24. The aftermath of Smith’s killing was a confused affair
Immediately after Smith was killed, all credit, if that is the word, went to Reid, who later died of his wounds. Although Murphy told several of the authorities that he had fired the fatal shot, his report was filed by the police and no further action taken. Reid was given a hero’s funeral. Murphy was forgotten. The vigilantes were kept in check by federal troops and the rest of Smith’s gang was quickly rounded up. Most of them were simply run out of town. All but six hundred dollars of Stewart’s gold was discovered among Soapy Smith’s belongings, and returned to the miner. The rest of the gold likely was used in a payoff.
Smith’s body was finally taken from where it lay near the wharf and was buried outside the city cemetery. His final criminal empire, like its predecessors, was relatively short-lived. How much money he actually made and subsequently squandered in three cities of the American west is anybody’s guess. He died just before the dawn of the 20th century and except for western history buffs his name is generally unknown. That he was a true character of American history is undeniable. He was a liar, thief, confidence man, hustler, pimp, and graft artist. He not only didn’t deny it, he was proud of it, considering himself for all of his faults, as better than a politician.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Soapy Smith: Bunko Man of the West”. Article, Legends of the West. September, 2019. Online
“Soapy Smith: Con Man’s Empire”. Article, HistoryNet.com Online
“The Legend of Soapy Smith”. Shaylon Cochran, KDLL. Alaska Public Media. Online
“Denver, A Boom Town History”. Gayle Baker. 2004
“Soapy Smith’s Lawman”. Mark Boardman, True West Magazine. December 30, 2018
“Lou ‘The Fixer’ Blonger”. Article, The Daily Grifter. Online
“Alias Soapy Smith”. Jeff Smith. 2009
“The Reign of Soapy Smith”. William Collier. 1935
“Soapy Smith and Denver’s City Hall War”. Joshua Horn, Discerning History. January 21, 2014. Online
“‘That Fiend in Hell’: Soapy Smith in Legend”. Catherine Holder Spude. 2012
“The History of Skagway, Alaska”. Article, Explore North. Online
“Soapy Smith’s Legacy”. Mark Boardman, True West Magazine. March 18, 2013
“Wired on Crime: Soapy Smith’s Telegraph Con”. Article, Another Century. Online
