Artifact #17: Jeff R. Smith: Auctioneer, 1892

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Clearly Jeff believed his line of work had become hazardous enough that when offered a life and accident insurance policy with his subscription to the Denver Times, he bought it. The policy came from the Travelers Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Naturally, Jeff wanted to be sure his family could care for itself financially in the event he suffered an accident. On the policy, Jeff listed his occupation as auctioneer. Given his true profession and its hazards, however, should Jeff’s heirs have tried to collect on the policy, benefits might have been denied. Among the events that would void the policy were accidents or death that involved intoxication, dueling or fighting, violating the law, and exposure to unnecessary danger. Two months later, Jeff almost involuntarily tested the bounds of his policy. It was the evening of October 11, 1892, when Jeff used his gun and a gambler named Cliff Sparks died on a barroom floor.

—Alias Soapy Smith, p. 250

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The Cliff Sparks shooting inside Murphy's Exchange showed the worst side of Denver's underworld. It is too an example of the power Soapy welded to get himself and his friends out of a murder charge. No one was punished in the murder of Cliff Sparks, but that's a story for another time.

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This years Soapy Smith party.

The following was posted by Whit "Pop" Haydn, the man behind the Soapy Smith Night at the Magic Castle.

Just to let you know that Soapy Smith Night at the Magic Castle is coming up on Thursday, July 8, 2010.

Chef Anton will perform his world-famous trick shot show, and I will be performing magic, and there will be roulette, Chuck a Luck, Faro, Blackjack, and other games of chance, where you can try your luck. Music is provided by Professor Dave Bourne and the Medicine Show Band.

There will be booze, food, magic, music, hustling, gambling, lovely soiled doves and saloon girls, and of course, the toast to Soapy's ghost by his great-grandson, the historian Jeff Smith. It is going to be a great party. Everyone is encouraged to wear their finest and fanciest 19th Century duds--Alaskan Gold Rush style, or you can wear standard dressy Castle attire--suits and ties for men and cocktail attire for ladies.


If you would like to set up a three-card monte scam, shell game, Faro table or other con game at the event, and play for Soapy Money, you may be able to win our top prize for the evening a $500 set of solid sterling silver shells, our finest, the Colorado Silver Shells. Contact me as above if you would like to play.

We also have just released three new DVDs featuring Chef Anton.

• the Close-Up Magic of Chef Anton

• Chef Anton Live at Soapy Smith Night

• the Pool Hustler's Handbook

These are all exciting and excellent DVDs which I know you will enjoy.

For more info, go here:

Regards,
Whit "Pop" Haydn
Scoundrels Forum

Thanks Whit!

Nice book review from "Roscoe."

Alias Soapy Smith is one BIG book -- meticulously and professionally documented and well written in the extreme.

Pard, if this wasn't your Ph.D. dissertation, it should have been. Very scholarly work!

Beyond that, the illustrations and photographs are just phenomenal. What a masterpiece!

Thank you so much for the 25 years you devoted to writing this. God, that sounds so paltry compared to your work. —“Roscoe” (Scoundrels forum)

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Artifact #16: 1892 hand drawn map of Creede, Colorado

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Artifact #16 is a hand drawn map of Creede, Colorado on Denver and Rio Grande Railroad stationary drawn by an associate scout of Soapy's in early 1892 to reconnoiter a potential invasion of the Soap Gang. It consists of a crude layout of the land, mines, and owners. At the top is written, 

“Last chance every thing takin and Develope  more or leasse.” 

The map seemed to show little possibility of obtaining real estate in Creede, but looks could be deceiving. Soapy obtained not only lots in the best part of town for himself, but for numerous friends as well. The details can be found in my book under the chapter Soapy Smith's Creede.

Map of Creede: p. 201.

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Roscoe Ates as Soapy Smith?

Stephen Lodge over on the True West forum had this to say.

"I can't help picturing the late actor Roscoe Ates every time I see the name Soapy Smith. Soapy Smith was the name of the character Ates played when he co-starred with Edie Dean in one of those old PRC B-westen series."

Roscoe's character name is Soapy Jones.  Now I can't be positive that they borrowed the name Soapy from the real one but it sure looks like it to me. It is enough to post the story here.

(From Wikipedia)

From 1946-1948, Ates appeared as the western character Soapy Jones in fifteen films, including Colorado Serenade, Driftin' River (with Shirley Patterson), Stars Over Texas, and Tumbleweed Trail (all 1946), West to Glory, Shadow Valley, and Wild Country (all 1947), and Check Your Guns, Black Hills, Tornado Range, The Westward Trail, and The Tioga Kid (all 1948). His Soapy Jones character is the sidekick to the "Singing Cowboy" portrayed by native Texan, Eddie Dean (1907-1999). Thereafter, George "Gabby" Hayes employed archival footage from many Soapy Jones films in his 1950s children's television series, The Gabby Hayes Show.

