Douglas Island news., 1921-03-18
TELLS AGAIN OF
 "sOAPY" SMITH
old Paper Printed at Skagway the Day After Shooting Gives
 Story of His Death

It Is always interesting Co look back ou history review Che hap- pcnngs of previous daya m Che light of events or present times Tho career ot "soapy" smith ot skas- way head Of Q gang which pocu- emily "au Ono town" Is @ page .u . Noskas history which stm ascin- atos Che seekers ot romance end ad- ventures and whose do.ugs arc sem commented upon today
 Therefore Che story of how ho mot his sudden end and of how his gang was cleared out Of Che town. as told in special cxra edition Of Che "sbaeuay Ncvs" of July s. 1898. win be interesting reading It de- tails Che events which led up Co Smiths death and tells how he was killed by city Surveyor Reid. who was himself morally wounded and later died.
 Tho newspaper now nearly 23 years old. Is one of a collection of oIi-amc memoirs of Mrs James Coy'c of KctcbImn, through whose courtesy Che story Is here repro ducad.
 "soapy" smith Us dead, Shot
 through the heart his cold body lies oa aab at Peoples undertake ing par'ors and Che confidence mon and bunco stccrcrs which have had thc.r headquarters bcre lor some rmc have suddenly taken tboIr de- parmrc Che tragic death Of their leader having completely unncrycd chem
 It was at 9.e0 last night chat Che cbccsereI career ol "Soapy' smith was brought to sudden end by Q gs caubre buIe. from a revolver in tfo mnerur right hand Of City Surveyor Frank U Reid. while Che hitter lies at thc- hospital iaueu- ousIy wounded by bullet from sm.hs r.lc
 The cause which led up to Che trouble which ended Smiths Hfe had i.s oren m Che mom.ue shortly be- lore IU o'clock whom J. D. Stewart a young man jus. out from Dawson. wa. robbed ol Q sack containing from I2 to ID pounds O. gold. There are conflicting stories as Co how Che robbery was comm.ttecl Che accep,- ed version being chat Stewart de- sired to sch ha gold. and chat ono Bowers. a we'll known member 0f smths eaue represented to Stewart taat hc was hcre for tho purpose of buying gold for some b.r a.avue company bo.ow
 The uuHnceune stranger accom- panied Bowers to a point in tbc rear of Smiths place on Holly ave. and near ,re Nondamu boteL where it Is alleged two O, Bowers pals were m Wuuue whom Che thrco mon oycrnovcr stewart Vrosted Che aack o. gold. containing s267O. from hts. hand. and disappeared from sight. around adjoining buildings leaving Che returned KlondIkcr w poor as whom he started I1r Che land of gold and hlrdsh.rs nearly 8 year before
 As soon as Che ucws of Che bold and daring broad daylight robbery became circulated about Che city, ,lere Wis frc of indignation. People worc m0pross.bly surprised and sbocsol that such fragrant ol.u-c should have been committed u fhc city, Business mon quietly discussed Che situation. and feeling assured that it was smiths men who dII Che job. many ot Che best and most influential of our citizens went quietly to the leader and informed mm that Che gold must be returned. and that ho and h.s gang must shake Che dust or skagvay from their feet
 During Che earlier par. Of the ox- atomont smItb partially promised several men, Including Che wrItcr taat u ease there was no "roar" made m the papers. Che gold would be returned by o'clock las. cven- mr and chat his Influence would be used Go prcyen, bis mon from in any way interfering with returning KIonlIsers n Che future
 The promise was not kopt hove cver. nor was Che gold returned on Che contrary. Smith began Go drink heavily and talk In rash. defiant manner When Gold by News rep- e.cnatvo chat unless Che gold was returned there would be trouble last night smith replied. "By '-' trouble is what ! am looking for Hc got it in a way ho least expected.
 Tho gold not being returned pub- uc indignation continued Go increase until at 8 o'clock it had reached fever heat Cool heads prevailed.