I was at the opening dedication of Soapy Smith's saloon; Jeff Smith's Parlor. ... sort of.

DAY'S OF '98 WITH JEFF SMITH
Long time friends
l to r: Matthew Ruff, Stephanie Garcia, Jeff Brady, Allison Hays,
Jon Baldwin, Arlo Ehly, Katelyn Lauria, and Ashleigh Ricci
That's me in the frame
Photo by Donna Clayson

(Click image to enlarge)

 was there, I tell ya!
 Dedication opening of Jeff. Smith's Parlor. 







      My good friend Donna Clayson from Whitehorse, Canada and I had planned to finally meet in Skagway for the opening dedication of Jeff. Smith's Parlor. She wanted me to meet 94-year-old Tom Clark, the great-grandson of John Douglas Stewart, the miner robbed by the Soap Gang, which directly led to Soapy's demise. But alas, life always seems to get in the way and I found myself waiting for a personal matter to end before I could free my finances for such a trip. That personal matter should have ended in December of 2015, but here I am May 2016 and still waiting. As a counter measure, Donna worked with the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park and the City of Skagway to see if there was anything they could do, but times are tight all over. Donna decided that I was going to the dedication ceremony, one way or another. That another meant bringing me to Skagway, in spirit, via a framed photograph. I was naturally disappointed in not being able to attend, but amazingly, seeing people holding my photograph as Donna snapped photos, really helped in making me feel like I was a part of the celebration. It warmed my heart. I owe Donna a great deal of gratitude for bringing me to Skagway.
      The following day she sent me the photographs in the following email.

Hi Jeff
      Attached are photos of the dedication from yesterday in Skagway (April 30 2016).
      It was a cold, raining, windy day but the weather did not detract from the wonderful job the Parks did in bringing in this very special day. There was a crowd huddled under the tent to listen to the speeches. Everyone signed up for a tour that started at 5:00 to 9:00 pm, only around 8 or so at a time. The very informative lady from Parks toured us through 3 rooms full of memorabilia including the last room that held a Sitka deer (not really, just a white tail or such with its legs shortened), two moose tangled but the horns did not belong to those moose. The taxidermist did a wonderful job. There was also a strange looking wolf and a moose skull with growths on the antlers and had lit up eyes. Lol
      After the speeches and during the tours the Red Onion hosted a party atmosphere with music and lots of food for all.
      There is a photo of Tom Clark, great-grandson of Soapy's last victim, J. D. Stewart.
      As you can see in the photos your framed picture was very prominent throughout.
      There was also an argument after the speeches between 'Soapy' and 'Frank Reid' culminating in both of them being 'shot'. I am waiting for Ben Hayes to get me the names of those involved and will send them once I get them.
      Ben Hayes was very helpful. As well, I had numerous people ask me whose photo I was carrying. I had your name and relationship to Soapy written under your photo and pretty much everyone that was there now knows what you look like.
      Ben would like you to keep in touch and let him know when you will be visiting. He will give you a personal tour of the parlor.
      It was a wonderful day Jeff. Ben was saying he wished you had been there but not enough time to organize it. Well, my opinion? M-m-m-m, okay then.
      All the best Jeff, Donna

      Following for the photographs Donna took. Click the images to enlarge them for better viewing.

The dedication ceremony
Klondike Gold Rush
National Historic Park
Photo by Donna Clayson 

JEFF. SMITH'S PARLOR
Photo by Donna Clayson

"Ladies" of Skagway
attempt to lure-in Jesse Murphy
Photo by Donna Clayson

Soapy Smith (Jon Baldwin)
Photo by Donna Clayson

Soapy's demise
(Jon Baldwin)
Photo by Donna Clayson

Superintendent Mike Tranel
Photo by Donna Clayson

Frank Reid's wounding
(Jeff Brady)
Photo by Donna Clayson

Jeff Brady
Photo by Donna Clayson

Soapy, Frank, Jesse
Photo by Donna Clayson

Leaving Reid to center stage
Photo by Donna Clayson

Good friends and I
Photo by Donna Clayson

Soapy and Ranger Ben Hayes
Inside the Parlor
Photo by Donna Clayson

Martin Itjen's
Woman in the restroom
Photo by Donna Clayson

Gambling machines
Inside Parlor
Photo by Donna Clayson

Faro and wheel of fortune
Inside Parlor
Photo by Donna Clayson

Locked Horns
Battling Moose
Photo by Donna Clayson

Side lot of Jeff Smith's Parlor
Photo by Donna Clayson

Side lot.
At last mention
Martin Itjen's "street
car" will go on display
in this lot.
Photo by Donna Clayson

Tom Clark
Great-grandson
of John Stewart
Photo by Donna Clayson

Rangers and I
Jeff Smith's Parlor
Photo by Donna Clayson

Thank you very much Donna for allowing me to "be there!"

