Maurice Gregory Moriarty, Rest in Peace

Maurice Gregory Moriarty
01/08/1916 - 05/03/2011

Moriarty, Maurice "Greg" Entered Eternal Life on May 3, 2011, at the age of 95 years. Resident of Trinity Village, former longtime resident of Milwaukee's East Side. Beloved husband for 65 years of Theresa (nee Lyons). Dear father of Tom (Barbara), Gerri (the late Bill) Diedrich, Eileen (Dan) Shanahan, Shelagh Moriarty, Agnes (Michael) Hoppe and Kevin (Irene) Moriarty. Proud grandfather of 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Dear brother of Helen (Bob) Lynch and of the late; Sr. Mary Saint Maura, B.V.M., John (Maryanne) Moriarty, Michael J. (Joan) Moriarty and Paul Moriarty. Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. Greg was born and raised in Milwaukee. Shortly before the outbreak of WWII he joined the United States Coast Guard, serving and seeing action in both the Atlantic and Pacific. During WWII he met his wife of 65 years, Theresa, they exchanged vows at St. Gregory the Great Church in New York City. After being discharged from the Coast Guard, he and his bride returned to Milwaukee to raise their family. He joined the Milwaukee Fire Dept. and he rose through the ranks to Motor Pump Operator, Lieutenant, Captain, and Acting Battalion Chief. He retired from the Fire Dept. in 1966. Greg then became a law enforcement officer for Milwaukee County until 1976. He enjoyed traveling and camping. As many who experienced the Depression and War he was a man of hidden emotions and affections. He enjoyed a serious debate on almost any subject. Greg's pride and dedication to his family may have been hard to detect but none the less part of his unique personality. Greg lived at home until he was 90 years old, and then became a resident of Trinity Village. He will be deeply missed by his family and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 10, from 4:30 to 7:30 PM, at the Feerick Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 11, at 10:30 AM, at St. Robert's Catholic Church, corner of North Farwell Avenue and East Capitol Drive, Shorewood, followed by committal services at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorials in Maurice's name may be made to Messmer High School, 742 West Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53206. - www.Legacy.com

Greg was a son of Mary Eva Smith II and Michael H. "Maurice" Moriarty. A grandson of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith.

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Another Soapy Smith book?

Can you believe it? A book was published in 2009 that I did not know about? I received correspondence about my coming article in Wild West magazine that mentioned the book, Terror in the Klondike: The Reign and Death of Soapy Smith, by Mike Coppock and published by Graphic Image Publications. I would love to find a copy of this book if anyone knows where to get one. I Googled it and only found two write-ups. One in True West magazine which reads,

Mike Coppock may be the first Alaskan to write about the con man’s time during the Gold Rush, and that provides some unique insights. But Terror in the Klondike: The Reign and Killing of Soapy Smith (Graphic Image Publications) relies too heavily on previous works, some of which have been discredited. I expect to see better research in the upcoming book by Soapy’s great grandson, Jeff Smith.

The other one was in Google Books which reads,

Mike Coppock - 2009 - 160 pages - No preview
The life of Jefferson "Soapy" Smith from his early years in the American west through his control of Skagway and Wrangell and his death at the age of 38.

I would love to get a copy. Anyone know where they are? Anyone happen to know Mike Coppock?

Jeff Smith

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New Soapy Smith video review

A while back I had mentioned a poor attempt to make money off of my photographs by a Gerald Clough. For several years he has been advertising that he was making a video about the life of Soapy Smith. He took, without asking, photographs from me and the Denver Public Library, the Colorado Historical Society,  and the Alaska State Archives and Museum. When I contacted him he was arrogant and rude. Using photographs for educational purposes is one thing but this guy is attempting to profit from other peoples work. Mind you he only stole photographs. He is not interested in my research, thus his video is absolutely worthless for historical content. Judging from his wording he used the 1935 The Reign of Soapy Smith and then sprinkled in his own made up stories. Sadly, he has worked on this thing for several years and it still turned out badly. The title of his work is Soapy Smith: The Gold Rush GoodFella. That link is a pay only site, however, if you want to see the video for free just go to Mr. Clough's site. There, you will be asked to pay but the video runs automatically so you don't need to pay to see it. Believe it or not Mr. Clough is in the business of building websites.

