Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-07-31

WHO RECENTLY NET DEATH IN
ALASKA-WAS RoPED IN BY A
BUNCO MAN-FoUND HIS WAY To
A YARD, AND ESCAPED BY TEAR
ING A BOARD LOOSE FROM A
HIGH F'BNCE-GENERAL FEAR OF
SMITH AND HIS GANG.
The death of 'fSoapy" Smith in the
Klondike, which has been commented
upon at length by all the western news
papers, makes the experience of a
Wheeling man with Smiths gang very
interesting at this time. The story is
familiar to friends of the gentleman,
who is very we'll known. He repeated
it TO Register reporter last night, but
would not consent to the use OF his
name. Here is his story:
THE shooting to death of the noto-
rious 'Soapy' Smith in Skagaway,
Alaska, recently, brings to my mind
very wildly my experience with his
nibs in Denver, Col, few years ago.
Feeling bad for some time l de-
cided to try Colorado for relief.
reached Denver about two o'clock in
the afternoon, tired and hungry, and
after bath and a meal, strolled out
to see the town. / was walking along
slowly with my overcoat on my arm
sign Of stranger in town-when two
well-dressed fellows. aged about 80
years, approached me, and asked where
they could get glass OF Milwaukee
beer. This was done to throw me off
my guard, as l soon after learned.
Il told them had just arrived, and
didn't know. They informed me that
they also had only been in town few
hours. having come originally from
Virginia, but had spent some time in
Wisconsin. While we were talking
one of them said, pointing across the
street to saloon: There is Mil
waukee sign. Let's go over and have
a glass l was invited and told them
didn't drink, but would take cigar
After they had their beer and l my
cigar, We all sat down to talk and
get better acquainted, as l supposed
at least that's the way we do in Wheel
ing. Immediately after we sat down,
one of the fellows, who seemed to be
spokesman, began fumiblfng in his in
side coat pocket and brought out a few
letters, one of which he began to read,
and presently folded it up, saying as
he did so that it was a letter from his
uncle that he received in Milwaukee,
and as he had almost forgotten his
address, he had to refer to the letter,
which gave the address as Soaptown,
opposite end of viaduct from Denver
proper He went on to say that his
uncle had mining claims at Cripple
Creek and always kept quantity of
god and silver ore and nuggets on
hand, and he could probably get me a
nugget to wear as watch cna1m, II
l cared to so with them.
LAS they seemed very good fellows, l
was going to be good, too, and went
along. After We got on the car the
operator turned around, and looked at
me, and while collecting our fares,
which one of my new friends insisted
On paying, the conductor looked me
square in the eye The oper>+o5..- ~, ::
conductor both lccIing at me in the
manner described, said as plain az Ian
guage: Young fellow, you're up against
it, and l knew it.
81 was with two Of 'Soapy' Smiths
bunco steerers.
"On arriving at the end of the via
duet the car was stopped and my COM
panions both got Off. | hesitated a
moment, but only a moment, when
got off and followed them like a lamb
being led to slaughter. We walked
along for some time through uc-
serted shantytown, until we came tt
a two-story frame shanty, which, by
a sign above the door, informed one
that it was the Farmers Home.
my friend opened the door and we
entered, and the sight that met my
eyes l shall never forget, but before
go further, | must state that the door
had been locked by one of the party
after we entered. | intended to make
a break for liberty, and in looking tc
see how the door opened, saw that ii
was locked. l now fully realized my
plight, and with Quaking knees and
my heart in my mouth. gave up in
despair | knew that / would lose
everything | had in my possession and
possibly my life, and | didn't have q
thing to defend myself with. / didn't
have much to lose In money-betweer
S175 and S200-but it was quite a sun
too. considering that l was sick, over
one thousand miles from home, and in
strange land, and in the coils of the
chief Of bunco men and his gang.
But what was troubling me most
was my life. believe that If the prop
csition was made to me to give III
everything and go free, I would not
have changed words, but have com
piled willingly, and promptly. But t.
describe the inside and what happen
ed: There was a rough counter, about
ten feet long, few empty whisky bot
ties and cigar boxes. Several decks o.
cards and dice boxes were lying scat
tered along some very rough shelving
that answered for a sideboard. Shortly
after we entered, and while | was be-
coming weak in the knee Joints, anC
wanted to sit down, a fellow raised III
from behind the bar, dressed in The
garb of a country inn keeper-rougf
clothing, well worn. white SLOUGH ha
and long red chin whiskers. | saw
through this makeup at once. He wa:
the uncle spoken Of, to whom | re
ceived an introduction. and while We
were shaking hands, down rushed {
fellow from the upstairs, or loft which
/ it really was, his hat in one hand anC
! a torn valise in the other, his clothing
all muddy but dry. and his brown hair