clerk Hickey pulled a revolver and made the bad man throw up his hands.
     At that time Smith had quite a reputation as a gun fighter, and many of the police officers were afraid to tackle him. One day, however, Chief Armstrong sent officer Boykin to Smith with a message to the effect that if he (Smith) didn’t behave himself he would run him out of town.

Ultimatum From Armstrong.

The message was delivered in border style. “You may be a quick man with a gun,” said the policeman, “but I’m twice as quick. Now if you don’t behave yourself down here I’ll run you and your gang out of town.”
     The bunco man was taken by surprise, and as he didn’t know the officer he concluded that he was like many others and would weaken under a “bluff.” So he began abusing Boykin. “You say you’re quick with a gun,” retorted the officer. “Just let me see how quick you are.” Smith didn’t follow up his “bluff,” else there would have been a tragedy.
     Denver became too hot for Smith, and so he took his departure. He went to Creede and became town marshal. He was a strict officer and he preserved the peace after his own fashion. The town was filled with tough characters from all parts of the country, and they soon learned to respect the determined bunco man. The sporting fraternity paid tribute to the marshal, and he in turn gave them full protection. The new officer a general favorite among his friends and a terror to his enemies. Bob Ford, the slayer of Jesse James, was one of Smith’s understrappers, and between them they managed to run things in good style.
     One afternoon a one-armed minister of the gospel was enticed into a saloon by a fictitious call, and met a crowd of half-drunken miners and cowboys. They jeered at him, and one of them, a tall, husky miner, ordered him a drink of whisky. The gentleman of the cloth pleaded to be excused from swallowing the “mountain dew” which was set before him, saying that he cared for nothing stronger than soda water. There upon the miner who had ordered the drink became very abusive.
     At this stage of the game Marshal Smith appeared. It required but a moment’s time for him to take in the situation. He pushed his way to the crowd, pulling out his revolver in the meantime, and stepped up to the side of the crippled minister. He raised the weapon and brought it down with terrible force upon the head of a big miner, who sank upon the floor, blood spurting from a long wound in his head.

Started a Nomadic Career.

While he was marshal of Creede Smith wrote columns of matter for the New York Sun. He was an easy, graceful write, and being possessed of a good education he was able to put his many experiences together in good shape. But finally life at Creede seemed dull to Smith and he departed for the Sunny South. He started for Galveston, but went brke at Dallas, and was arrested for vagrancy. The accused made a splendid talk before the magistrate and was discharged from custody. In the spring of 1895 “Soapy” and Bascom Smith started out on a rampage and marched up Larimer street, their revolvers in their hands, intending to wipe out a few old scores. They attacked John Hughes, proprietor of the Arcade, and several other men. Then they met Chief of Police Goulding and “Soapy” attempted to use a revolver over his head.
     Chief Goulding decided that the Smiths were unsafe citizens and ordered his officers to keep a special watch on them. Smith went to Old Mexico and in the City of Mexico he obtained an introduction to President Diaz. It is reported that as long as he remain in the republic Smith was shown much courtesy by the officials. He proposed some new and startling reforms and schemes. One of his schemes would have netted him a large grant of land had he remained to carry it out. But the traveler was not a man with a single purpose, and instead of turning over a new leaf and remaining in Mexico he came back to Denver and mingled with the gang of cheap bunco men.

Autocrat of Skaguay.

