The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-05
KILLED IN ALASKA.
Checkered Career of "SOapy' Smith,
Plunger and Gambler,

PIunger and Gambler.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
News was received here yesterday of the
killing of Soapy" Smith, the old-time
Louisville sport and plunger, in Skaguay.
Alaska. He was snot and almost instant
ly killed by City Surveyor Reid, July o.
JEFF, or "Soapy." as he was better known
was unique combination of virtue ami
crime. He was the kind husband and IA
ther, the charitable citizen and honest
public official and the sure thing" man,
ever ready TO lure men to his den and win
from them their earnings
He made Louisville his stamping ground
for years, and was at one time one Of the
best-known characters In the city. He was
terror in the gambling halls and pool
rooms ana was frequently known to have
made winnings amounting to $4,000 He
was true blue" Dlunger, and for years
was familiar figure at the race course
.iere.
Smith began his tempestuous career In
st. Louis. His full name was Jefferson
Randolph Smith He earned his soubrl-
quet Of "Soapy' from the fact that when
in hard luck he would go to different towns
and earn money by selling soap on the
street corners. When he had disposed Of
fuJ OF JJD oars OF soap ne WOutd rush from
the stand and catch Train from the city.
A weil-known sporting man says that
Smith sold over 5000 worth of soap in
Louisville during one month IN 1856
He always came to Kentucky during the
fair season, and made a tour Of the state,
selling soap and fleeing the countrymen
he was last in Louisyiilc five years ago
lie left with over 5000 in MS pockets. He
srent money freely, and was kind-heart-
~ and generous
He first became famou ~ a story that
NJ had projected the lie Of Bloody Bri-
dles Waite, then Governor of Colorado.
The story was that siGait handed ana
med only with a shotgun ne kept an en-
tire company of infantry at bay. few
months ago he repealed his feat at Ska
quay, when ne projected bartender who
had shot two or three men, from the fury
OF a mob until the arriS I'll tf the United
states marshal from Siika. As a United
Siates marshal, Smith was rcsolute In his
q iorlCment Of the idW. ana In 1891 ne
cleared our The crooks Ia creole, and plac-
ed the camp in the hands Vi the law and
order people.
When Smith went to Alaska, however, he
bccs me another mad. GatnerIng some thir-
" Of the most nardeL.d end desperate
inf about him, he proceeded to take af-
fairs into his own bands.
According to the stoIy reLciN ed here he
opened a saloon n tbe nam street Of
SIX quay. II was called "icn = 1ith p ar
lors." and here his gdLs had headquaT-
hers
Naturally, there wee us;y rJLdors aboa
Smith and his "Parlors," and the more
reputable citizens gave uhe place a vide
berth, but in spite Of ,hig. tire pecsuaailty
Of the man was strong enough 10 5lhe
the lll-feeling against him
on Memorial day Smith delivered the
address at the celebration In memory Of
the soldier dead, and on the Fourth Of
July he acted as chief marshal of the
parade. Up 10 this lime no deed of vio-
lence had actually been brought home
to Smith and his gang but when, on
July s. q miner named Stewart was rob
bed Of $3.50 in the saloon by a carefully
devised plan, the evidence against the
gang was so conclusive that the citizens
resolved TO protest against such lawless-
ness.
Smith attempted 10 overcome the rising
tide Of public sentiment All day he walk
ed the streets, daring the citizens to at
tempt to down him In the evening, when
more than 800 men had gathered TO organ
ize a vigilance committee, he walked
down TO the dock alone, with his Winches-