Anyone who has read my book will immediately recognize the onslaught of continuous mistakes Mr. Clough makes in telling the Soapy Smith story. The mistakes vary from passing on outdated material, such as calling Soapy's wife Mable, when her name was Mary, to mispronunciation of terms, such as  calling Round Rock, Texas Red Rock, Texas, and Joe Simmons becomes Joe Simons. This is a 60-minute video and those mistakes, plus more, were heard in the first few minutes. It pained me to listen to the whole hour as there are more mistaken statements than there are correct ones.

I tend to be somewhat bias on this topic. Please tell me what you think? Did you enjoy it?

Jeff Smith

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More selections from Tara Kane

Without knowing the history beyond what they read in an old biography, authors, George Markstein and Jacqui Lyons guess correctly that the powers behind the White Pass and Yukon Railway probably had a hand in Soapy’s undoing. My family had always believed this to be self-evident. The research behind my book, Alias Soapy Smith strongly shows the connections the railroad had with the vigilantes and the men who killed Soapy Smith.

In the following section of Tara Kane, Sir Thomas Tancrede and Michael J. “Big Mike” Henney of the White Pass and Yukon railway meet with Soapy and Tara Kane in his plush office.

Sir Thomas blinked and then cleared his throat. “Why don’t we get down to business? People say you’re interested in our railroad.” He rolled the brandy around the glass. “Is that right?”

“Damn right,” said Smith. “I know a good investment when I see one.”

Henney cut the niceties short. He waited until the waiters had left; then he said curtly, “What exactly is you proposition, Smith?”

For a moment, Smith looked pained. That kind of direct talk seemed more suited to the sawdust-and-spit world of the cheap bars than to this elegant supper table. Carefully he knocked the ash off his cheroot.

“We all have a dream, you and I,” he said after a while. Anybody less like dreamers than this trio would be hard to find, thought Tara, but she waited, amused. She wanted to hear his pitch.

“The dream is to make this territory a great land, a land which can make more money for all of us than anyone has imagined,” he went on. “The key to that land is the railroad. Open up the territory, and you shrink it to a manageable size. Cut the distances, and you’ve conquered it.”

“I say, Mr. Smith, you wax quite poetical.” Sir Thomas winked at Tara. “He can dress up thing, can’t he?”

“Well?” cut in Big Mike, unimpressed.

“The point is, Mr. Henney, I’d like us all to be partners.”

Smith leaned back, beaming at them. His watch chain and diamond cufflinks danced in the candlelight.

“Sorry,” said Henney gruffly. “No deal.”

Smith remained unruffled. “But you haven’t heard me out.”

Sir Thomas sighed. “Mr. Smith, we’re an Anglo-Canadian consortium. I raised my half of the money in the city of London and Mr. Henney got the rest in Ottawa. I don’t think we really want American involvement. No offense, of course.”

Smith nodded. “Aren’t you forgetting that the starting point of your railroad is on American soil?” he asked mildly.

“And aren’t you forgetting, sir, that under the ’71 Convention, Canada has the transit rights she needs?” retorted Henney. “This is a Canadian project, to serve Canadians on Canadian soil.”

“A little more brandy, gentlemen?” suggested Tara.

“I propose we leave that all to the politicians,” Smith said, clearly aggravated at her interruption. “We’re businessmen, all of us. I know you have the capital, but since when hasn’t some extra money been useful? You got big costs coming.”

“Maybe,” grunted Henney. “But we don’t want you in, Smith. We don’t want any part of you.”

Smith sat stone-faced. Sir Thomas looked a little worried.

“What Mike means …” he began.

“I know what he means,” snapped Smith.

“Then you know why we don’t want your kind of money,” went on Henney.

“So you don’t think my dough’s good enough,” said Smith very quietly, his lips drawn into a thin line. “You don’t want to soil your hands. You only like nice clean capital. Virgin dollars.” He laughed mirthlessly. “Tell me, Sir Thomas, how did your folks make their dough? Never shipped any slaves? Never conquered any colonies? Or you, Mr. Henney? Earned it all by the sweat of your brow?”

