Soap Box News

Early Skaguay 1897
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Following are some interesting tidbits of news and information.

Regular fans of this blog will recall the past posts about the new and improved Days of '98 Show in Skagway utilizing Ed Parrish's wonderful ballad, The Bloody Ballad of Notorious Bad Man Soapy Smith’s Wretched and Violent Demise. Show co-owner, Jonathan Baldwin lets us know that Ed's song , sung by Michael Baish, will be filmed by The Outdoor Channel.

Getting ready to visit the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Once again I am playing the part of Soapy Smith this time however I have acquired a little more knowledge about the real Soapy. I will high jack a bus loaded with corporate types and take them to a dude ranch while teaching them about the perils they are about to face. Should be fun.

A new Soapy Smith "wake" event has been created in Denver, Colorado. Currently there are now three known "wakes" (parties) taking place this year. The one in Skagway will hold it's `34th annual wake on July 8, 2011. The held in Hollywood, California at the Magic Castle will hold it's 8th annual party on July 10, 2011. Special thanks to magician, Dave Elstun, on July 7, 2011 "Denver's First Annual Soapy Smith Wake" will be held at the Lumber Baron Inn and Garden's at 7:00 PM. The Lumber Baron Inn, 2555 W. 37th Ave., in Denver's historic Highlands Neighborhood.

The show features the talents of the Three Soapy's, Magician Dave Elstun, Comedian's Darrin Ray and Matt Vander Muelen also featured Lumber Baron Owner and Historian Walter Keller, Bu...rlesque Dancer Dewliscious and Physical Comedian and Juggler Reid Belstock. Tickets are now on sale at The Lumber Baron Inn (303) 477-8205 for only $15.00 per person (dinner is not included). For more information please visit The Lumber Baron web-site.

Next year there will be at least four known Soapy Smith wakes taking place around the country.  Magician and Soapy fan, Keith Cobb plans to have the first annual "wake" in Chicago, Illinois. For a number of years Keith annually trekked from Chicago to Hollywood for the Soapy party at the Magic Castle. That's a noble feat for any true fan, as well as expensive. Keith wants to share the fun with his fellow Chicagonians next year, in conjunction with the annual anniversary of the Wizards Club of Chicago.

I have a full year to plan. I have told lots of people about it already. I plan to ask Glenn Morphew (a local shell game guy) who is a friend of Ed Parish if he would be interested in coming up to sing the ballad. He's only 600 mile away. I have my own Faro setup, chuck-a-luck, shell game, fast and loose, three-card monte, and cover the spot, I even have a small roulette setup. If it is ok we will probably print up our own Soapy money. I plan on having several local entertainers do gambling themed magic and may even have a location set. I know a magician who owns a bar with a kitchen. We would be interested in having a table of Soapy related items for sale, including your book. This is going to be so much fun.

----------

I am planning on a cash bar and food so I don't see much expense at all other then printing fliers and fake money. I am planning on doing a web page for the event on the Wizard's Club website since it is a combination club anniversary party. It will be our 80th year. For our 75th I had a banquet and had over 250 people attend so getting a turn out should be no problem. Chicago is a big magic town and everyone love a good party. Here is a link to that party. Any suggestions are helpful.

Jeff Smith

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Tara Kane: Skaguay Military Company

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In the novel, Tara Kane the German photographer, Hart tries desperately to convince Tara of Soapy Smith's evil intentions of raising a private army to seize control of the ports and trails leading into Canada and the Klondike gold fields. This fictional account is based on the real regarding the creation of the Skaguay Military Company in May 1898. 

“Tara,” he said gravely. “You must get away from him. He is a bad man.”

“You don’t have to worry, I know all about Mr. Smith,” she replied dismissively, getting up.

I don’t think you do.” The way he said it made her stop. “There are rumors. He is planning something. Something dangerous. I hear stories.”

“I’m not interested in gossip,” she retorted.

“No, you must listen,” Hart said urgently. “He is raising an army. Shipping in weapons. Ammunition. Training men.”

“That’s his little hobby. He likes playing soldiers. He’ll come to see you any day now for a photograph of him in his pretty uniform. You’re taking it all too seriously, Ernst.”

