Stikeen River journal. (Fort Wrangel, Alaska) 1898-1899, 1898-07-16
The Days of "Sure.Thing" Mer
in Alaska are Numbered.

in Alaska are Numbered.
"Soapy" Smith has run his last bluff.
In an encounter with Mr.. Frank Reid
he was shot through the heart and in
stantly killed. The affair occurred on
the Juneau wharf in Skagway on Fri
day, the 9th inst. From the Skagway
News of July 8, the following is taken:
.It was at $50 last night that the
checkered career of "Soapy' Smith
was brought to sudden end by 3S
calibre bullet from revolver in the
unerring right hand of City Surveyor
Frank H. Reid, while the latter lies at
the hospital dangerously wounded by a
bullet from Smiths rifle.
1.-THE cause which led up to the
trouble which ended Smiths life, had
its'origin in the morning shortly before
10 o'clock, when J. D. Stewart, a young
man just out from Dawson, was robbed
Of sack containing from twelve to fif-
teen pounds of gold. There are con-
flicting stories as to how the robbery
was committed, the accepted version
being that Stewart desired to sell his
gold, and that one Bowers, we'll
known member of Smiths gang, repre-
sented to Stewart that he was here for
the purpose of buying gold for some big
assaying company below. The unsus-
recting stranger accompanied Bowers
70 point in the rear of Smith place
% Holly avenue, and near the Monda-
min hotel, where, it is alleged, Two of
Bowers pals were in waiting, when the
three men overpowered Stewart, wrest-
ed the sack of gold, containing $3.50,
from his hands, and disappeared from
sight around adjoining buildings, leav-
ing the returned klondiker as poor as
when he started for the land of gold
and hardships nearly year before
''As soon as the news of the bold and
daring broad daylight robbery became
circulated about the city. there was
fire of indignation. People were mex
pressibly surprised and shocked that
such hagraLt outrage should have
been committed in the city. Business
men quietly discussed the situation,
and, feeling assured that it was Smith S
men who did the job, many of the best
and most influential of our citizens went
quietly to the leader and informed him
that the gold must be returned, and
that he and his gang must skake the
dust of Skagway from their feet. Dur
ing the earlier part of the excitement
Smith partially promised several men,
including the writer, that, in case there
was no ''roar" made in the papers, the
gold would be returned by o'clock
last evening, and that his influence
would be used to prevent his men from
in any way interfering with returning
klondikers in the future.
''The promise was not kept, however,
nor was the gold returned. On the
contrary, Smith began to drink heavily
and talk in rash, defiant manner.
When told by News representative
that unless the gold was returned there
would be trouble last night, Smith re-
piled: "By -, trouble is what am
looking for He got it in way he
least expected.
''The gold not being returned, public
indignation continued to increase until
at eight o'clock it had reached fever
heat Cool heads prevailed, however,
and no outward demonstrations were
made, although there was an ominous
look worn by several hundred of men,
including the best of Skagway's citi-
zens, which plainly said: ''Sure-thing
men must go.' At nine o'clock last
night II meeting was started in Sylves-
ter's hall, but the space being made
quate to accommodate the crowd, an
adjournment was taken to the Juneau
dock, where, at a point half way to the
warehouse, a meeting was called to de-
wise ways and means for Kidding the