I don’t need lectures from a brothel owner,” spat Henney.

Smith’s eyes blazed. Tara knew that at any other time there would have been violence. But with an effort he remained seated.

“Mike didn’t mean that exactly,” conciliated Sir Thomas. He looked embarrassed.

“Sir Thomas, one thing we’ve got to get clear if we’re going to be partners,” said Smith. “You have to stop telling me what Mr. Henney does or does not mean. I can figure it out for myself.”

Sir Thomas pulled out a beautiful silver hunter.

“It’s been such a marvelous dinner, I hate to break it up, but perhaps we ought to retire now.”

He smiled at Tara, seeking an ally.

“Gentlemen, maybe you forgot a couple of things,” Smith said, ignoring Sir Thomas. “You need a lot of supplies, a lot of men, a lot of horses to build that one hundred and eleven miles of railroad. You haven’t got any of it.”

“Right now, Smith, “ Henney said triumphantly, “ships are on their way to Skagway with every damn thing we need, laborers, supplies, timber, horses. We got it all organized.”

Smith nodded. “Of course. They’re due in a couple of weeks, and within twenty-four hours of their arrival you’ll start laying the track. Eight weeks later you hope to have the first four miles of the line open.”

Henney’s eyes narrowed. “What are you getting at?”

Smith grinned smugly.

“Your point, sir,” said Sir Thomas crisply.

“I have a certain, let’s say, influence on the waterfront. The men listen to me. I dare say, gentlemen, that if I didn’t get a look into your railroad, they might not unload any of your ships.”

Henney pushed back his chair unceremoniously and stood up. “Now you listen, Smith,” he snarled. “I thought you’d start blackmailing us. Well sir, our railroad has the blessing of the authorities. They want it built. You try and hold us up, you try to stop us unloading, you start your bully-boy tricks, and we’ll have a battalion of United States infantry in Skagway so quick you won’t know what hit you. And I’ll tell you something else, your hired guns aren’t going to be much use against Army bayonets.”

He glanced at Sir Thomas. “I think it is time we went.”

The Englishman stood up and bowed to Tara. “I do apologize, dear lady,” he said. “Business can get so tedious.”

“Business, Sir Thomas,” she replied, smiling politely, “is never tedious. It interests me enormously.”

Sir Thomas looked slightly nonplussed. “We’ll see ourselves out,” he said, nodding at Smith. “Thank you for a highly entertaining evening. Good night.”

Smith did not stand up as they left the room.

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

Jeff Smith

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Carnival Cop dishonest games video

A friend of mine is a retired vice officer who is interested in the world of swindles. He made a very nice DVD on dishonest carnival games and how they cheat you. Youtube has a trailer for the DVD.





For the DVD and other products offered by Police Magic please follow the link

When I saw the video for the first time it brought back a memory from the 1970s, when the Magic Mountain  theme park in Valencia, California first opened.  My parents made deliveries to the park and the buyer let me and my brother go inside the park for free. In those days there were not so many people going there and we had the run of the place. The buyer offered my brother, Greg, an odd job(I was too young). It was odd to me until my father explained everything to me. The park offered to pay my brother to walk around the park all day long with a pretty girl on his arm and carrying the largest stuffed animal prize the park games offered. My brother was offered the position of a booster, to get customers of the park to spend more of their money trying to win the BIG prizes. Chances are those games were not much different than the ones shown in the DVD. The pay was minimum wage plus free admittance to the park, but we lived in Anaheim, which was way to far from Valencia where the park was located.

Booster couple carrying the huge teddy bear prize

1886: Bascomb Smith was quoted as a “young sportsman” of Belton when a man shot his pistol at him, but missed his mark.

Jeff Smith

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Jeff Smith's Parlor update: Archeology: Part 8.

Archeology test pit at Jeff Smith's ParlorPhoto by Cindy Von Halle

The above photo is posted on the Cultural Collection page of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park website. Much of the starting work phase of the restoration project for Jeff Smith's Parlor had to do with archeology. I posted past photographs of the work being performed on the actual building but work was also performed on the grounds under and around where the building sat. In fact, more objects have been found during these excavations than in any other phase.