“Don’t you understand?” Hart was getting excited. “He plans a Putsch, a revolt. When he has enough men and enough guns, he will take over the tow, the railroad, maybe Dyea, seize the Chilkoot, the White Pass.”

“That’s crazy!” she cried.

“With his army, who can stop him? A couple of deputy marshals? By the time they send troops, he’ll control everything.”

“Ernst, you’re being ridiculous.”

“I beg you, Tara, you must leave here. Before it’s too late.”

“Ernst, I don’t believe any of” she began, but he cut her short.

“I will protect you from him,” he burst out. “He won’t be able to do anything. You can rely on me. I will look after you and the baby. You need not have anything to do with the man ever again.”

Tara said nothing. …

…..........................................................................

[Tara confronts Soapy in his office]

There was a knock on the door. Smith ignored it, but Tara disengaged herself. Again the knock came.

“Yes?” Smith called out irritably. His eyes were on Tara. She was trying to take advantage of the operation to collect herself.

Yeah Mow came in and stopped when he saw the two of them.

“Well?” Smith demanded. His voice was sharp.

“I didn’t know you were busy, Boss,” grunted Yeah Now, “only they’re going to start unloading.” He stopped. “The cargo will be coming ashore soon. Thought you’d better know.”

“OK,” Smith said curtly, “I’ll be there.”

She could tell something was being kept from her. Yeah Mow closed the door, and Tara asked, “What cargo’s that, Jeff?”

Doubts were crossing her mind, and echo of what Hart had said, “When he has enough men and enough guns.”

“Christ, honey, we got more important things to talk about than that,” he said. Suddenly, he seemed guarded.

“No. I want to know.”

She sat down and looked at him challengingly. Her softness had gone. She was tough, businesslike.

“You don’t make sense,” he replied. Under his hooded lids, his eyes were wary.

“You keep disappearing for days on end. Nobody sees you. Then all these cargoes that arrive. You keep going to the waterfront. What’s so important about them? You keep that gunman outside your door. Your office gets burgled. What’s happening? Your right-hand wants to know what’s happening.

He hesitated, then he shrugged. “I’m training my men. Hell, I’m the CO of the outfit. I’m whipping them into shape. I got to spend time with them. And those cargoes, why they’re just supplies. Military supplies. Uniforms. Boots.”

“Arms?” Her voice was quiet.

He didn’t blink. “Sure. Rifles, sidearms. I’m having them shippedin, and I don’t aim to see them go astray. So I keep an eye on things. You don’t want my soldier boys to have wooden swords, do you?”

He laughed as if that was a good joke. He opened a drawer and took out some sheets of paper.

“Now while I’m gone, I’d appreciate you copying these out, just for me and a couple of the boys.”

He passed them over to her.

She glanced at them, uneasiness growing. “What are these list?”
“It’s the payroll. If the men get called out, if a state of emergency is declared.”

“You mean martial law? In Skagway? Who’d declare that?

“I like to be safe.”

“Safe from what, Jeff? She pressed.

“Safe from other people’s interference.”
She stood up, putting down the lists. “But all this is illegal. Recruiting private mercenaries in the name of the United States, shipping in arms, wearing uniforms, giving out ranks. National Guard, indeed!”

Smith looked amused. “He’s put you up to this, hasn’t he? That lousy photographer made your beautiful hair stand on end? Right?”

“I can use my own eyes,” Tara said. She didn’t want to bring Hart into this.

He grinned. “Now you listen. Congress has rushed through a bill authorizing the immediate enlisting of volunteer troops for the war. Here.” He went to a chair, picked up some Seattle and San Francisco newspapers. The headlines were there. They were recruiting men for the Spanish War.

“What’s good for Teddy Roosevelt is good enough for me,” went on Smith.

Tara shook her head. “You’ll have to try harder than that. You’re raising a private army, and I want to know why.”

He strode across the room to the newly installed safe. “Goddamn it, Tara, you can be the most aggravating female,” he shouted. He took out a sheet of paper and thrust it at her.

“Private army, indeed,” he growled.

The paper had an officially printed letterhead embossed with the legend: Office of the Secretary of War, Washington, D.C.

Dear Captain Smith, [it read] The President has passed over to the Department of the Army your letter and asked me to reply on his behalf.

