|
|
 |
|
|
THE ANNUAL
SOAPY SMITH WAKE
Time of Death
July 8, 1898 Friday evening
roughly
9:15 pm
TTIME REMAINING UNTIL THE WAKET   Why we call it a ... WAKE
2Wake
n 1: a watch held over the body of a dead person prior
to burial and sometimes accompanied by festivity.
When the widow of Jefferson R. Smith III (the
wife of Soapy's son) passed away in 1971 she started a family tradition. In her will she requested the family members,
those who wished to attend, come to her home and remember her fondly. An addition to the will requested that the adults bring
alcoholic beverages and drink them in an informal "Irish Wake." This caused a stir with some of the more conservative
members of the family but all respected her last wishes. Although to young to drink Jeff said he remembers everyone having
a nice time; some more than others. Jeff's father, John Randolph Smith, asked that the same be done for him and it was.
When some of the family members went up to Skagway, Alaska the very first time we created the first Soapy Smith "wake."
It has been called a "wake" since 1974. The Magic Castle started up their annual event in 2004 but they prefer the
word "party," over the word "wake." On this website and with the Smith family it will always be known
by its original namesake, the Soapy Smith Wake.
The
Toast Many of Soapy's friends, business associates and members of the Soap Gang were very loyal,
even decades after Soapy had been killed. The toast "Here's to Soapy's Ghost" came from one of
these old-time members of the gang who came to visit the widow and family home in St. Louis, Missouri in the 1920s.
As a young boy, John Randolph Smith recalled the visit well. He remembers the bunco man talking and drinking with Soapy's
widow into the night. During a drunken lull of silence in conversation, the old man seemed to be gazing out into
space, his mind a million miles away. Upon regaining his composure he raised his glass and quietly said, "Here's to Soapy's Ghost." The Smith family has
been using that phrase since.
There are
currently three Wakes held within the United States,
1.) Eagles Hall, Skagway, Alaska.
2.) Magic Castle, Hollywood, California.
3.)
The Tivoli Club (a reproduction of Soapy's saloon in Denver, Colorado), Whitehorse Ranch movie lot, Landers, California.
If you are unable to physically join us at one of the wakes, please, no matter where
you are on July 8th, at 9:15 p.m., raise your glass and give the toast quoted below. It is the toast used by the Smith family,
started 32 years ago! Relatives and Friends of "Soapy", raise your glass.*
 View Video from this year's Wake
| Jeff and Ashley Smith |
|
| "We hope you will join us at the next Wake" |
|
| "It's a sure-thing!" |
|
| Ashley Smith operates the chuck-a-luck table, 2007 |
|
|
|
| "UNKNOWN KINDNESS" |
|
| An unidentified person decorated Soapy's grave |
Skagway, Alaska is where the Soapy Smith wake originally started. It was 1974 when members of
the Smith family, along with the cast of the Days Of '98 Show (The Soapy Smith Play) started the tradition. The
newspaper in Skagway at the time reported on the event. Champaign was un-corked and consumed. Before long
there was a general need for the revelers to relieve themselves of the bubbly thus began a horrid tradition that accompanied
the Wakes. There were no restrooms, so some "wakers" decided to go pay their respects
to Frank Reid, the man credited with the killing of Soapy. The reporter defined it as the "sprinkling of Frank."
The family and some residents of Skagway thought it was funny back then. The Smith
family continued to send up money to purchase Champaign
for the wake until it was finally banned from being
held at the cemetery.
At one time the
Smith family condoned, and yes, even participated in, "the sprinkling of Frank." The family no longer sanctions
or approves of the activity. One might ask why the Smith family would treat Reid's grave as we did. Let me try to explain.
In 1974, the Smiths had known for many years that who really killed Soapy had been covered up in various ways. Research shows
that Soapy did not die in a fair fight but rather, by definition, was murdered. Over the years we learned the history of the
real Reid. Frank had a not so clean past of his own. We knew that he was not the knight in shining armor that so many historians
have painted him to be. Soapy's family was tired of hearing the same old "good" versus "evil" stories
when it came to Skagway history. The truth is that very few in Skagway of 1897-1898 could be defined as innocent. Most of
the businessmen who were so "against" Soapy after he was killed were so happy that he and his men had been keeping
the money in town, and in their pockets, when Soapy was alive. "Good friends," however, quickly turned into self-professed
"bitter enemies." None of Soapy's friends in Skagway dared stick up for him, and no one can really
blame them. To have stuck up for Soapy after he was killed would mean the loss of everything one owned and a ticket straight
out of town. It was only after they had left the city would some of the residents and friends discuss their true feelings
about what had occurred. In 1974, after decades of turmoil over the covered-up murder of their grandfather, the grandchildren's
exasperated resentment came pouring out ... literally. Our revengeful grudge should not have been pointed specifically at
Reid, but he had been put up on such a high pedestal that he was an easy target to aim at. There are several other
targets more deserving. Their names will be discussed in detail in Jeff Smith's upcoming biography on Soapy. Our revenge
will be the truth.