Historical archeological excavations have been conducted within the park boundaries since the park was established in 1976. The archeological material collected is mostly from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Archeological collections are generated by research in response to cultural resource management requirements and result in the collection of objects in addition to data. The archeological collection includes all artifacts that have been recovered from the park's lands. About 63% of the park's collection or 168,626 items are archeological artifacts.

May 8, 2011
April 5, 2011 
February 11, 2011 
August 7, 2010 

Jeff Smith

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Days of 98 Show accepts new gunfight documentation.

Official confirmation is in. The the Days of '98 Show performed several times daily during the summer season in Skagway, Alaska has updated the gunfight sequence of the show to incorporate Jesse Murphy as the killer of Soapy Smith and not only Frank Reid. Also in, is that the Ed Parrish Ballad of Soapy Smith, which also incorporates my research about the gunfight on Juneau Wharf, is being performed in the pre-show entertainment. This acceptance and confirmation of my research documentation in Skagway is exhilarating to say the least. 

Jeff Smith

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Alias Soapy Smith: The gambler's education

The gambler's partner and best friend.

Jeff Smith

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Did Evangeline Booth meet and convert Soapy Smith?

Please know that I have nothing against the Salvation Army and their work. As a historian I just simply do not believe most of the story about the supposed meeting between Soapy Smith and Evangeline Booth in Skagway, Alaska. All we have to go on is her word and some of what she said is suspicious to me.

So what brought this on? A write-up by W. Winston Skinner in the Times-Herald.com

Story of Soapy Smith, the gunslinger,

part of Salvation Army Week
By W. Winston Skinner

There is a gunslinger from Coweta County whose final days have a link with the Salvation Army.

The story about Soapy Smith’s death and the Salvation Army’s involvement with the saloon keeper and outlaw will be shared during this week’s Salvation Army Week observance at the Newnan Service Center of the Salvation Army.

Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith II was born to a prominent Coweta family in 1860 and was shot to death in Skagway, Alaska in 1898.

The local center is celebrating Salvation Army Week — May 9-14 — with a variety of activities. On Thursday, Majors Larry and Evelyn Repass, retired Salvation Army officers, will be at the store to answer questions about the Army and its history.

In addition to the stories about Soapy Smith, the Repasses will share why did baseball hero Ted Williams hold a grudge against the Salvation Army and why Denzel Washington often volunteers his support for the organization. ...

The story of Salvation Army leader Evangeline Booth, fourth daughter of the founder, William Booth, meeting with Soapy Smith did not make the pages of my book. The reasons had to do with space limitations, too many different versions, and no convincing argument that any of them were completely true, meaning I would have had to publish them all in order to get the correct one in print.

One true story that all the Booth stories did not tell, was that the Salvation Army  had attempted  to contact Soapy once before in Denver 1890. This story at least has some form of record, even if only the newspapers. The following comes from my book, Alias Soapy Smith.

Reform ordinances had forced all saloons in the city to close on Sundays. On one Sunday, February 17, 1890, Jeff hung a sign on the door of his club and the News noted it:

Down Among the Dives.

The door of the Tivoli saloon, which is always a favorite resort with a certain class, did not yield to the pressure which many brought to bear against it [not to observe the Sabbath]. On the panel was pasted a notice with the words: “Gone to church; to-day is Sunday.”

Major French, commander of Denver’s Salvation Army, read about the sign and felt Jeff might be coming around to a religious way of thinking. Taking the initiative, the major led a march to the corner of Market and Seventeenth and presented Jeff with the opportunity to look good in a blue and red uniform. A reporter described the event:

The army came to a halt just in front of his [Jeff’s] place, and sent up “hallelujahs” enough to wake up…, and this song was sung as an inducement to Soapy to join the band, to the tune of “Climbing Up the Golden Stairs.”

“Soapy” would not bite even at this, but the little army received a few recruits from the crowd on the corner and marched happily to their hall on Lawrence street.

