August 11, 2023

Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #6 - page 6

Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 6 - original
1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


THIS POST UPDATED
August 21, 2023







OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #6 - page 6




      This is part #6 - page 6, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1.
     The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, and often times pretty hard to decipher. A large part of this series of posts is to transcribe the pages, one-at-a-time, and receive help from readers on identifying words I am having trouble with, as well as correcting any of my deciphered words. I will include the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy of each page, a copy in negative, and a copy with typed out text, as tools to aid in deciphering the notes. There are a total of 24 pages. This means that there may be upwards of 24 individuals posts for this one notebook. Links to the past and future pages (pages 1, 2, 3, etc.) will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for 1882-1883.
     This page has been successfully deciphered, and positively dated 1883.
     Important to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and topic several pages later.

 
Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
Page 6 - enhanced
1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

Click image to enlarge


 
Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 6 - negative
1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

 Click image to enlarge


     Here is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you agree, or do you see something else? There are two words I have not been able to decipher positively. All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! I will update the new information to this post.




Rear of page 5 (top).
  • Line 1: "Left San Francisco" [California]
  • Line 2: "Dec 8th paid for 1883"
  • Line 3: "fare to El Paso Tex 60.00"
  • Line 4: "Left Los Angeles Dec 14th"

Interpretation: An accounting of his travels in California and Texas in December 1883.


Page 6 (bottom).
  • Line 1: "Sales in Tombstone" [Arizona]
  • Line 2: "A.T. [Arizona Territory] 1883"
  • Line 3: "Dec 17th Mon. [Monday] .....$65.00"
  • Line 4: "Dec 18th T [Tuesday] ...........$58.00"
  • Line 5: "Dec 19th W [Wednesday] .....$53.00"
  • Line 6: "Dec 20th T [Thursday] ..........$57.00"
  • Line 7: "Dec 21st F [Friday] ...............$23.00"
  • Line 8: "Dec 22nd Sat [Saturday] .......$58.50"
  • Line 9: "...........................[total]..........$314.50"
  • Line 10: "Sent b[?] Dixon"
  • Line 11: "$20.00 Dec 22nd 1883"
  • Line 12: "Po [Post office] order Tombstone"
  • Line 13: "Sales in Tucson" [Arizona]
  • Line 14: "Monday Dec 24 1883"
  • Line 15: "1 sale ...................................$90.00"

Interpretation: Soapy worked the prize package soap sell racket in Tombstone, Arizona, between December 17-22, 1883 raking in $314.50 for six days work, which is equivalent to $10,148.26 in 2023. That a nice sum, especially considering that each day of work likely amounted to just several hours, and the fact that the pay of the average soldier in 1883 was $13 a-month! Also interesting is that Soapy was only 23 years old at this time. Making this kind of money, one might understand why Soapy chose to remain in the bunco field. 
     Line #10-#12 Soapy sends "b Dixon" $20.00. Was this a loan to someone named Dixon? Was Soapy paying Dixon based on a loan from Dixon? Could "Dixon" be a town, such as Dixon, California, or Wyoming?
     Soapy operates in Tucson, Arizona on December 24, 1883 (Christmas eve) for a profit of $90.00.










"Nobody ever went bowlegged carrying away the money they won from me."
—"Poker Alice" Tubbs







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August 9, 2023

Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882: Part #5 - page 5

Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 5 - original
1882
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)





     


OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #5 - page 5




     This is part #5 - page 5, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1.
     The notebook(s) are in Soapy's handwriting, and often times pretty hard to decipher. A large part of this series of posts is to transcribe the pages, one-at-a-time, and receive help from readers on identifying words I am having trouble with, as well as correcting any of my deciphered words. I will include the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy of each page, a copy in negative, and a copy with typed out text, as tools to aid in deciphering the notes. There are a total of 24 pages. This means that there may be upwards of 24 individuals posts for this one notebook. Links to the past and future pages (pages 1, 2, 3, etc.) will be added at the bottom of each post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for 1882-1883.
     This page has been successfully deciphered, and positively dated 1882.
     Important to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and topic several pages later.



Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 5 - enhanced
1882
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)





Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 5 - negative
1882
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


     Here is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you agree, or do you see something else? There are two words I have not been able to decipher positively. All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! I will update the new information to this post.




Rear of page 4 (top).
  • Line 1: "Salem Fair" [Oregon]
  • Line 2: "Mo. [Monday] Sept 18th 00.00"
  • Line 3: "T. [Tuesday] Sept 19th sales $109.00"
  • Line 4: "W. [Wednesday] 20th sales 150.00"
  • Line 5: "T. [Thursday] 21st 107.00"
  • Line 6: "F. [Friday] 22 111.00"
  • Line 7: "T. [Tuesday] Sep 19 in Salem 65.00"
  • Line 8: "Total $542.00"
  • Line 9: "4 days work"
  • Line 10: "Dayton, W. T. [Washington Territory]"
  • Line 11: "Sep 27th 90.00" [Sept]
  • Line 12: "28 55.00" [Sept]
  • Line 13: "29 25.00" [Sept]
  • Line 14: "30 85.00" [Sept]
  • Line 15: "255.00" [total]
Interpretation: In examining the calendar Between 1876-1893, it can be seen that the dates listed, for instance, Monday, September 18th, only occurs in 1882.
     Soapy Smith worked the Oregon State Fair of 1882 in north Salem, the state capital, between September 18-22, 1882. He jots down five days of monetary amounts for each day, totaling $542.00 (the equivalent of $16,894.58 in 2023). The fair ran September 19th through September 22nd.
     Note on line 7, he adds another Tuesday profit of $65.00 "in Salem." Line 3, the first Tuesday notation was for money made at the fair, while the second amount was made "in Salem itself.
     It is known that Soapy was operating his prize package soap sell racket in early August in other parts of Oregon. On August 2, 1882 he purchased a vendor's license in Portland. On September 16, Soapy purchased a vendor's license granting him permission to "hawk his prize soap" on the city streets of Salem for the period of one week from September 16, 1882 to September 23 for the fee of $15.25. The license is filled out by City Recorder, Charles W. Bowie.




     Next, Soapy goes to Dayton, Washington Territory and works four days [I believe] at the Columbia County Fair. In 1859 the dates for the fair were set for September 28-30, so it makes sense that those dates were the same when Soapy operated on September 27-30, 1882. He made a total of $255.00 (the equivalent of $7,948.56 in 2023).
 
Page 5 (bottom).
  • Line 1: "Santa Cruz" [California]
  • Line 2: "Cal [California.] 19 & 20th of Oct"
  • Line 3: "13 sales $190.00"
  • Line 4: "Hollister" [California]
  • Line 5: "2 days work"
  • Line 6: "22 & 23rd. Oct $235.00"
  • Line 7: "Gilroy 31 60.00" [California]
  • Line 8: "Vallejo 29th" [California]
  • Line 9: "Oct one sale 93.00"
  • Line 10: "St Helena" [California]
  • Line 11: "Dec 2nd one sale $114.00"
  • Line 12: "Woodland [California] Nov 29th"
  • Line 13: "one sale $91.50"
  • Line 14: "Tulare [California] Dec 12. $52.00"
Interpretation: I believe the year is 1882 (October-December), as the top page is dated 1882. Soapy is traveling through California, operating, at least on this page, October 19 - December 12, 1882.
     Santa Cruz County Fair (originally called the Agricultural County Fair) opens for the first time on October 16, 1882, three days before Soapy arrived there. He operated 13 separate sales for a total of $190, which is equivalent to $5,922.45 as of this posting.
     Next, Soapy arrives in Hollister, California where he operated for two days, October 22-23 making $235.00. I could not find much on Hollister's history in 1882, but obviously it was large enough for Soapy to make the equivalent of $7,325.14 in 2023 dollars, for two days work.
     Soapy worked in Gilroy, California on October 31, 1882, where he made $62.00 ($1,932.59 in 2023). Gilroy was known as the "Tobacco Capitol of the World" and there was a "Tobacco Festival" which ended in 1882, and likely Soapy was not aware, probably going by a "fair list" he had purchased, leading him to all these fairs he was attending. This could explain why Soapy stayed one day, perhaps even just hours.
     Soapy operated one sale in one day (October 29) in Vallejo, California at one of several Solano County agriculture-related fairs. The sale profited $93.00. ($2,898.89 in 2023.
     In St Helena, California Soapy operated one sale on December 2, 1882, raking in $114.00 ($3,553.47 in 2023) at possibly the County Exposition, the only fair I could find in the area in 1882.
     On November 29, 1882 operates one sale in Woodland, California for $91.50 ($2,852.13 in 2023). I could not find any fairs previous to 1893.
     Soapy arrived in Tulare, California on December 12, 1882, making $52.00 for one day's work. ($1,620.88 in 2023).
     On this page of the notebook Soapy operated for just 18 days between September 18 - December 12, 1882. In that three week time period he made $837.50. This is the equivalent of $26,105.56 in 2023!