He joins me in commending your patriotic spirit in forming your militia unit. You and your volunteer forces and the enthusiasm with which you have rallied to the colors in this hour of your country’s need are a tribute to the people of Alaska.

Your offer to put your unit at the disposal of the United States Army and to lead your men in an invasion of Spanish Cuba is greatly appreciated, but I can assure you that the forces we have available are adequate and there is no need for the War Department to require your services overseas.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

And it was signed Russel A. Alger, Secretary of War.

“Well?” He stood beaming at her. “You still think I’m planning to start some cockeyed private war?”

She had to admit that it was not what she had expected. She hadn’t known that he had been in touch with Washington. She thought he was doing it all on his own here, thousands of miles away. Maybe he was right, she thought. Maybe Hart had wanted to paint Smith in the blackest colors. She gave him back the letter.

“How many men have you got now?” she asked.

“Two, three hundred,” he said, going out the door.

Washington knew what Smith was up to, and they had raised no objections. What was really going on? …

…...............................................................................

Smith displayed his letter from Washington proudly. It hung in a prominent position in the Oyster Parlor, reverently framed. Only Tara knew that he had cut out part of the letter and neatly joined the two other pieces. There was no mention of Washington brushing him off; only the grateful thanks of his President and the War Department.

May 18, 2011
May 3, 2011 
April 29, 2011 
April 28, 2011

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

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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Soapy Smith news and pranks

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Yesterday I posted about a practical joke pulled on me by Skagway businessman, Dennis Corrington. The above photograph shows one of my own. It was 1989 when I went to Skagway and placed an "antiqued" sign near Frank Reid Fall, changing the name to "Soapy Smith Falls." I'm such a card.

Today's post is a combination of recent news.

Dave Elstun, coordinator of the first annual Soapy Smith Wake in Denver, Colorado is preparing a press release for the event "We are doing the Wake on July 7th at 7 PM. It is taking the form of a saloon show."

Linda Aten posted a request on our discussion board asking about her great-great-great-grandfather's connection to Soapy. Linda writes,

"I have been trying to find out information about my GGG grandfather who left my GGG grandmother and was not ever hear from again. The story was that he was in Alaska during the time of Soapy Smith. He did some mining in Leadville and the story is that he and several others went to Skagway. I was able to trace him to Montana in 1900 with a new wife and then to California for the rest of his life. His name was William Paige Hyatt. Do you have any information as to whether he was connect to Soapy Smith. I understand he was quite a scoundrel in his own right."

Please, if anyone out there has any information on William Paige Hyatt contact Jeff Smith.

Karen Cuthbertson is in Denver searching for the marriage certificate of Jefferson R. Smith and Mary Eva Noonan. Although we know they married in Denver on February 1, 1886 there seems to be no record. We await to see what Karen finds.

Vintage piano music king, Dave Bourne, is looking to possibly record Ed Parrish's ballad, The violent Demise of Soapy Smith.

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!! :)

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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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More on Ira Ellis Caspar Wistar Smith and the Civil War.

(Please see June 16, 2011)

A little more digging unearthed some new information on the Civil War service of Ira Ellia Caspar Wistar Smith. From the United States Civil War Soldiers Index I found that Ira belonged to the1st Regiment, Company K, Georgia Reserves, also known as Fannin's (Colonel J. H. Fannin). I could find no history for this unit, however in the USGW Archives I was able to find that Ira enlisted as a Senior 2nd Lieutenant on April 27, 1864 in Atlanta, Georgia under Captain W. L. Hubbard for the duration of the War, in which he ranked out as 2nd Lieutenant. Some of the enlisted men records contained physical descriptions and other notes but there was nothing listed for Ira Smith.

June 3, 2011

Jeff Smith

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Soapy Slick: Disney's bad man character.

Even Disney knows about Soapy Smith!

Disney comic book artist, Carl Banks introduced Soapy Slick in 1965 in the comic book, North of the Yukon.

As the storyline there was lack of money and Scrooge had to take a loan with a 10% interest per month. However Slick managed to add another "0" to change that 10%  into 100% per month.

The following comes from Comic Vine.