More on Roscoe Ates can be found on the IMDb site.

Thank you Stephen.

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Hi Jeff,

I just finished your book, and enjoyed it a lot. It really gives a thorough picture of the time, place and people, as well as of Soapy himself. Well done!

Mike Blackstone

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Artifact #15: 1896 Soapy arrested in Juneau, Alaska.

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I love this piece. A newspaper clipping with a personal note at the top written in pencil by Soapy and sent to his wife Mary in St. Louis. It is the first and last of several things. It's his first visit and arrest in Alaska and it's the last recorded use of the prize package soap sell racket. This does not mean he did not do it again, only that any future instances were not recorded. This piece has a closer personal meaning to me as the name Soapy used during his arrest was John Rudolph. Soapy's son named none of his male children Jefferson Randolph but he did name my father John Randolph. It was passed down that this news clipping was the deciding factor however the son's wife did not like the name Rudolph so it was changed to Randolph.

Soapy arrived in Juneau, Alaska in April 1896. On April 24 he was arrested for running the soap sell racket. An undated April issue of the Alaska Searchlight carried the story.

John Rudolph was brought before Commissioner Mellen on the 24th charged with gambling. His mode of procedure was what is termed by the “profesh” as “flim-flaming the guys”—or he would pretend to wrap up ten and twenty dollar bills with a cake of soap and sell it for five or ten dollars as the case might be. Juneau has a number of “guys” who are eager to bite at the scheme, and had it not been that an officer took the “flim-flamer” there is no doubt he would have reaped a rich harvest. And yet they say there are no suckers in Alaska.

Soapy tore the page from the small newspaper and sent it to Mary in St. Louis with the following note inscribed at top.

"The money I wrapped up was borrowed. I have nothing. Fined $25.00 cost and stopped from work."

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The clipping Soapy sent contained news about the gold being discovered and miners heading to Cook Inlet and into the interior of Alaska where it had been found. A rush was believed imminent and Soapy naturally wanted in.

When it came time for the steamship General Canby to continue its journey north, someone in Juneau recognized Soapy and sent word to the Rocky Mountain News that he had been seen boarding the steamer with prospecting miners, destination Cook Inlet, where the city of Anchorage would be built. Soapy was now on his way for several exciting adventures with one of Alaska's most famous sea captain, Johnny "Dynamite" O'Brien, but that's a story for another day.  

The arrest and newspaper story:  p. 410

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Quick quotes.

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Artifact #14: 1898 letter to Soapy's wife Mary (Skagway, Alaska).

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Soon after Soapy was killed the widow, Mary went to Skagway with her oldest son, Jefferson. The trip was to last just a few days but that turned into 20. While there the following 3 page letter arrived on August 15, 1898 while Mary was still in the city.

The contents of the letter are as follows.

St. Louis, Mo.
Aug 4 – 98

[letter page 1]
My Dear Mollie
I received your most welcome letters and was more than glad to hear of you getting along so fine. And hoping you will continue so until you arrive safe in old St. Louis again. I fear you will be left Skagway before this reaches you but presume you will make arrangements to have your mail forwarded to some other point. – Well as to the news I don’t know of anything new only every body is well. Eva is out at Zacks. I only saw her once since you left. James and myself chase the duck most every day or night. He says grandmama is always broke so we manage not to go dry. All is getting along fine. I was in to see the old lady today and didn’t have a chance to talk to her. Big Nell was on hand I seen

[letter page 2]
the old lady the day she got your letter. She was telling me all about. I had nothing to say. [undecipherable name] was over enquiring [sic] for you. Yesterday was his birthday. He was celebrating just a little. I am strictly decent after being off the track for 5 days. How is that- But it is all off now. I’m not going to try to explain how glad I am knowing you are all O.K. The St. Louis Star gives you a write up Jeff also of the 2nd I have it will keep it for you. The Ceattle [Seattle] paper of the 28 July also has a piece you can see it or have I suppose. I am glad to hear that Jeffie is standing the trip so well. Hopefully yours will continue so. Criss was down on Locus Street with another new [undecipherable] a night or two ago. I didn’t see them. I am not in it at all. Neither is Andy so there is no kick coming to me. Don’t you think the same.