Evangeline Booth arrived in Skagway in May 1898. Some of the versions have Booth going to Soapy, while others have Soapy coming to her. The latter version is utilized in the book, General Evangeline Booth of the Salvation Army, by P. W. Wilson, 1948, page 129.

Soapy Smith, who owned the saloon, was quite a celebrity. He got his name in Denver where he sold soap at the street corners. Within certain of the packages were wrapped one, five and ten dollar bills, and with this inducement he did a roaring trade. The loaded packages, however, were handed to purchasers who were confederates, and with Soapy Smith they were hunted out of Denver, finding their way to Skagway where, by fair means or foul, they lured prospectors with money on them into a condition where they could be robbed. Soapy and his gang numbering some sixty adherents were a terror to the town. He was a tall dour man and Evangeline watched him during one of her meetings as he stood listening intently to what she was saying.

One evening in their camp among the trees the Salvationist party was warned that Soapy Smith with five of his bodyguard was approaching. It was a case of firearms on both sides. "Leave him to me," said Evangeline Booth, and she met the party. Supper was over, she said, but she would be happy to give them cups of cocoa. They sat and drank the cocoa and the Field Commissioner took Soapy Smith aside. "Why don't you give up this kind of life?" she asked him, and apparently he was impressed. He said that if he surrendered to the authorities it would be death, and she spoke to him of a salvation that means victory over death. Amid the shadows of the forest they prayed together and Soapy Smith departed.

A citizens meeting was held on a long wharf at Skagway. It was decided to clean out Soapy Smith and his gang. Soapy appeared in force and there was shooting on both sides. The town surveyor, Frank Reid, standing to guard the entrance to the wharf, was killed, which was murder, and Soapy was badly wounded. He was operated on by the surgeon in hope that he might live to be hung. But he cheated the gallows. Five years later someone happened to visit his grave. It was fragrant with fresh flowers. A strange man, he had been, and loved, it would seem, by somebody. For the Salvation Army he always had had a fondness. He told Evangeline Booth that his mother had taken him to its meetings as a little boy, and he had been eager to go because they allowed him to clap his hands.

Salvation Comes to the Last Frontier
by Evan Dowling

In the book, Salvation Comes to the Last Frontier, by Evan Dowling, 1986, it is claimed that Booth converted Soapy as well as two members of the Soap Gang. My father and his siblings denied Booth's story because of the numerous "errors." One of the big errors was that Soapy’s mother took him to Salvation Army meetings when he was young. Although my father was going by the family history as he had learned it from his grandmother, Soapy's widow, his argument makes perfect sense considering the Salvation Army did not come to the United States until 1880, three years after Soapy’s mother had passed away. All we have is Booth's word on the story, and just exactly what her actual word on the story is not really known to me as I have yet to see a source.

Salvation Army and the Tivoli Club: page 173.

Jeff Smith

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Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly

Our good neighbor, Marlene McCluskey, over at the Skagway Historical Society blog found some more information on Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly, whom I quote in my book about Skagway's shell and pea men. I'll let Marlene tell the story...

While perusing Jeff Smith's book today I found a reference to a doctor that I had not previously known of in Skagway. He was writing in his journal on March 25, 1898 about the shell games on the Skaguay and Dyea trails: "The most prominent feature of the landscape is the activity of the shell-game men and their cappers. How any one can be deceived by these crooks is a mystery, but many are. They look evil, and are evil. Great numbers lose heavily and a good many have had to give up their journey and turn back, all funds being lost...Shell-game tables extend from Dyea to Sheep Camp and one comes across them every hundred yards or so..."

Well, when I looked up Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly wasn't I surprised to find that he is not only the founder of the modern science of gynecology, but also one of the four founders of the Johns Hopkins Hospital where he stayed until 1919! Turns out he is another hero who passed through Skagway. Kelly was born on February 20, 1858 in Camden, New Jersey and died on January 12, 1943 in Baltimore.

A huge thank you to Marlene for adding so much more to a man whom was previous thought to be 'just a passer through."

Click the link to read more about Howard Atwood Kelly.

August 28, 2009

Howard Atwood Kelly: page 477.