Soapy was a loan shark that offered Scrooge the funds necessary to buy his equipment during the Gold Rush. When Scrooge discover gold and started earning his fortune, he was able to repay Soapy. However Soapy soon claimed to have lost the receipt while keeping the initial contract of debt. He demanded the debt to be paid for a second time. This time Scrooge payed but a fist to the stomach convinced Soapy to sign his client a receipt. They had no more encounters for decades. In the modern age, Soapy read a rare interview of Scrooge to the press and discovered his client had went on to become the Richest Duck in the World. He used that same old contract to demand payment for a debt for a third time, decades of interest raising the sum of money to a considerable part of Scrooge's fortune.

Scrooge was able to find the receipt but both rivals ended up in a sleigh-race towards the Alaskan court which had authority over their case. Soapy tried several tricks to eliminate Scrooge but was dismayed to find out reporters were following them throughout the trail. Non only they have managed to get copies of the receipt but had photographic proof of his acts, enough to get a conviction in any court.

Slick has went on to appear both in flashback tales to Scrooge's Klondike days and modern stories. In the former he has been made to resemble Soapy Smith even more, adding to Slick the ownership of casinos,riverboats, his own gang of enforcers and enough connections to be able to "legally" claim other people's goldmines for his own. In the latter, he is considerably aged and his resources diminished but still maintains some businesses in the Klondike area. According to Don Rosa, Slick is the person who announced to Scrooge the death of Dawny O'Drake, Scrooge's mother, as a way to taunt his opponent. He was intimately introduced to one of Scrooge's berserker wraths as a result.

Slick's main abilities are his intelligence and wealth. However he has some skills in disguises, sleigh-riding races and markmanship with gunpowder weapons. He seems to have little to no skills in unarmed combat, a particular disadvantage since Scrooge was a skilled brawler in his younger days. 

Another site to visit regarding Soapy Slick is, Who’s who in Duckburg.

Jeff Smith

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Soapy Smith's hotel plan for St. Michael, Alaska: Artifact #36.

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Artifact #36 is the eight-page booklet entitled Regulations Governing The Use and Occupancy of Lands Within the Limits of the Military Reservation of Fort St. Michael, Alaska. The permission and the rules for using it were received by Soapy Smith about the second week of February 1898.

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In 1896 Soapy traveled to Alaska in search of gold camps to exploit. He may have heard of the gold being found in the Yukon but he never ventured that far. Nearly a year would pass before the world began learning of the region’s enormous riches. Miners, made wealthy after their spring/summer “clean up” of the ore they had mined all winter, carried the word when they came out in July 1897. Coming 1601 miles down the Yukon on the flat-bottomed Alice and Portus B. Weare, at St. Michael they boarded the steamers Excelsior or Portland. These two ships started the Klondike gold rush when they docked in San Francisco and Seattle in July 1897.

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In October 1897, to help control the disorder created by the gold rush, the US government opened Fort St. Michael on St. Michael Island, District of Alaska. It was in a new place of abundant opportunity without competition, and at 2,000 miles from Seattle, surely it was far enough away that Soapy's name and criminal reputation would not be there to greet him. Situated near the mouth of the Yukon River, it would be the transfer point from ocean-going vessels to flat-bottomed boats that would ply the Yukon River to and from Dawson City, the boomtown nearest the gold-laden creeks.

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Soapy had written to cousin Edwin Bobo Smith in Washington, DC, to ask him to use his influence to secure permits to operate at Fort St. Michael in Alaska. This site at the head of the Yukon River looked early on to be a prime location for a major settlement and that's what Soapy was after, permission to build at an American gateway to the Klondike. Edwin was able to secure permits and forwarded the document.

65828 A. G. O.
War Department,
Adjutant General’s Office,
Washington, January 28, 1898.
J. R. Smith Esq.,
Care E. B. Smith, Washington Post,
Washington, D.C.

Sir: –

I have the honor to inform you that a suitable location for the business purpose of your company, as far as grounds, etc., [per the] available permit, on the military reservation of Fort St. Michael, Alaska, has been approved by the Secretary of War, and the papers forwarded to the Commanding Officer at that point, with instructions that, upon presentation of this letter, he shall without delay proceed to stake out the grounds, etc., necessary for your business, under the enclosed regulations, and permit you to enter upon and use them, pending the completion of the formal permit by the signature of the Secretary of War and seal of the Department.