Donna Clayson framed me!
photo by Bob Cameron

(Click image to enlarge)

      To round out the series of photographs Donna Clayson took, I am adding a few that Whitehorse author Bob Cameron tookaldwin as Soapy and Matt as Jesse Murphy. But the real star of the day was 93-year-old Tom Clark, the grandson of JD Stewart, the last man robbed by Soapy Smith's gang. Jeff Brady, of the Skagway News interviewed Tom Clark, the great-grandson of John Douglas Stewart, the miner that fell victim to the Soap Gang, which directly led to the shootout on Juneau Wharf. I will publish a link to that story and interview when it becomes public. Thanks to Bob for arranging the interview and bringing Tom Clark down to Skagway for the big event.

Tom Clark and Soapy Smith
Inside the Parlor
Photo by Bob Cameron

The dedication
Photo by Bob Cameron

Shootout on 2nd Avenue
Jeff Brady and the Day's of '98
recreate Soapy's demise
complete with Jesse Murphy's
killing of Soapy.
Photo by Bob Cameron

Day's of '98
epilogue
Photo by Bob Cameron

Tamar Harrison and Tom Clark
at the Red Onion Saloon
Photo by Bob Cameron

Jeff Brady and the cast of
Days of '98
At Soapy's bar in the Parlor
Photo by Klondike Gold
Rush National Historic Park

Soapy Smith
A unique shot
Photo by Sean Daniels

Skagway's fourth grade
received the first official
public tour
Photo by Klondike Gold Rush
National Historic Park

Matthew Ruff as Jesse Murphy
The man who actually killed Soapy
Great to see my research accepted.
Photo by Donna Clason

Inside the Parlor
Photo by Klondike Gold Rush
National Historic Park

 

Soapy could sell aluminum siding to people with brick homes.

—Glenn Hester

MAY 3

1568: French forces in Florida kill hundreds of Spanish soldiers and civilians.

1802: Washington, the District of Columbia, is incorporated.

1855: Macon Allen is the first black-American to be admitted to the Bar in Massachusetts.

1873: Manuel Fernandez is the first in Arizona territory to be legally executed, for the murder of Mike McCartney, a Yuma store keeper.

1882: President Chester Arthur threatens martial law due to lawlessness in Cochise County, Arizona Territory.

1888: Florence, Arizona Sheriff Peter Gabriel, shoots and kills Joe Phy, an ex-deputy. Both men had been drinking in a saloon previous to the fight. Although wounded in the groin and chest, Gabriel recovers and is exonerated on grounds of self-defense.

1888: Thomas Edison organizes the Edison Phonograph Works.

1889: Thirty Denver, Colorado policemen raid the cities red-light district with 110 warrants.

Soapy Smith's saloon; Jeff Smith's Parlor fully restored! (pics)

Jeff Smith's Parlor restored
View of the interior from the front door.
Courtesy of NPS/B. Hayes

(Click image to enlarge)

estoration is complete!

Jeff. Smith's Parlor to open April 30, 2016

     Since December 2008 Soapy Smith fans have awaited the restoration and reopening of one of Skagway, Alaska's most famous buildings; Jeff. Smith's Parlor! The date is April 30, 2016. I had originally planned to attend but a few of life's little "pop quiz's" kept me from going. I would like to try to make up there this summer.

     I have been up to Skagway, Alaska a number of times, the first time in 1977 with my parents, brother, aunts and one uncle. I was 18 years old. Although I was semi-interested in Soapy, that trip forever ingrained him into my life.

