Artwork depicting the "Gunfight on Juneau Wharf"
was being produced as early as 1901 to accompany stories written about the death of Soapy Smith. The early artists and up
into the 1990s could only rely on contemporary accounts of what actually took place the night of July 8, 1898. It was not
until 2006 that the first known artwork was produced that depicted accurately the shooting of Soapy by vigilante guard Jesse
Murphy. Below are some of the known examples.
A fantasy silent film by Jeff Smith
1898
The earliest known rendition of the Gunfight on Juneau Wharf comes from the San Francisco Call,
July 24, 1898, just 16 days after Soapy Smith's death.
1901
This drawing by H. M. Eaton, was published in Frank Leslie's Popular
Monthly magazine, January, 1901 to accompnay a story entitled, The Reign of Soapy Smith.
1932
This
1932 drawing was done by artist, James Lynch an artist for the Rocky Mountain News.
1951
Photo by Andrew Cremata, The Skagway News
Restoration of a gold rush era building
in October 2007 uncovered a mural that had been painted on a wall in 1951. After paneling was removed from the walls
of Moe’s Frontier Bar, a mural by Bea O’Daniel (now Lingle) completed in May 1951 was revealed. The entire painted
mural stretches around the perimeter of the main bar room and includes a detailed panoramic scene of Skagway from 1898
- 1900 with separate pieces showing gold seekers ascending the Chilkoot Trail’s Golden Staircase and a Canadian
Mountie on horseback atop a mountain. The above portion shows the Soapy Smith/Frank Reid gunfight.
The
scene in the painting is a little confusing. First mistake made by the artist is the name of the dock being Sylvester's
Wharf. It should read Juneau Company Wharf if anything at all. There is a man laying face down on the wharf planking dressed
in black. It is assumed that this is Soapy, but he is closer to the end edge of the wharf rather than on the
other side of the crowd closer to where he entered from. There is a question as to which one is Frank Reid. A brown bearded
appears to be falling backward and possibly dropping a pistol. This man may represent Frank Reid, but Soapy and this
man should be in the opposite places. There are twenty other men in the painting and just who they are is confusing. Some
are probably members of the Soap Gang and two appear to be running towards their fallen leader. Others are running apparently
towards the oncoming gang members in order to stop them. The rest of the painted figures are mostly facing forward which
makes it impossible to tell who is on which side. Standing directly in the middle dress in black and a huge black handle-bar
mustache appears to be a center piece of the painting. He also appears to have one arm being held by a man behind him and
to his right. Soapy's rifle is not to be seen. Perhaps the man just over him running towards the gang with a rifle in
his hand might be Jesse Murphy who had picked up Soapy's rifle and shot Soapy with it. It is not known if the artist painted
Murphy as the killer.
The mural was covered up in the
late 1960s or early 1970s. There are currently no plans to salvage it.
1958
Soapy confronts Frank Reid
This painting by Stan Galli was illustrated
in the August 1958 issue of True magazine for an article entitled Showdown for a Conman. It is the most
colorful and dramatic example of the seconds preceding the gunfight. Gang members peek over freight and crates
from a distance. Realistically the painting is too dark for July 8, 9:15 pm., Skagway, Alaska.
1964
Drawing from the Winnipeg
Free Press, May 9, 1964, "Life & Death of Skagway's Soapy Smith." A very good likeness of
Soapy, minus the boots. Soapy wore business attire shoes. Water front stores were non-existent. The artist should
have made less open space between Soapy and Reid.
1970
Drawing by Rudy J. Ripley for
the Mike Miller's Soapy, 1970. Nice drawing but Soapy and Frank Reid are way to far apart. In reality Reid
's left hand was holding Soapy's rifle barrel when he was shot.
1978
Oneof the least authentic renditions comes from the 1978 Reader's Digest condensed book, Tara Kane.
The illustrator, Guy Deel, made numerous mistakes, such as Frank Reid having the rifle rather than Soapy and the distance
between the two combatants being much too far apart, let alone the fight location being the middle of a street rather than
the wharf.
1980
courtesy of Look & Learn Magazine
A nice rendition
by artist Graham Coton for an article on Soapy Smith in the February 23, 1980 edition of England’s Look and Learn magazine. Another version that appears to be taking place on a street rather than a wharf.
1987
Perhaps one of the more accurate versions of the Smith/Reid gunfight
comes from Stan Cohen in his book, The Streets Were Paved With Gold, 1987.
2007
Soapy seconds before the gunfight
A Skagway artists rendition of Soapy
Smith on Juneau Company Wharf moments before he confronted Frank Reid. There are way too many people in the back ground.
Soapy appears to be wearing a string-tie that went out in the 1860s and it looks like he is wearing cowboy boots as opposed
to civivlian dress shoes that he was known to wear. The Winchester should be draped over his right shoulder.
This
particular copy proudly hangs in the Magic Castle where the annual Soapy Smith Wake takes place.
2008
Courtesy of John Culligan
This art
piece comes from John "Grub" Culligan, our Historical Weapons Analyst. Made in 2008 it is one of the very first
depictions and the only currently published piece that shows Jesse Murphy shooting and killing Soapy Smith rather
than Frank Reid being the only shooter.
This video reenactment
of Soapy Smith's demise comes from Cyrano's Theater Company in Anchorage, Alaska for their play, The Ballad of Soapy Smith, the Michael Weller play. The original cast performed their parts as promised, even
though it took place during a snow storm. It was filmed on February 28, 2009 for Gold Rush Day during the cities annual Fur
Rondy event.