Very respectfully,
Sm’l Breck
Adjutant General.

With the order came (artifact #36) an eight-page booklet entitled Regulations Governing The Use and Occupancy of Lands Within the Limits of the Military Reservation of Fort St. Michael, Alaska. The permission and the rules for using it arrived about the second week of February 1898.

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Edwin replied in a letter dated November 18, 1897.

Dear Jeff:

Your letters were gladly received. Always anxious to know how you are doing. You say you want me to send your permits. The letter to Col. Randall is all the permit the war department will give. That letter which I have already forwarded you grants you every concession you are after. I hope you will not get in any trouble with the minimums of the law.

Your brother Ed. B. Smith

In 1897 Ed was a reporter for the Washington Post. This position and his prior service in the US Congress gave him numerous influential contacts, and he used them to try to help Jeff make a respectable name for himself. In a 1920 interview for The Trail magazine, Edwin said that Jeff wanted a concession for a hotel site on the government reservation at St. Michael, Alaska.

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His intention seems to have been to seek an honorable fortune in the frozen north and then to return to Washington and establish himself in the respectable life of a hotel proprietor. His cousin made a vain effort to keep him out of Alaska, but he expressed the greatest confidence in the success of his schemes in that distant region and was intent upon going…. “This ... is my last opportunity to make a big haul. Alaska is the last West. I know the character of people I shall meet there and I know that I am bound to succeed with them.”

When Soapy learned of Dyea and Skagway he abandoned plans for a “hotel” in St. Michael and headed for  the White Pass.

St. Michael: page 414, 418, 425, 432, 444,449, 470, 489, 512, 524, 544. 
Fort St. Michael regulations: 449

1894: Soapy assaults Denver City Detective Griffiths.

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

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Don't get conned buying this video.

Back on May 19, 2011 I posted a review about a fictional and poorly edited video that someone was attempting to sell online. Now he's selling it on eBay here. Don't bother wasting your money. If you think I might be exaggerating you can still view the video for free, rather than pay his starting bid of $9.87, on his own website here.  

Jeff Smith

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The Days of '98 Show: Relaying the truth.

Ever since I introduced Michael Baish and Jonathan Baldwin of the Days of '98 Show in Skagway, Alaska to The bloody ballad of Notorious Bad Man Soapy Smith’s wretched and violent demise (love that title) by my good friend, Ed Parrish, things have been changing for the better in that local, at least in regards to us and Soapy Smith.

First, Michael introduced the song into the play. It was so well accepted that my book soon found it's way into their retail merchandise booth.

Not too much later I was informed that the ending of the play, which involves Soapy being shot dead, was being changed to adapt to my book. I did not expect so much change in such a short time and I am ecstatic. Following is what Jonathan Baldwin said.

Hi Jeff,

yes very busy here but in a good way! ... We have you book for sale on our counter....

As for the changes in the show, we've added Ed's song as part of the prologue (no changes in the words) and the ending of the show has changed from naming Frank Reid as the sole shooter To-On July the 8th 1898, just after 9:00 in the evening, Soapy Smith faces Frank Reid and an angry mob on the Juneau Co. Wharf.

In a clumsy and confused skirmish, shots we're fired. When the smoke cleared Soapy lay dead, A bullet piercing his chest. Frank Reid desperately wounded and dispite frantic efforts to save him, died an agonizing 12 days later.

I have also included into our playbill: For more information on these events read the book Alias Soapy Smith, written by Soapy's Great-Grandson Jeff Smith.(available in the Lobby)

Thank you Jonathan!

Ed Parrish's brother, Sam and his wife, Becky went to Skagway on a cruise. Michael Biash, who now sings Ed's ballad several times a day, took Sam and Becky on a tour of Skagway and they said they had a wonderful time, thanks to Michael. They took in the play and stated that the actors show the conflict approaching and then walk outside -- off stage. You hear gunfire, and the narrator is very clear that the results of the gunfight are longer in favor of Reid killing Soapy Smith.

May 24, 2011
May 16, 2011 
April 2, 2011 
April 2, 2011
April 1, 2011  
March 31, 2011 
December 9, 2010 
October 3, 2009 
November 18, 2008 
July 5, 2008

Jeff Smith

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