View of the interior, 1977
(l to r) Soapy, the author, Dorthy Smith (my mother), uncle Joe, aunt Thelma
Author's collection

 (Click image to enlarge)

      Seeing the Parlor in 1977 somewhat different from what visitors will see today. First off, it's a whole lot cleaner! Everything has been carefully and lovingly restored. George Rapuzzi won't be giving the tour like he did for us. The old Soapy manikin worked via Ford motor parts built by Martin Itjen before 1941. Visitors opened the front door and Soapy's head turns towards the door and his eyes light up. At the same moment his left arm raises a mug of beer in a toast of welcome, as seen in the photograph above. Visitors today will see the manikin, but it will not operate for fear of further wear and tear.

View of the interior, 2016
Looking towards the front door.
Courtesy of NPS/B. Hayes

(Click image to enlarge)

View of the interior, 1977
Looking towards the front door.
(l to r) Thelma Smith, Joe Smith, George Rapuzzi, Dorthy Smith, Soapy
Author's collection

(Click image to enlarge)

View of the interior, 2016
Slot machine and artifacts
Courtesy of NPS/B. Hayes

(Click image to enlarge)

View of the interior, 1977
Dorthy Smith with slot machine
Author's collection

(Click image to enlarge)

Soapy Smith manikin, 2016
Courtesy of NPS/B. Hayes

(Click image to enlarge)

Soapy Smith manikin, 1977
Author's collection

(Click image to enlarge)

View of the interior, 1977
(l to r) Joe Smith, Thelma Smith, Greg Smith, Dorthy Smith, Joy (Smith), Soapy, the author
Author's collection

(Click image to enlarge)

      If you plan to visit Skagway and see Jeff Smith's Parlor, do know that you will have to reserve a tour! There are more fantastic photographs of the restored Parlor, the collection within, the artifacts, the manikins (three total), the taxidermy wolf and Two moose lock horns in combat, at the website for the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. A new window will open when you.

CLICK HERE 

 











Restoration of Jeff Smith's Parlor
(Note: this link will open a new window that contains at least 25 posts. They are not in chronological order. Be sure to scroll).  

"When the recording angel makes up his ledger with Jefferson (Soapy) Smith, there will be innumerable works of charity to be recorded in his favor."

—Leadville Herald Democrat
Alias Soapy Smith, p. 591.

APRIL 14

1775: The first abolitionist society in the U.S. is organized in Philadelphia with Ben Franklin as president.

1828: The first edition of Noah Webster's dictionary is published under the name American Dictionary of the English Language.

1860: The first Pony Express rider arrives in San Francisco with mail originating in St. Joseph, MO.

1865: President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln dies the following day.

1873: The “Easter Blizzard,” a three-day storm kills many settlers in Kansas, Nebraska and southern Dakota Territory.

1874: Alferd Packer, the lone survivor of the Packer party, makes it to the Los Pinos Indian Agency, near Sagauche, Colorado Territory. Packer told a story of men quarreling and killing each other and of eating human flesh to survive.

1884: Bob Cahill kills outlaw Buck Linn in El Paso, Texas, over a misunderstanding that Cahill had killed Bill Raynard, a partner of Linn’s. Linn came crashing into the gambling hall firing four poorly aimed shots. Cahill's first shot went through Linn’s stomach and shattered his spinal column and the second lodged in Linn's heart.

1894: First public showing of Thomas Edison's kinetoscope.

1902: James Cash Penney opens his first retail store in Kemmerer, Wyoming. It is called the Golden Rule Store. Later stores would be named J. C. Penney.

Plug Uglies: Law-Badge Wearing Con Men of Denver in 1894.

PLUG UGLIES
Rocky Mountain News
October 7, 1894
Authentic badge from author's collection

(Click image to enlarge)

even months following the Denver City Hall War of 1894 the county sheriff employed Denver's criminal element as commission carrying, badge wearing county deputy Sheriffs, "armed to the teeth," in order to maintain a presence of strength against fears of another attempt by Populist state governor Waite to forcefully take over control of the Denver city government at city hall, via state troops. Soapy Smith and members of the Soapy Gang, such as Joe Palmer, were made deputy sheriffs, using their badges and power to their advantage in swindling visitors to the city. Soapy kept his commission paperwork which resides in the authors collection.
      For months the newspapers of Denver published every problem that transpired due to having criminals running about the city armed as deputy sheriffs. Something had to give, and it did on Friday October 5, 1894, when bunco man Milt Smith, carrying a deputy sheriff's commission, is shot and killed by Police officer Robert J. Boykin. Here are some of the stories and troubles the city had in dealing with these legally armed "walking arsenals," as published in the Rocky Mountain News two days later:

PLUG UGLIES

__________

Read the Record and Learn if They Are to be Trusted by Decent Citizens.