So he came back to his old stamping grounds and on May 7, 1898 he departed for Alaska. He spent some time in Smith’s Inlet and at Juneau and finally reached Skaguay. At Skaguay, it is reported, Smith ruled with a high hand. He was elected president of the chamber of commerace and several other organizations of Skaguay, and he promoted various schemes for the advancement of the place. He ran things to suit himself and no one dared oppose him. His gang was the toughest that ever gathered together in the chilly North and many of the people who came to the place were bilked of their capital by the swindlers. Several months ago a negro woman was murdered at Skaguay. The editor of a paper published at the place stated in the columns of the sheet that Smith or his men probably knew something about the murder. “Soapy” instituted suit against the proprietor of the publication, demanding a large sum for libel.
     Tom Keady, a Denver gambler, was with Smith at Skaguay, and he recently returned. He reported that “Soapy” was not earning his salt. Smith was as handy as ever with his revolver, said Keady, and on one occasion the two men came near shooting at each other, trouble arising at a bar where both were drinking.
     Little is known concerning Smith’s early life. He came to Denver from Joplin, No., and for some years lived in Texas. He has a wife and three children living in St. Louis.
     Smith was loyal to his new love in the Northwest, and was instrumental in organizing a Fourth of July celebration, the first ever in the ragged town of Skaguay. Styling himself captain of the First regiment of the Alaska National Guard he had printed a hundred badges which were distributed broadcast. These were printed in red and blue ink on white paper in lieu of ribbon and bore the following inscription:
     “Alaska Militia, July 4, 1898, Skaguay. Compliments Skaguay Company, First Regiment, A. N. G., Jeff. R. Smith, Captain.”
     Mr. L. M. Burnirager of that city received one of the badges yesterday from his brother and will preserve it as a souvenir of one of the worst men known to the West. 

"One should always play fairly
when one has the winning cards."

— Oscar Wilde

APRIL 19

1764: English Parliament bans the colonies from printing money.

1775: The American Revolution begins when shooting starts at Lexington, Massachusetts.

1782: The Netherlands recognize the United States.

1802: The Spanish reopen the New Orleans port to American merchants.

1852: The California Historical Society is founded.

1860: Texas Rangers, U.S. 2nd Cavalry troopers and citizen volunteers attack a small Comanche Indian camp near the confluence of Mule Creek and the Pease River in Texas. Twelve Indians are killed and three are captured, including white female Cynthia Ann Parker who had been abducted in 1836. Also captured were her two-year-old daughter and a ten-year-old Indian boy.

1861: Thaddeus S. C. Lowe sails 900 miles in nine hours in a hot air balloon from Cincinnati, Ohio to Unionville, South Carolina.

1861: The Baltimore riot results in four Union soldiers and nine civilians killed.

1861: President Lincoln orders a blockade of Confederate ports.

1881: Outlaw Dave Rudabaugh is tried and convicted for the April 2, 1880 murder of Las Vegas, New Mexico jailer Antonio Valdez, even though all the evidence shows John “Little Allen” Allen is the man who shot and killed Valdez. Rudabaugh will escape prison eight months later, on December 3, 1881.

1884: The Rocky Mountain News publishes a warning to Denver, Colorado citizens that there are two “bunko gangs working Denver under the protection of the police.” One of these gangs is believed to be the Soapy Smith Soap Gang.

1888: The Kansas Western Farmer notes the arrival of John O. “Texas Jack” Vermillion, still on the run from Arizona lawmen for his part in the Wyatt Earp vendetta ride killings. Vermillion shortly hereafter joined bad man Soapy Smith’s gang in Denver, Colorado.

1889: Bad man Malachi Allen is hung for July 15, 1888 murders of Shadrach Peters and Cy Love over ownership of a saddle in the Chickasaw Nation (Oklahoma). Allen escaped but was captured after a gun battle with a posse led by a Deputy Marshal named McAlester. Allen was wounded badly and brought to Fort Smith, Arkansas where his right arm is amputated.

1892: The Duryea gasoline buggy is introduced in the U.S. by Charles and Frank Duryea.

1892: Nate Champion and Nick Ray are shot and killed during the “Horse Thief War” in Wyoming.

