Howard used my book as a source for his sections on jefferson randolph soapy smith. Soapy smith killed in skagway, alaska a disgruntled city engineer in skagway, alaska, murders soapy smith, one of the most notorious con men in the history of the west. The life and death of a scoundrel by jeff smith ebook pdf download. This is the definitive, old west centered, fully documented biography of soapy smith. Alias soapy smith belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the old west, the klondikealaskan gold rush, early alaskan history, denver political history, or the study of consmanship and gambling at the turn of the 20th century. Honky tonk was a great film, however a remake should have a different title, say, alias soapy smith, lol. One of them is soapy smith, whose travels brought him briefly to the kenai peninsula. Smith was a sophisticated swindler who liked to think of himself as a kind and generous benefactor to the needy. Author and greatgrandson jeff smith spent 25 years researching and writing the life and murderous death of one of the wests most infamous, and some say often.
Colorado residents will want to check this book out as it is the most complete biography written. Soapy slick is the crooked saloon operator and profiteer in the uncle scrooge comic series. He ran skagway, alaska, during the gold rush until he was killed in a shootout with vigilantes in soapy smith, jefferson randolph soapy smith ii was a famous con artist, saloon and gambling house proprietor, gangster and crime boss of the nineteenth century old west. John wilson vermillion 18421911, alias texas jack, and later as shootyoureyeout vermillion, was a gunfighter of the old west known for his participation in the earp vendetta ride and his later association with soapy smith.
During the klondike gold rush, no name was better known in skagway than jeff soapy smith. The life and legacy of the wild wests most infamous con artist. A video introduction to the exciting book about the life and times of the infamous soapy smith, the slickest of all the old west confidence men. Dec 05, 2009 the new alias soapy smith book commercial b ungalo bill, aka bill marquardt, a good friend of mine and a fan of soapys produced the wonderful video commercial for my new book. Jefferson smith aka soapy smith, famous bunko man of the old west. Famous skagway criminal soapy smith detailed in new book. In his longresearched 628page 2009 book alias soapy smith.
After his 24 years of research and writing, it is hard to imagine a more comprehensive biography of soapy smith ever being published. The floor of heaven this true story is not so true. The life and death of a scoundrel 2009, which is suggested for further reading. This new biography of jefferson randolph smith ii, alias soapy, is written by a greatgrandson of the subject, jeff smith. Jeff smith is now counted among the ranks of those writers and historians who take the time to seek the truth and then display it in a most compelling fashion. Only two years later, the gold rush was over, and treasure seekers had moved on to nome. An extraordinary confidence man, gambler, and allaround bad man is set against the carefully researched historical times of the evolving. Fights, prostitutes and liquor were everpresent on skagways streets, and con man soapy smith, who had risen to considerable power, did little to stop it. During your stay, heyes, you certainly have free access to any of the books here, soapy said. The series consisted of fortyeight 60minute episodes and two 90minute episodes. Alias soapy smith is a fantastic read, and incredibly well researched, i purchased my copy directly from the author when first realeased, who also provided additional information about soapy smith.
Mgm purchased the rights to the book, the reign of soapy smith, by william ross collier and edwin victor westgate and transcribed into a cinema play by ann lee whitmore and tom sellers, with clark gable playing the lead l. Great grandson, jeff smith, tells the tale of jefferson r. Jan 08, 2015 i have saved searches for my book alias soapy smith, so that i can see whatever pops up online about it. And he quickly gained a reputation as a shootist, killing at least four men by 1891. I have saved searches for my book alias soapy smith, so that i can see whatever pops up online about it. Jeff smith is now counted among the ranks of those writers and historians who take the time to seek the truth, and then display it in a most compelling fashion. Soapy smiths showdown with the vigilantes historynet. Jun 05, 2010 thank you for writing about soapy smith. Home buy the book preservation trust blog discussion forum history part 1 history part 2 history part 3 history part 4 art of a gunfight soapys. Not wanting the same fate for alias soapy smith, to the greatest extent possible, i have documented all facts and most evaluative statements with primary sources. Alias soapy smith is certainly the last word on the life of one of historys most colorful characters and the times in which he lived. The author has clearly been working on this book for many years, and the end product will probably stand as the most. He is also the boss of will ryan and the soap gang.
The life and death of a scoundrel by jeff smith covid19 update. Aug 18, 2016 alias soapy smith, jeff smith klondike research, 2008 that fiend in hell. Soapys last victims story told to grandson the skagway news. A video introduction to the exciting new book about the life and times of the infamous soapy smith, the slickest of all the old west confidence. His story is a fascinating one, one that you, having only so much space, have only touched on. Home, buy the book what others say sources presentations links contact us about.