__________

Walking Arsenals and a Source of Terror to Decent Men.

__________

Sheriff Burchinell’s Deputies Recruited from the Pariahs of the Slums of Denver.

__________

Here are the Noxious Things Taxpayers are Asked to Support in Office.

__________

Milt Smith, the Colored Desperado, Was a Fair Sample of His Class.

__________

Gamblers and Bullies from the Lowest Dives Enrolled in the Disreputable Herd.

__________

Chief Armstrong’s Men Hampered in Enforcing the Laws by the Court House Machinery.

__________

     It is a matter of record at police headquarters that the arrests on the charge of disturbance are made up largely of deputy sheriffs. The books show this, and in every case the record has been made only when the written commission from the sheriff was exhibited. Here are some of the names of deputy sheriffs who have occupied cells at city headquarters:

     WERLEY, ALBI, GREGGERS OR HENDRICKS, HESTER JOHNSON, HORY, RILEY, CLINE, SENEY, CLARK, GUGER, JEFF SMITH, JOE PALMER, JACK WILHELM, DUNCAN, CRAIG, LEWIS, ROSSA, BUCK, REED AND DOZENS OF OTHERS.

     In many cases these men have had a pull and in this way have escaped serving their terms of imprisonment. Henry Hester was arrested four times and was fined $200 twice and $100 twice. The mayor pardoned him after every conviction. In one outfit of thirteen gamblers arrested recently seven of them carried guns and had deputy sheriff commissions. In another crowd three out of five were armed in like manner by authority of the prince of redeemers, Sheriff Burchinell.

Smith’s Criminal Record.

     Milt Smith, the deputy sheriff who was killed by officer Boykin Friday night has been in trouble dozens of times. In the last three years he has been in the city jail thirty times on the charge of vagrancy and disturbances. His parents are very respectable colored people and they have generally succeeded in clearing him from the more serious charges against him. He is well known to all the patrolmen who have had Market street on their beat. A couple of years ago he came near killing Sergeant Norkett and about a year ago Officer Tom Clifford had his finger punctured by a bullet from Smith’s gun. Detective Elajes knew him as a desperado three years ago in Colorado City when Smith was a porter at the Hoffman house.

     “I want to do my duty by the people of this city,” said Chief Armstrong yesterday, “but I want them to understand that every move I make towards doing that duty is handicapped by the sheriff’s deputies and his alleged county detective department. Hundreds of the worst characters in the city are walking arsenals. On Market street almost every loafer who lives off the earnings of the dissolute women is armed with a deputy sheriff’s badge. To all intents and purposes he is the sheriff’s duly accredited representative.”

Outrageous A. P. A. Move.

     The killing of the worthless character Smith, who wore a deputy sheriff’s badge promises to furnish a pretext through which the police are to be annoyed by the A. P. A. influence. Yesterday Ellie Smith, the destitute colored mistress of Milt Smith, swore out a warrant in Howse’s court, charging Robert J. Boykin and Felix O’Neil with murder. The claim is made that murder is not a bailable offense.

     Yesterday morning Officer Boykin was released on $5,000 bonds by justice Cater on the same charge as preferred later in Howse’s court. Alderman Ed Fox and Thomas McNulty became his sureties. The A. P. A’s thought the bond insufficient or the bondsmen unsatisfactory and they induced the abandoned creature who was the indirect cause of the killing to swear out additional warrants in Howse’s court, charging not only Boykin but Officer Felix O’Neil with murder.

All Armed to the Teeth.

     The killing of Smith by Boykin appears to have been justified beyond all possible doubt. Smith, who was a big burly negro, had repeatedly boasted that he would kill the first Populist policeman who dared to lay hands on him. It appears that he had a certain control over the toughs of the colored element on the row, and as he became bolder in his threats, they too assumed an air of indifference when commanded to do anything by the police.