Jeff Smith

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The Skaguay News, December 31, 1897.

For your reading pleasure, how about an entire issue of The Skaguay News for December 31, 1897.  Click HERE to begin reading. This issue is actually a reprint published by The Skaguay News in the early 1900s for visitors. The only difference between the original issue and the reprint is the addition of photographs. The original did not contain them.

Ads in the paper includes those for the Hotel Mondamin where Soapy stayed, and possibly lived. The Klondike Saloon and Music Hall which is believed to have been owned by Soapy. A write-up on Frank Reid and a large ad for Clancy’s Place, whose owners, John ad Frank Clancy, were partners of Soapy's.

Jeff Smith

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Goofy times at Soapy's Parlor

Friend, Andrew Cremata of Skagway created the fun photo art above. He has more on Facebook in a file called Disney During the Klondike Gold Rush. Fun stuff to see!

Jeff Smith

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Howard Clifford: Author-Historian-Friend

Howard Clifford was a friend. The last time I saw him was in 1998 in Skagway, Alaska at the 100th anniversary memorial for the gunfight on Juneau Wharf.. We were on a symposium panel on "Who killed Soapy Smith" with different views as to who did the dirty deed. It was fun, and I couldn't have picked a better opponent to match up against. After that I lost contact with Howard. No one seemed to know where he was. I gave up trying to contact him after a few years figuring he had a quiet passing. Occasionally I would think about him and Google his name only to come up empty handed. The other night I thought of him and this time I found him. He had indeed passed, but many years after I had thought. I regret not being able to tell him how much he meant to my family and me.

The year was 1973. The place, Seattle, Washington. I was 15-years-old and with my parents attending the Pullen auction of Alaskan artifacts. My father wanted, and did, purchase Soapy's roulette table and grave marker. My parents put us under a different name so that the auction house would not know that the family was bidding on artifacts for fear of falsely raising the prices. The auctioneer, Greenfield Galleries, was simply the best I have ever witnessed. It took four days to auction off the entire Harriet Pullen collection, mainly because there was so much, but also because the auctioneer was slow and precise. There was no yapping, yelling confusion you see and most other auctions. I don't know how many times he would say, "going one, going twice..." and then stop to add a story about the artifact. Although he was doing this to raise the price he did it in such a way that was very entertaining. I have few memories of my 15th year of existence, but I do remember a lot about that four days.

There were lunch breaks in which my parents would go have a drink at a local tavern (to calm down and discuss bidding plans). They gave me money to go eat on my own and so everyday I went to a lunch counter a few doors down. I was amazed at how friendly everyone was to me. What I didn't know was that they were big time bidders from Alaskan and Canadian museums trying to figure out who my parents were because of the bidding wars. My father failed to tell me not to tell anyone who we were, and I did. Hell, I told everyone who would listen! I think it was the very first time in my life that I was able to talk about Soapy to someone other than my own family. Everything worked out fine with the bidders as they made a deal with my father, not to bid on items he wanted and he wouldn't bid on items they wanted. We came home with a truck load of Alaskan artifacts, some of which have found their way back to Skagway. Besides the bidders, Howard Clifford talked to me. He was the most knowledgeable person on Soapy I had ever met outside of the family so it was a lot of fun talking to him. On the second day he asked me to introduce him to my father, which I did. Howard then set up a meeting in our hotel with Robert Sheldon, who as a young boy, had witnessed the pre-shootout argument of the gunfight on Juneau Wharf.

Howard turned out to be a big fan of Soapy's. He wrote numerous book about the Klondike gold rush in in all of them he paid tribute to Soapy. Some of his books are.

• Much about Totems. (1962)
  
• The Skagway Story: A History of Alaska's most Famous Gold-Rush Town and Some of the People Who Made that History. (1974)
• Rails North. The Railroads of Alaska and the Yukon. (1981) 
• Doing the White Pass. (1988)
• Soapy Smith: Uncrowned king of Skagway (1997)
• Alaska/Yukon Railroads: An Illustrated History (1999)
• Alaska adventures: Wyatt Earp and friends (2000)
• The Soapy Smith Tragedy (reprint)
• Soapy Smith: Bandit of Skagway (reprint)
• Correspondence of a Crook (reprint)

His books were factual with sources, with the exception of  Soapy Smith: Uncrowned king of Skagway. Not only did he not use the information I supplied him, but he added a lot of fiction which really disappointed me as he used to be so adamant about non-fiction history. minus that book I consider him a great researcher, historian, and friend. My "Howard Clifford" file is packed with letters from him as we correspondent consistently until I lost contact with him in 1998.

