The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-07
OAPSELLER AND OUTLAW
Continued from Page Seven.)

trip. A prospective bride and groom
answered, and their pictures went on
to the dead walls. Store windows were
filled with articles to be presented to
them on their return from the trip and
the city went wild over the prospective
event.
THE eventful day came. The rail-
road was fairly blocked with special
trains from all directions to the park.
and it is estimated that $4,000 people
passed through the single gate at 81
a head to see the show.
I'm the center of the park was a
large wooden building, temporary
structure in which the airship was
supposed to be ready to make the trip.
One of the oldest justices of the peace
in Denver was on hand to perform the
ceremony, with S25 fee in his pocket.
The bridegroom and his bride stood
ready for the ceremony, and the for
mer had a check for 500 in his wallet.
Around the building was a row of bar
rels connected with hose, and a Gordon
of deputy sheriffs stood guard around
the whole affair, the report having
been given out that a spark of fire
might cause an explosion.
while the crowd was still streaming
into the park and the band was play
ing most stirring air 'Soapy and his
partner went to the ticket office, hur-
riedly gathered up all the money that
had been taken in, swept it into two
gripsacks, made a Decline for the fence
behind the place where the music was
stationed, mounted two broncos and
started across the country. They had
timed the affair so that they arrived
at a little way station just in time to
stop an express train bound for the
Pacific coast which they boarded and
made their escape.
THE affair caused a great stir for
fnf alyc nd he, 1hI off
was no concert of action among the
people who had paid their admission
fee and in a few months Smith re-
turned to Denver and opened up
gambling room on his own account
He had his steerers out to meet all
new Corners One of the latter was
an old soldier with an abundance of
gray whiskers on his chin. He always
wore his. trousers stuffed in the tops
of his boots, met people at the trains
or at the hotels, engaged them in con-
versa ton, volunteered to show them
the mint and other points of interest,
including the gambling houses, and in
variably brought them up at 'Soapy's'
esta blishment, where the fleeing was
done in the most approved fashion
There were six or seven other steer
ers connected with the establishment,
but the old soldier was the slickest of
them all. One young fellow got into
the habit of accostlng people that
stopped to look at the goods on dis
play in my windows and finally began
coming into the store to begin his
working-in game I went to Smith
and told him about it. I didn't com
plain, as he was one of my best Gus
toners, buying all the latest periodicals
and papers of me, besides the cards
that he used in his gambling rooms.
He merely said:
IF ever one of those fellows visits
you again let me know. I'm glad you
spoke of it
.oThat settled the matter. My Gus
toners were never troubled after With
all the hard name that 'Soapy' bore
in the West he was one of the most
generous men | ever knew. Clergymen
called on him for subscriptions to their
churches and women would solicit aid
for all manner of charitable objects.
'Soapy' would take their lists, look
them over find the largest subscrip-
ton in it, and then give double the
amount That was his invariable rule.
On one occasion a woman asked him
to buy a ticket for rattle for an Or
namental pincushion, which was being
conducted for the benefit of a hospital.
.Soapy' asked her how many tickets
she had left and purchased the whole
number, telling her if he won 1t to put
1t up once more and come and see MN
again. one little mission ciulCl was
virtually supported by his generosity.
1T was his boast that he always ran
his own shack and if any one under
took to raise a disturbance there he
would clean them out with his lists II
he could or resort to his shooting irons
if necessary. On one occasion a man
knocked him down. He pulled his re-
volver, fired a shot into the floor. The
man ran out and Smith followed ana
shots after him,
He arranged a large number OF
prize fights about Denver, as we'll as
other sporting events, and in nearly
every instance acted as master of cere-
monies. He was a bad mana very
had man-as the world knew him, but
he had his redeeming side. He was
generous to a fault, and I do not be-
lieve that any one ever appealed 10
him for aid in vain. If a man lost
his money in his place and 'squealed,,
as they say, 'soapy' Smith would hand
the money back, tell him 1t was all
mistake and send him away satisfied.
1t was not that kind of men he liked