[letter page 3]

The old lady was telling me a great story about Hanna. She got mad. Certainly I was ignorant of everything. It has been raining here ever since you left almost and the weather now is about as fine as ever you seen it in every part of the U.S. I only hope it will continue so. Benn called on us while I was writing this. I asked him if [undecipherable] had heard from you any more. He said he had not but if you stopped at Victoria B.C. You might. Write so you must have posted Benn before you left. How is that.
Well I don’t know of any thing of interest to say only try and write as often as you possibly can. Hoping you and Jeffie is all O.K. I remain yours. Ever the same – Jack

P.S. I am glad to hear you was not sea sick. That is more than you could say in you was in St. Louis Ha Ha J.P.

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Mysteries abound in this personal family/friend letter. Some of the names are known and some are not.

• Who is Jack P? From the conversation it appears that he is an old friend of the family, perhaps a one-time member of the gang as he swears he's not involved in anything that will "kick" back to him.
• James is Soapy's youngest son.
• Eva is Soapy's daughter.
• "Big Nell" ?
• Criss ?
• Andy ?
• Hanna ?
• Benn ?

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Soapy Smith Party/Wake 2010

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Book signing at the Autry National Center

I am scheduled for a book signing July 24, 2010 between 1-2 p.m. at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles for the federal recognition of National Day of the Cowboy. I hope perhaps to meet some of you there.

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Sarah Palin and my book on Soapy Smith

                                              Courtesy of Skagway News

I received a digital copy of the online Skagway News today and found my book on the cover! Well, although my book is not the main subject of the photograph it is none-the-less there. My book has a connection to Palin's book, Going Rogue as she briefly mentions Soapy. Her book received negative responses for every word she wrote including the bit about Soapy which brought me into the fray. Oh fun times. I even got some radio play out of it. The radio play link will lead you to the links on the frays if you so wish to read about that fun.   

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Denver policeman Sam Howe on Soapy Smith

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The Soapy wake is coming...

Artifact #13: 1896 letter to Soapy Smith (Alaska-Spokane) from wife Mary (St. Louis).

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After spending several grueling months in Alaska in 1896 (before the main gold rush) Soapy returned to Washington. In July  his wife Mary penned a two-page letter to him on Denver Ingersoll Club stationary. She crossed out Denver, Colo.” and wrote “St. Louis Mo.” July 1896.

Dear Husband,

I would have written to you sooner but Jeff swallowed a fish hook and I did not want to worry you until I found out if it would be necessary for him to go under an operation, but he is getting along all right and doesn’t seem to suffer. If he passed it, it must have been away from home for I watched him very closely. Jeff, I have never got a cent out of the rent but $11.85 cents and I had to send that right out to Brown & Bro. to pay insurance on that extra $15.00 they took out. I will send you all the statements from agent and Brown & Bro. when I hear from you again for I do not want to lose them and you might have left where you are before they would get there. I wish you would let me know how our insurance runs or if it is yet due. Inclosed you will find last notice from Brown & Bro.

It is dreadful hot here, sufficating [sic] lots of rain and then intense heat. I nearly went crazy the day Jeffy swallowed that hook but I know now he will be all right.

Well Jeff I will close hoping to hear from you at once. Jeff & Eva & Jim send love and kisses and the same from your
true Mollie

P.S. Eva nearly went crazy over your picture and the dollar you sent her, and poor Jim cried all day. M

The letter was posted August 11, 1896, to “Jeff R. Smith, Spokane, Wash., C/of Grand Hotel,” and was postmarked received on August 14. This was three days before George Carmack made the biggest gold discovery in the history of Canada’s Klondike region. News of the discovery, however, did not reach the outside world until the following summer in 1897. Mary signed her name “Mollie,” as she occasionally did. There is no current explanation why. 

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Envelope back

Jeff surely asked himself how an eleven-year-old boy came to swallow a fish hook. The letter does not express the severity of the incident as does the following newspaper account.

St. Louis Republican, June 20, 1896

Swallowed a Fish Hook.

Jefferson Smith, a 9-year-old boy residing at 203 Olive street, went fishing Thursday in Forest Park. On his way home, while near the corner of Boyle avenue and Olive Street, he swallowed a fish hook accidentally. He experienced no immediate discomfort, but Dr. Witherspoon of 4269 Washington avenue, who examined the boy directly after the disappearance of the fishhook, stated that it may cause the little fellow's death.

The Ingersoll Club in Denver is where The News in 1893 claimed that Jeff presided over gambling.






View Larger Map
Here is what the area of Mary's house looks like today. This does not take into consideration that the address locations may have changed since 1896. 







View Larger Map
Forest Park where young Jefferson III fished

Letter: pp. 417-18.

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