 






 









Salem, Oregon
April 24, 2017
Part #1
Part #2
Part #3
Part #4
Part #6
Part #7
Part #8
Part #9
Part #10
Part #11
Part #12
Part #13
Part #14
Part #15
Part #16
"If you steal from one person its plaigarism, 
if you steal from four, its research."

~Wilson Mizner, confidence man








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August 5, 2023

Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #4 - page 4

Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 4 - original
1882-1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


THIS POST UPDATED
August 24, 2023





OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #4 - page 4

     This is part #4 - page 4, the continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook from the Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1.
     The notebook is in Soapy's handwriting, and sometimes pretty hard to decipher. The goal is to transcribe the pages, receiving help from readers to identify words I am having trouble with. Included is the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy, a copy in the negative, and a deciphered copy, as tools to aid in translating the notebook. There are 24 pages and this means that there may be upwards of 24 individual posts for this one notebook. Links to the pages can be viewed at the bottom of the post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced partial record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for 1882-1883.
     Important to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and topic several pages later.


Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 4 - enhanced
1882-1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)



Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 4 - negative
1882-1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


Here is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you agree, or do you see something else? There are some words I have not yet been able to decipher. Do you know what jam races are? Could they be kin to the "jam auction?" All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! I will update the new information to this post.

Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 4 - deciphered
1882-1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


Rear of page 3 (top).
  • Line 1: "Oh SuSana don't you"
  • Line 2: "grieve for me"
  • Line 3: "I am going away to"
  • Line 4: "love you"
  • Line 5: "Oh I love that gal"
  • Line 6: "away out west"
  • Line 7: "white folks call"
  • Line 8: "Susanhah"
  • Line 9: "Old Man Cares"
  • Line 10: "he uses snuff tho"
  • Line 11: "factory gals they"
  • Line 12: "ask him roughly"
Interpretation: According to Soapy and his cousin Edwin B. Smith, Soapy played a banjo and sang songs when he was a "cheap John" (kin to a "jam auction") in Round Rock, Texas. It appears that Soapy was inventing his own lyrics. Could the date of this note be an earlier one, 1877-78 when he was still in Texas? Or perhaps Soapy was still playing the banjo?
 
Page 4 (bottom).
  • Line 1: "Hillsboro 1st Sept" [Oregon]
  • Line 2: "McMinnville 2" [Oregon]
  • Line 3: "Independence 4 Sept" [Oregon]
  • Line 4: "Corvallis 5" [Oregon]
  • Line 5: "Albany 6 or 7th" [Oregon]
  • Line 6: "25 gross [thuans? or thuars?] 5.00 125.00"
  • Line 7: "1 O'Leary belt wheel 100.00"
  • Line 8: "2 gross whistles 5.00 10.00"
  • Line 9: "1 Hap Hazzard 15.00"
  • Line 10: "W. A. Ergennan [Eungennan?]"
  • Line 11: "Brighton Beach" [Oregon]
  • Line 12: "race course"
  • Line 13: "New Orleans"
  • Line 14: "Jam races"
  • Line 15: "Mobile Memphis" [Tennessee]
  • Line 16: "Nashville" [Tennessee]
    Interpretation: I believe the year is 1882, but it could also possibly be as early as 1877-78. In those early Texas days he talks of singing songs and playing a banjo. Soapy is traveling through Oregon and purchases an O'Leary gambling belt wheel [gaffed] and some small cheap prizes, the larger primary prizes are cash. People pay to play, in hopes of winning a large cash prize, but only win small junk. Gambling and Gambling Devices by John P. Quinn, 1912. Thanks and credit go to my friend Pete Angelos  for information on the O'Leary Belt Wheel!
         The "O'Leary Belt wheel" that Soapy purchased for $100 is described in the book, Gambling and Gambling Devices by John P. Quinn, 1912 (courtesy of Pete Angelos).
    Like the other swindling devices herein described, the mechanism of this contrivance is easily operated, and, when explained, readily comprehended. It is, however, what is called, in the slang of the street, "a sure winner" for the manipulator. Thousands of dollars have been won through its operation in a single day, and one used on the streets of Cincinnati won $125,000 in six months.

