Soapy Smith arrived at the tent city of Skagway very soon after its beginnings. He quickly set himself up in business with John Clancy, a proprietor of a local saloon and set out to take over the camp's underworld as boss, just as he had done in Denver and Creede. The narrow trail over the White Pass and into the interior was choked with stampeders, creating a bottle neck, that led into and out of Skagway. The setting was perfect for the business men, as well as the bunco men. The miners were in such a hurry to get onto the trail that the job of the con man was all too easy. Even when caught red handed, victims rarely stayed around to enforce a complaint. If they did decide to seek justice, it was quickly found that the deputy U.S. Marshal was not of much assistance, mainly due to the fact that the marshal was in league with the soap gang. If a victim still insisted on justice, he had to go over to neighboring Dyea, five miles away, to make an official complaint. Often times, the victim would find himself placed under arrest in order to keep him in town for the hearing. All to often the victim was willing to accept their losses in order to get back on the trail to the gold fields.

"Messages sent to the states - $5" Expect a reply...and a 'friendly' poker game One of the more humorous swindles, if one can find humor in it, was the Skagway telegraph office. We see humor in it because of the gullibility and ignorance of the stampeders in regards to what was available in Alaska. According to the legend, miners could send a message anywhere in the world for a mere $5. The humor is that There were no telegraph wires to or from Skagway in the years 1897-1898.

Imagine how difficult it was to reach Skagway, Alaska, in 1897. Ships were leaving the docks of Seattle, full with passengers, and the captains knew little of the route and it's dangers to begin with. There were ships that actually got lost! Passengers spent a week or more on a ship that was nothing more than overloaded junk heaps, trying to get to Skagway. Once there, passengers and their gear were tossed ashore as quickly as possible, so that the captain could quickly sail back to the states for more passengers. "Skaguay was like an ant hill that had been stirred up by a stick welding child," one old timer stated.

Imagine yourself there, dropped off with a crowd in a new, little explored territory that is perhaps, thousands of mile from home, and there it is, a telegraph office! Now you can send a message home, letting loved ones know you had arrived safely. After paying your $5 and while the clerk is sending the message, he begans to offer infomation on the region. He answers all your questions, and in between he gathers information about you and your situation. Who are you traveling with? Where are you headed and when? Do you have enough cash to make it through the winter? He seems to genuinely care and at the conclusion, you leave the office satisfied, with new information and hope.

"Have a seat...join the fun"

Soapy and the boys take in another victim

Later, while taking in the sites of the new camp, you run into the friendly clerk again and he informs you that you have received a reply to the message sent earlier. It is after hours and the office is closed but he gladly offers to take you to the office and retrieve the telegraph message, if you pay the additional $5 up front. After paying, the clerk takes you to his office. Inside there are a few men sitting at a card table playing poker. Greetings are made as the clerk is informed by one of the men that his wife needs him at their tent immediately. You are eagerly invited to sit in on the game and play a few hands while you wait for the clerk to return.  Before too long, you are out a large portion of your ready cash because you were certain you held a "sure-thing" hand. Even if the though occurs to you later that you had been swindled, there is no time to complain to the law and wait until justice is served. Every hour you waste not getting on the trail to the gold fields, means more claims being staked out and that means less gold for you. chalking up the loss to experience and hoping you will make up the loss with a new found gold strike, you hit the trail the next morning.  

It should not have been that hard to figure out that the telegraph office was a fraud. How in such a short time could the way have been cleared, telegraph poles erected, and lines strung for over a thousand miles of forest, mountains, and rivers? A telegraph cable to Juneau, just 100 miles away, was not laid until 1901. This does not mean we should condone the crimes, but it sure makes the victim look just a little foolish. Who would be willing to go home and admit that they fell for such a trick? Anwser: There is no record of anyone admitting they had been taken this way.

Skagway's Union Church

Soapy is said to have aided the buildings erection

Jeff Smith's Parlor

"Welcome to my Parlor," said the spder to the fly

Soapy operated several saloons while controlling Skagway, but the most famous was Jeff Smith's Parlor, opened in the spring of 1898. Skagway had a city hall but many called Jeff Smith's Parlor, "the real city hall." It was from this saloon that Jeff oversaw his operations.

Jeff Smith's Parlor advertisement card

Early residents of Skagway say that there were two gangs fighting for control of the city; the "real-estate grifters" and the "bunco men." As crime increased in the city, the target of vigilante's became the easy crooks to define, the bunco men. It was easy for the real-estate grifters to join in the fight with the vigilante's, but much more difficult for the bunco men, especially if their identities were known.

There were others that did not want Soapy in control. They secretly formed a vigilante organization aimed at ridding Skagway of Soapy and his gang. The vigilantes printed up a handbill and posted them around the camp and the trail.

Three of the most famous photographs of Soapy were taken inside Jeff Smith's Parlor believed between May 1 and July 4, 1898. Two were taken late at night.

Photograph shot at 11 pm with aid of a flashlight

Partners Soapy Smith & John Clancy

The photograph above was taken at 11 pm at night with the aid of extra light from a flashlight. In the photograph are bartender Nate Pollack, John Bowers in the back corner, John Clancy standing next to Soapy and two unidentified gentlemen.

Late night drinking at Jeff Smith's Parlor

Soapy Smith & the Soap Gang

Photograph "No. 2" was also taken late at night by the same photographer and may have been taken on the same evening. More of the gang are present. Note that the decorations on the walls are the same in both these photographs. Unfortunately they are not dated but believed to be closer to July 1898. 

Captain Smith proudly poses

Clancy tends bar as Bowers and Soapy look on

Definitely a day time photograph taken by a different photographer. Note that the decor on the walls is different from the first two pictures shown. Also note the emblem or pin of what appears to be a soldier on Soapy's lapel.

Warning! A word to the wise should be sufficient! All Confidence,                              Bunco and                                                    Sure-thing Men, And all other objectionable characters are notified to leave Skaguay and White pass Road Immediately. And to remain away. Failure to comply with this warning will be followed by prompt action. 101. Skaguay, Alaska, Mch 8, 1898.

Many bunco men would have heeded this warning, moving on to another location, but not Soapy Smith. The vigilantes did not realize who they were dealing with. He called an informal town meeting and proclaimed the creation of his own law & order committee. The following day the little city awoke to another handbill plastered about town.

ANSWER TO WARNING The body of men styling themselves 101 are hereby notified that any overt act committed by them will be promptly met by the Law abiding Citizens of Skaguay and each member and HIS PROPERTY will be held responsible for any unlawful act on their part and the law and order society consisting of 317 citizens will see that Justice is dealt out to its full extent as no Blackmailers or Vigilantes will be tolerated.                                                  The Committee.

Soapy's bluff worked. The vigilantes crawled back into hiding. There could be no doubt that Soapy Smith was the supreme ruler, the uncrowned king of Skagway.