     There is hardly a tough on the row who does not wear a deputy sheriff badge and carry a deputy sheriff commission. This entitled them to carry as many guns and knives as is consistent with their being regulation Republican heelers. Gun plays have been so frequent of late that it began to look as if there was to be a return to the old frontier days of lawlessness and crime. If an officer made an arrest and found concealed weapons on his prisoner, he would have flashed in his face the star and commission of Sheriff Burchinell. The toughs armed to the teeth, went about with their hands on big 45-caliber guns, ready on the slightest provocation to pump lead into any policeman or enemy who should happen to incur their drunken displeasure.

Killing of Smith.

     On Friday night Chief Armstrong decided to clean the row of this degraded class and it was with that object in view that he visited the street. He had been talking to his men, Boykin and O’Neil, on the subject when Smith and his mistress began the disturbance on the other side of the street. The Chief, on talking of the killing, said to a News reporter:

     “Boykin and O’Neil crossed over and the former told the negro to move on. The latter, instead of doing so, pulled his gun. Boykin told him to drop it. He did not do so, and Boykin, who had only his ‘billy’ in his hand, struck at him, I think, striking him on the arm. The negro then walked back a few steps and raised his gun, pointing it at O’Neil and Boykin. Not until then did Boykin pull his revolver. He fired before Smith had pulled the trigger of his gun and Smith fell to the sidewalk with his gun clasped tightly in his hand and with his finger on the trigger. Boykin was about five feet away when he fired. I saw the whole affair and I am convinced that if he had not fired when he did, either himself or O’Neil would now be in the morgue instead of Smith.”

      The inquest to inquire into the cause of Smith’s death will be held tomorrow. Smith, as a deputy sheriff, three weeks ago had a prisoner in Harper’s court on the charge of vagrancy. Smith was at Cripple Creek during the recent unpleasantness.
      Last night Detective Gardiner served the Howse warrants on Boykin and O’Neil and on Chief Armstrong, guaranteeing to turn over the men when wanted. They were not taken to jail.

 

[Soapy had]“accounts at the merchants’ stores for provisions and fuel for the needy people here” and that they “amount to several hundreds dollars a week.” Additionally, the visitor learned that Soapy paid “for the funerals of friendless persons, and I can assure you that that is no small item. What are you going to make out of a character like that?

—Joseph T. Cornforth
Alias Soapy Smith, p. 591.

APRIL 5

1614: American Indian Pocahontas marries English colonist John Rolfe in Virginia.

1621: The Mayflower sails from Plymouth, Massachusetts, on a return trip to England.

1792: President George Washington casts the first presidential veto, against a measure for apportioning representatives among the states.

1806: Isaac Quintard patents the cider mill.

1827: James H. Hackett becomes the first American actor to appear abroad as he performs at Covent Garden in London, England.

1843: Queen Victoria proclaims Hong Kong to be a British colony.

1859: The unofficial state of Jefferson is formed by residents in the western part of Kansas Territory (present day Colorado).

1863: 140 cavalrymen route 200 Indians during the Battle of Spanish Fork in Utah.

1869: Outlaw Benjamin Bickerstaff and his men ride into Alvarado, Johnson County, Texas, firing weapons into the air and some store windows. Irate armed citizens shoot and kill Bickerstaff and several other members of the gang.

1869: Daniel Bakeman, the last surviving soldier of the U.S. Revolutionary War, dies at the age of 109.

1872: The first Cypress Hills Massacre occurs as American wolfers and Assiniboine Indians fight in the Sweet Grass Hills, Montana Territory, near the Canadian border.

1879: Frank “Cock-eyed” Loving shoots and kills Levi Richardson in the Long Branch Saloon, Dodge City, Kansas. Richardson was berating Loving, who was seated at a Hazard table. Levi pulled his revolver and fires five shots, only nicking Loving’s hand. Loving fires three times hitting and killing Richardson with all three shots. It is ruled as self-defense. Loving is shot and killed about a year later in Trinidad, Colorado.

1881: “The agent of the Adams Express Co., at this place, Mr. Rudy, was taken out to the railroad water tank last Wednesday, and drenched with water by Mayor Kelley and his policemen, for writing an article to an Iowa newspaper and reflecting discreditably upon said officials.” Dodge City Times.

1887: Anne Sullivan teaches a blind and deaf Helen Keller the meaning of the word "water" as spelled out in the manual alphabet.

1892: Walter H. Coe patents gold leaf in rolls.