Artifact #64: "I am captain of the 1st Co. of Alaska"

"I am captain of the 1st Co. of Alaska"
Artifact #64
Jeff Smith Collection

(Click image to enlarge)

 am captain of the 1st Co. of Alaska"
Artifact #64

      The coming of the Spanish-American War began with the U.S. battleship Maine blowing up in Havana harbor, Cuba on February 15, 1898. Over 200,000 “volunteers and National Guard troops … rushed to the colors.”[A]. Meetings were held in Skagway, and Soapy led the way for patriotic zeal. In one speech he gave, he said, "Spain will send her battleships to seize our ports, and they will try to capture our ships. But, be damned to them … we’ll stake our lives against their plots!" Soapy Smith's saloon (Jeff Smith's Parlor) became headquarters for the Skaguay Military Company, which he formed and commanded as its “elected” captain.
      The US declared war on April 25, but because Spain had declared war on the US the previous day, the US Congress backdated its declaration to April 21, 1898. The following day, April 26th, Soapy wrote to his wife, Mary. A month into spring, Soapy had grown concerned over not hearing from home. Moreover, the gathering war clouds were seen even from distant Skaguay. Writing on April 26, he could not yet have known that war had been declared just the day before.

Dear Mollie

      No word from you. What is wrong? I am captain of the 1st Co. of Alaska and will go to the war if there is any. I suppose it is on now. I expected to go to Dawson City. But now I will have to go to the front if called on. Write here. Love to all.
Your husband,
Jeff

Soapy asked why he had not heard from Mary. The answer was that with the declaration of war, the mails had slowed even more than before. In writing this letter, Soapy had confirmed his commitment to the Skaguay Military Company and that if called, he would “go to the front.”

SOURCES
[A] Gilded Age Dictionary, Historical Dictionary of the Gilded Age, 2003











Skaguay Military Company:
Oct 21, 2008
Mar 4, 2010
Mar 20, 2010
Apr 1, 2010
Apr 10, 2010
Jun 3, 2010
Jun 30, 2010
May 4, 2011
Nov 24, 2017
Nov 27, 2017
Nov 28, 2017

Skaguay Military Company: pages 79, 471, 486-90, 494-95, 498-502, 505, 510, 514-15, 595.

"In times of trouble, though, he usually preferred to rely on his wits, smooth speech, and dexterity rather than on physical force."

—Alias Soapy Smith, Introduction.

MARCH 3

1791: Congress passes a resolution that creates the U.S. Mint.

1803: The first impeachment trial of a U.S. Judge, John Pickering, begins.

1812: The U.S. Congress passes the first foreign aid bill.

1817: The first commercial steamboat route from Louisville to New Orleans is opened.

1837: US president Andrew Jackson and Congress recognize Republic of Texas. Texas will later become a state, and home to the “Soapy” Smith family.

1845: Florida becomes the 27th state.

1845: Congress passes legislation that for the first time overrides a U.S. President’s veto.

1849: The U.S. Department of the Interior is established.

1849: The Gold Coinage Act, which allows the minting of gold coins, is passed by Congress.

1849: Congress creates the territory of Minnesota.

1851: Congress authorizes the 3-cent piece, the smallest U.S. silver coin.

1855: Congress approves $30,000 to test camels for military use.

1857: Congress authorizes the postmaster general to seek bids for an overland stagecoach service to carry mail between the Missouri River and San Francisco.

1857: Fort Abercrombie is established on the west bank of the Red River south of where present day Fargo, North Dakota is. It was named for the commander of the founding party, Lieutenant Colonel John Abercrombie.

1863: Congress authorizes a US mint at Carson City, Nevada.

1863: Idaho Territory is created by Congress. Over 20,000 miners had already arrived to gold fields there.

1863: Free city delivery of mail is authorized by the U.S. Postal Service.

1875: The U.S. Congress authorizes the 20-cent piece. It is only used for 3 years.

1877: Camp Huachuca, Arizona Territory is established to protect the border. 1885: The American Telephone and Telegraph (AT and T) is incorporated in New York as a subsidiary of the American Bell Telephone Company.

1885: The U.S. Post Office offers special delivery for first-class mail.

1894: The Atlantis, the first Greek newspaper in America, is published.

1903: Barney Gilmore, of St. Louis, Missouri, is arrested for spitting.

1903: The U.S. imposes a $2 head tax on immigrants.