    The O'leary Belt [Wheel]
    Gambling and Gambling Devices
    by John P. Quinn, 1912
    Courtesy of Pete Angelos

     In Order to work it successfully, it is indispensable that the top of the machine be raised high enough above the heads of the surrounding crowd to prevent the bystanders from seeing the interior, inasmuch as such a view would disclose the apparatus by means of which they would be robbed of their money. With this end in view. the operator generally operates it from a buggy, the upper part of the machine standing about three feet above the floor of the conveyance.
     As will be seen in the cut [picture], the device consists of a hoop-wheel, a supporting rod and a box platform, supporting the rod and wheel. The apparatus may be taken apart and neatly placed in this box. On the box is placed a valise containing money. The wheel, or "belt," is made of brass, and is about sixteen inches in diameter and four inches broad. It contains thirty-two compartments, each one containing a card, which is held in position by a small fold of metal on each of three sides. These cards may be perfectly blank, though usually they contain pictures of famous celebrities. The valise, which is shown in the illustration at the foot of the upright rod, contains money. Inside the metal hoop is a leather belt, of which, at equal distances, are pained numbers representing sums of money, so arranged that one will fall behind each alternate compartment. When the cards are raised, the belt is seen through a rectangular opening at the back.
     The driver of the buggy carries a number of whips. As soon as a crowd has gathered around him (which is certain to happen in a very few moments), he informs the spectators that any one or more may, for $1.00, purchase a chance to win a money prize, varying in amounts from $1.00 to $20.00. Some one having expressed an inclination to buy, the proprietor takes his money and hands him a whip, with which to point to any one of the thirty-two sections of the "hoop" which he may select. The purchaser having rested the whip on a compartment, the operator removes the cards which he has touched. Underneath is shown either a blank space on the belt or one inscribed with a certain sum. If it happens to be the latter, the buyer is given the amount indicated; if the former, he receives nothing.
     The name of this device is supposed to be the same as that of the inventor. A well-known confidence operator by the name of O'Leary flourished some years ago, who was recognized among his companions as an expert manipulator of this apparatus, and it is generally believed among the guild of peripatetic gamesters that the idea of its construction was conceived in his fertile brain, through the direct inspiration of the antipodes of Providence.
Pete Angelos also found some information on the "Hap Hazzard," which is correctly spelled with one z in the 1896 Will and Finck catalog listing it, and also calling it the coffee pot or bee hive.
 
Hap Hazard [Bee Hive]
Gambling and Gambling Devices
by John P. Quinn, 1912
Courtesy of Pete Angelos

     The accompanying illustration gives an excellent idea of the general appearance of this device. It consists of two cones, the inner one of which is placed upon circular pieces of wood, around the rim of which are thirty-two compartments, numbered from one to thirty-two, and separated by thin metal plates. Driven into the surface of the inner cone are small nails or metal pegs, the arrangement of which is a matter of comparative indifference, although they are usually rather close together and approximately equi-distant. The outer cone serves as a cap or case.
     An unsophisticated player can never win except through the consent of the operator. In order to encourage the crowd in playing, “cappers” have to be employed, who are always on hand to draw prizes.
     The ball is in sight from start to finish, so that while the player can see the play and know just where the ball stops, it is impossible to detect the secret working of the machine.
     This machine is specially made to catch “suckers” and is full of honey, but the “suckers” don’t get any of the honey; they are lucky to get a piece of beeswax.
“The little bee sucks the blossom.
The big bee gets the honey,
The sucker does the work,
And the gambler takes the money.”
 