| The very first Soapy Wake, 1974 |
|
| The Smith family and the Days of '98 cast at Soapy's grave |
|
|
|
|
I am one of the two remaining family members who were present at the first annual Soapy Wake in 1974. Though but
sixteen, I remember that the Smith family knew of no surviving relatives of Frank Reid. Over the next thirty
years, I was introduced to several members of his family and have come to realize how upset the Reid’s must be with
my family and me for the tradition that began over a generation ago. I know how upset I would be were
I to find that people were doing to Soapy’s grave what we had begun doing to Frank Reid’s in 1974. So it is, without
expectation of being forgiven, that I apologize to the descendants of Frank Reid and express most
humbly my deep regret that the horrid tradition of “sprinkling” his memorial was ever started.
Jeff Smith, President
The Soapy Smith Preservation
Trust
Grave
of Frank H. Reid
(Not the urinal)
|
| The place to be |
|
| The famed & plush Magic Castle |
The 5th annual 110th anniversary Soapy Smith Wake at the
Magic Castle was an absolute success! Thanks to Whit Haydn and the Magic Castle. Was there any doubt?
The
Wake was held downstairs of the Magic Castle in the W.C. Fields bar, and it was packed solid with several hundred guests.
Dress ranged from three-piece suits to 19th century costumes. The $5.00 entrance included $100 in Soapy play money for
gambling at the gaming tables which included roulette, craps, 21, chuck-a-luck and faro. The casino was operated by Phil Gessert
of Pharobank.com. The money collected was donated to the Magic Castle's, Dia Vernon Charity Fund. Guests were also
invited to purchase numerous auction items, including a small wood chip off the original grave marker, beautifully displayed
in a shadow box. The chip sold for $60. There were a number of Soapy related souvenirs for sale, including bars of Soapy
soap, posters, t-shirts, tote bags, and playing cards. The guest who won the most "money" at the end
of the night was awarded one of the Soapy grave marker chips in a shadow box. An $60 value, according to this years auction.
| SOAPY MONEY (110th Annv.) |
|
| Play money and one of the Soapy buttons |
|
|
| Soapy Smith descendants |
|
| Elizabeth Moriarity & Jeanette Smith |
Jeff
Smith once again brought the original grave marker and Pete Menyhart brought a replica of the very first grave marker. Jeff
spoke to the crowd on new found information regarding the gunfight on Juneau Company Wharf. He mingled the rest of the night
with interested guests. Every year there was a notable increase in the size of the crowd, and the knowledge of Soapy.
Two time US champion pool trick
shooter, Chef Anton, wowed the crowd with his humorous and skillful trade. "Professor" Dave Bourne, from
HBO's Deadwood, played his 19th century piano accompanied by a small band playing 19th century music on period
instruments.
| Shay Maxwell creation |
|
| Souvenir Soapy faro deck |
|
|
| Beauty and the chip |
|
| One of two shadow boxes containing a sliver from the grave marker |
Many guests came in old west clothing and the costume contest had some very interesting entries. Once again, Jeff
was one of the judges, and said this year was even harder than last to decided who the winners were. Larry Bitterman, of Old
Frontier clothing Company donated one of his finest shirts as a prize.
Jeff Smith donated several slivers that had fallen from the Soapy grave marker, to
the event. Whit Haydn placed them in two beautifully decorated shadow boxes, complete with signatures of authentication. One
of the boxes went to the raffle and the other was placed in the auction and realized a final bid of $60. Not bad for a sliver
of wood smaller than half a tooth-pick.
At 9:00 p.m. Jeff
took the stage and spoke on the newest findings regarding the Gunfight on Juneau Wharf and gave a walk-through step-by-step
account of the gunfight using four volunteers. At 9:15 pm, the approximate time of Soapy's death, family members,
Jeff Smith, Elizabeth Moriarity and Jeanette Smith joined together on stage and gave the toast we all had gathered
for. What a night it was.
| The gambling hall was very popular |
|
| Jeanette Smith gambles away at the roulette table |
| Dave Bourne band |
|
| Beautiful victorian music filled the air |
|
|
| Jeff Smith owns this original marker (2nd) |
|
| Marker on display at Wake |
"Next years bash will be even bigger. We plan to turn the whole Magic Castle
into a den of thieves competing against each other to take the prize. People will be able to register as dealers or players.
Dealers can run their own faro tables, Monte games, chuck-a-luck, dice, shell game, fast and loose, coin pitch, etc., and
play for each others and for the players' Soapy money. The player and the dealer with the most Soapy dollars at the end
of the evening win the two biggest prizes of the night."
|
| Soapy's ghost still enjoys a good game of faro |
The
Smith family wishes to extend their gratitude to Whit Haydn, Jim Richards, Jeff Brady and all the people who have organized
and supported the wake events in memory of Jefferson R. Smith.
Thank you!
No images
or text may be used without prior written consent.
|
|
|
|