Howard Clifford running for his life

 
What I didn't know about Howard Clifford was that he was an award winning photographer. But, the wealth of fascinating experiences that have colored Howard Clifford's life are all surpassed by one—the run for his life on the collapsing Tacoma Narrows Bridge, "Galloping Gertie," in 1940.

On the morning November 7, 1940 Clifford was in the Tribune office when word came that Galloping Gertie was in trouble. The newspaper dispatched Clifford as back-up cameraman along with veteran reporter Bert Brintnall. Clifford shot several photos of the bridge's last moments. By late afternoon, the spectacular images were sent across the country.
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January 5, 2011
September 7, 2010 
December 15, 2009 
 

Howard Clifford: page 9.

Jeff Smith

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Learning to gamble - The right way

1848: Louis C. Blonger, Soapy’s successor in Denver, is born.
1885: First mention of the alias “Soapy” Smith in a newspaper.

Jeff Smith

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The Skagway Historical Society blog

Marlene pulls up the day’s history blog on
her computer at the Skagway Visitor Center.
(photo by Andrew Cremata)

One of my favorite blogs is the one for the Skagway Historical Society. The proprietor is Marlene McCluskey and of all the blogs on the net hers is most often referenced here on this blog. In Skagway they are taking notice of her fine work. The following story by Andrew Cremata was published in The Skagway News, History Features April 29, 2011.

History in the making

McCluskey develops a following with Skagway blog

By Andrew Cremata

Many people from all walks of life have called Skagway home or used it as a jumping off point for adventures into the untamed frontier wilderness. The Skagway Historical Society’s folklore blog provides detailed information on the names and faces that have who helped shape and define the community.

Marlene McCluskey has been compiling information for the blog on a daily basis since 2009. A detailed database allows visitors with family ties to the Klondike Gold Rush days to find answers to historical mysteries when passing though town.

From her office at the Skagway Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, McCluskey demonstrated how she goes about compiling her information to keep the blog timely and up to date.

McCluskey explained that every day she cross-references her Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to find the name of a person who may have lived or died on that date. By utilizing information she has compiled from a storehouse of books and letters, she has been bringing to life the finer details of persons who have been part of Skagway’s history. Sometimes the information is limited and other times it is expansive.
On this day last year, McCluskey’s blog focused on a man by the name of Michael Brarmon.

The entry is accompanied by a photo of the Gold Rush Cemetery and reads, “Murdered in the Klondyke Saloon on this day, April 8, 1898 and buried two days later in the Gold Rush Cemetery. Apparently there was no investigation at the time, things were getting pretty bad in Skagway. Mr. Brarmon was about 22 years old and hailed from San Francisco.”

McCluskey said she obtained the information from the Skagway Death Record.
Other entries are far more detailed, made possible when more information is available about a person’s life.

Every year McCluskey gets numerous site visits from tourists asking about the details of a family member’s life. Her database often finds information at the push of a button, much to the delight of people seeking even the smallest of details about a mystery left unanswered for a century.

Numerous old photographs round out the daily blogs and bring the stories to life. Those interested in Skagway history are able to peruse the blog on a daily basis and are provided with a comprehensive historical analysis in one easy to browse location.
In her April 1 entry, McCluskey describes a secondhand story she heard from the great-grandson of a man named Louis Pollak, born in 1883.

The entry reads, “Louie came to the Yukon in the gold rush but did not do so well, so after the rush he returned to Chicago. Not satisfied with the city, he set out for the West again. He built a cabin at Nunn Creek and was attacked and eaten by wolverines.”

The blog can be found at: skagwayfolklore.blogspot.com

Jeff Smith

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