The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-23
SOAPY SMITH OF sKAGwAY.
Career of Man More or Less Noted
in the West. N.

in the West 4u
From the Seattle Post-Intelligeneer
''Soapy'' Smith. one time known as Jeff.
gambler politician, "sure-thing" man. has
added to his other titles that of "Shah
of Skagway." He also longs to be called
Chief" In the town at the entrance to
White Pass "soapy'' is a prominent citi-
zen. The sporting fraternity own allegi-
ance to his cause, and when the place is
incorporated it will further his ambition
to be chief of police.
1t was Smith, it is claimed. who saved
the neck of Fay, the bartender VINO re-
Gently shot United States Deputy Mar
shal MCGOWAN and another man Vigi-
lantes would have lynched Fay had
''Soapy' not ga thered his forces and pre-
vented the execution.
The story of the career of the would-be
policeman teens with tales of adventure
He is known all along the Pacific coast IS
a most desperate gambler. 1t was. how
ever, in Colorado that he first achieved
prominence. The memory of 'FSoapy"
Smith fingers in Denver like the recol-
lection of bad dream. It is almost i'm
possible TO ascertain when "Soapy" came
to Denver or whence, but out of the tam
gle of rich anecdotes of his earlier career
there rises a picture which is indelible.
1t was in good old times. Every man
had money-unless he had met "Soapy."
Up Seventeenth street from the Union de-
pot there streamed throng of people In
the midst of them stood "Soapy" on a box.
He had soap TO sell, ii was not plain, or
binary soap, fit only for the washing of
dirty hands, or soiled linen. 1t was, On
the contrary. very remarkable soap.
"Soapy' touched the soap and 10! there
was an inner wrapping of crisp bank
notes around every bar. The eyes of the
spectators bulged out What was the
use of of hunting over the hills for de-
ceptive silver mines? Here was a fortune
close at hand. "Soapy' had Just a few
left for sale. Under his magic touch a
bar was seen to be EMBODIED in money.
With eager eye fixed upon the tempting
treasure, the spectator passed his hard
earned cash to the magician and grabbed
the potent bar. Upon opening the outer
wrapper, breathing short and quick the
while, he found just soap; but il was a
very good soap. That was one thing to
be said of "Soapy." He was always con
scientous in little things and was far
above petty tricks. Other people bought
SOAP, and "Soapy's' business came to be
till greater ambitions inspired him to
more original eRdeavor.
'Soapy' became very proficient in the
shell game, and in all the various schemes
of the high-cass bunko man For many
years he enjoyed power and influence in
Denver, for his political relations and the
authority he welded in the downtown dis
tricts gave him immunity from police in
reference. Year after year he flourished.
bunkoed visitors, conducted a gambling
house and made his name a by-word and
synonym. He made fortune after fortune
and spent 1t all ia riotous living and in
good deeds. for il must be ever said of
'Soapy" that no hungry man ever asked
aid Of him and was refused. Smith left
Denver in 1895, driven out at last by the
women empowered with the suffrage He
went TO New Orleans, was imprisoned
there for vagrancy, and finally drifted 10
the Pacific coast.