 
O'Leary Belt and Hap Hazard
Will and Finck catalogue
1896
Courtesy of Pete Angelos

 
 
Special thanks to Art Petersen and Pete Angelos
for their skills in deciphering and historical research.










 









April 24, 2017
Part #1
Part #2
Part #3
Part #5 
Part #6
Part #7
Part #8
Part #9
Part #10
Part #11
Part #12
Part #13
Part #14
Part #15
Part #16







"There's opportunity in poker.... If Horace Greeley were alive today, his advice wouldn't be 'Go West, young man, and grow up with the country.' Instead, he'd point to that deck of cards on table and say, 'Shuffle up and deal.'"
—Lou Krieger









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July 29, 2023

Soapy Smith's "STAR" notebook, 1882-83: Part #3 - page 3

Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 3 - original
1882-1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


THIS POST UPDATED
August 23, 2023






OAPY SMITH'S "STAR" NOTEBOOK
Part #3 - page 3

     This is part #3 - page 3 continuation of deciphering Soapy Smith's "star" notebook in Geri Murphy's collection. A complete introduction to this notebook can be seen on page 1.
     The notebook is in Soapy's handwriting, and parts have been hard to decipher. The goal is to transcribe the pages and receive help from readers on identifying words I am having trouble with. I am including the original copy of each page, an enhanced copy, a negative copy, and the deciphered copy, as tools to aid in translating and interpreting the notes. There are 24 pages meaning that there may be upwards of 24 individual posts for this one notebook. Links to all of the pages can be viewed at the bottom of this post for ease of research. When completed there will be a sourced record of Soapy's activities and whereabouts for periods in 1882-1883.
     Important to note that the pages of the notebook do not appear to be in chronological order, with Soapy making additional notes on a town and topic several pages later.


Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 3 - enhanced
1882-1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)



Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 3 - negative
1882-1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy

(Click image to enlarge)


Here is what I believe to be the correct deciphering of the text. Do you agree, or do you see something else? There are some words I have not yet been able to decipher. Please take a look and see if you can figure out them out? All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! I will update the new information to this post.


Soapy Smith's "star" notebook
page 3 - deciphered
1882-1883
Courtesy of Geri Murphy


(Click image to enlarge)



Page 3.
  • Line 1: "First your Business"
  • Line 2: "and manner of"
  • Line 3: "Conducting it"
  • Line 4: "2d [2nd] Zuni Gold and Indians"
  • Line 5: "Its origin and"
  • Line 6: "first discovery."
  • Line 7: "The tests by the"
  • Line 8: "Government chemist ? ? record"
  • Line 9: "Its usefullness [sic]"
  • Line 10: "as armaments"
  • Line 11: "and worthlessness"
  • Line 12: "as money Rail Roads"
  • Line 13: "in old Mexico"
  • Line 14: "only difference in"
  • Line 15: "weight"
  • Line 16: "James E Readan Mfg Co."
  • Line 17: "Providence, RI [Rhode Island]"
  • Interpretation: I believe the year is 1882. Soapy was known for writing stories and poems, several of which were published.
         "Zuni" are a tribe of Indians famous for artistic metal work.
         Is Soapy copying words of wisdom from another individual, or are these his words for others?
         In regards to the "James E Readan Mfg Co.," Soapy might have come across some piece of equipment he wanted to acquire and had written down the name of the manufacturer for later reference.




 




"I've often thought, if I got really hungry for a good milk shake, how much would I pay for one? People will pay a hundred dollars for a bottle of wine; to me that's not worth it. But I'm not going to say it is foolish or wrong to spend that kind of money, if that's what you want. So if a guy wants to bet twenty or thirty thousand dollars in a poker game, that is his privilege."

―Jack Binion











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