Colorado con man soapy smith died an alaskan legend. In plain terms, soapy was a conartist who found creative ways to secure an income while dodging the law in the western united states and alaska. I spent 25years researching soapy s life and death. In the 1994 video game the yukon trail, the player meets soapy smith and his shell game is featured. This is a list of episodes of the western comedy tv series alias smith and jones alias smith and jones originally aired in the united states on abc. T he most comprehensive biography of jefferson randolph soapy smith ever written. Soapy smith added flair to denvers gambling scene in 1880s. Alias soapy smith belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the old west, the klondikealaskan gold rush, early alaskan history, denver political history, or the study of consmanship and. Author and greatgrandson jeff smith spent 24 years researching and writing the history of the busy life and violent death of one of the wests most infamous, and some say often unfairly maligned, masters of the criminal arts and naturalborn leaders of men. Jefferson randolph soapy smith ii november 2, 1860 july 8, 1898 was an american con artist and gangster in the american frontier smith operated confidence schemes across the western united states, and had a large hand in organized criminal operations in both colorado and the district of alaska. Alaskas history is peppered with crooks, cons and other characters famous for running afoul of the law. John wilson vermillion 18421911, alias texas jack and later as shootyoureyeout vermillion, was a gunfighter of the old west known for his participation in the earp vendetta ride and his later association with soapy smith.
I might be a little biased thought, as i am a greatgrandson of soapy. This is an extension of my book, a lias soapy smith, the life and death of a scoundrel, with the purpose of publishing new research, correcting mistakes and spotlight items of interest regarding american bad man, jefferson randolph soapy smith. Alias soapy smith by jeff smith is a massive biography of a notorious outlaw of denver, colorado, and skagway, alaska. Soapy smith, king of the frontier con men, soapy smith. This is the blog of the soapy smith preservation trust. Recently, i was contacted by jeff smith, the descendant of a wellknown colorful western pioneer, who went by the name of soapy smith.
The life and death of a scoundrel december 16, 2018 art petersen this comprehensive biography of an extraordinary confidence man, gambler, and organizer of confidence men is set against the carefully researched historical times of the evolving old west. Cap light became a lawman in temple, tx in 1889 when he was 25. His brotherinlaw invited him to go to denver and be part of his organizationthe brotherinlaw being conman soapy smith. Mar 30, 2009 an author once told my father that a film about soapy smith would be a mix between butch cassidy and the sundance kid and the sting. The life and death of a scoundrel and his article in the april 20 issue of wild west, author jeff smith says his greatgrandfather jefferson randolph soapy smith was without doubt a badman, but one. In the case of soapy smith it took about a century, but indeed truth has come to light. Smith in, alias soapy smith the life and death of a scoundrel. The days of 98 show with soapy smith has been performed continuously since 1930.
Jefferson randolph soapy smith ii is the main antagonist of the 1980 jack london film klondike fever. Alias soapy smith belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the old west, the klondikealaskan gold rush, early alaskan history, denver political history, or the study of. I recently received a search from a site called used price info, which was nothing uncommon or special about it, except for the prices it advertised for the sale of my book online. The life and death of a scoundrel by jeff smith free pdf d0wnl0ad, audio books, books to read, good books to read, cheap books, good books, online books, books online, book. In other books, often facts were not sourced or documented and so were open to immediate suspicion of manipulation, embellishment, or outright fiction. The life and death of a scoundrel as well as a great grandson of the infamous bad man. Jefferson randolph soapy smith ii november 2, 1860 july 8, 1898 was a con artist, saloon and gambling house proprietor, gangster, and crime boss of the 19thcentury old west.
World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. I spent 25years researching the true adventures of soapy smith. He is a notorious con artist and gambler who is abusive to dogs and has a reputation for having a major criminal operation in colorado and alaska. Soapy smith in legend, catherine holder spude univ. Apr 14, 2010 recently, i was contacted by jeff smith, the descendant of a wellknown colorful western pioneer, who went by the name of soapy smith.
The life and death of a scoundrel by jeff smith books to read online. I enjoyed his book, the floor of heaven on the whole, but not as a nonfiction history which it claims to be, nor as the author of of my own book on soapy smith. A fictionalized version of soapy smith and his death is featured in george marksteins 1978 novel tara kane. I am naturally hoping it will help sales but more importantly several family members have come forward and thought that the video did more than just help sell my books. Vermillion was born in 1842 in russell county, virginia, the second of 12 children born to william and nancy vermillion nee owens. Recommend to those interested in a real the life of a real con man. I spent the better part of 25years researching soapy and my book corrects a lot of the mistakes and myths regarding his life and death. Jul 23, 2012 thank you for writing this piece on soapy smith. Soapy smith project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. An improbable series of events placed skagway, alaska, in the epicenter of the klondike gold rush of 1898. The life and death of a scoundrel alias soapy smith. Jeff smith, a greatgrandson of soapy smith, adapted this article from his biography alias soapy smith. Jefferson randolph soapy smith ii november 2, 1860 july 8, 1898 was an american con.
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