Random image

Dodge City Cowboy Band



Soapy Smith

warning: Creating default object from empty value in /home/booth/public_html/ghostcowboy/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.module on line 1223.

CRIME AT SKAGUAY.


Tags: | | | | |

Lima (Ohio) News / September 23, 1898

Tough Band of Criminals Wiped Out.

Henry Rydstrom Tells of the Killing of “Soapy” Smith -- A Chicago Man Illustrates How Skaguay Was Rid of a Desperado.

Henry Rydstrom, formerly a Chicago man, but now a citizen of Skaguay, Alaska, was an eyewitness of the night in which the notorious “Soapy” Smith was killed in that place by City Surveyor Reed. He stood, in fact, where the desperado almost fell against him when Reed shot him. Mr. Rydstrom has been in Skaguay since last January and has seen the rapid growth of the place from simply a group of tents, constantly being put up and constantly taken away as the migrating herds of humanity came and went. From the start “Soapy” Smith’s reign has been supreme. He had a gang of 29 toughs, all as desperate as himself and all completely under his control. Like the able leader in villainy he was, he had his crew well distributed among the municipal offices and in all places where they could be used to best further his schemes and to afford protection to himself and the gang. “Boss” Tweed never in his palmiest days had such a perfectly and systematically organized band of robbers. There were always three of them in the city council, his first lieutenant was the deputy city marshal and his second officer was the editor

TERROR OF SKAGUAY.


Tags: | | | | | | |

San Antonio Light / October 23, 1898

Was Known All Over Alaska as “Soapy” Smith.

He Ran the Town to Suit Himself and His Pals, but Nemesis Finally Overtook Him in the Shape of a Bullet.

An Alaska correspondent writes, under the date of July 15, that with the passing of “Soapy” Smith Skaguay’s reign of terror seems drawing to a close. “Soapy” is dead.

“Soapy” would have gone down the dark trail long ago had it not been for the fact that he was never seen alone, and to pull a gun on him meant death to the puller. “Tom” Reed, the city engineer, found that out, but “Soapy” went with him, and there is a heap of satisfaction in that.

He came here from Colorado, the cradle of bad men. He first gained fame by saving the life of “Bloody Bridles” Waite, then governor of Colorado. When Creede was experiencing a reign of lawlessness in 1891, Smith was United States marshal, and so vigorous was he in the pursuit of his calling that in a short time he

MARTIAL LAW IN SKAGUAY.


Tags: | | | |

Galveston Daily News / July 17, 1898

Victoria, B. C., July 16 -- Martial law has been declared in Skaguay as a result of the killing of "Soapy" Smith, a notorious gambler, and the subsequent arrest of several members of his gang. Bowers, one of the ringleaders, had stolen $2700 from a newly returned Dawson City miner. The gang refused to refund the money, which led to an indignation meeting and "Soapy" Smith's shooting. Citizens then armed themselves with Winchesters and patrolled the streets, announcing their intention to arrest all implicated with the dead gambler. The search resulted in the apprehension of Bowers and about a dozen others. Captain Yeatman of the Fourteenth infantry, stationed at Dyea, brought the soldiers to Skaguay and proclaimed martial law. According to passengers on the City of Seattle, Yeatman, fearing his inability to restrain the indignation of the citizens, who threatened to lynch the prisoners, decided to give the men a chance for their lives and allowed them to go free.

Syndicate content
 

Syndicate

Syndicate content

Shorpy  The 100-Year-Old Photo Blog!

Juniper Gallery  Fine-art prints of the photos on this site.

Turnpike Cruiser  Photos of the present-day West, with an emphasis on Arizona and Bisbee, and the Canadian Rockies.

PatentRoom  Patent illustrations from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Buy as prints.

Plan59  Retro 1950s illustrations. Cars! Happy wives! Demonic Tots!

Box of Apples  Fruit-crate art from the turn of the century, available as fine-art prints.

AdventureLounge  Aircraft patent drawings and early aviation history. Will it fly?