Hello, "History Guy." I am a great grandson of Soapy, as well as the author of Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and Death of a Scoundrel. While my family always appreciates people talking about Soapy, unfortunately, I noted right from the start that you used long outdated material. For instance, right at the start you talk about Soapy being a cowboy on a cattle drive. This was dis-proven decades ago. He was never a cowboy. The idea that he was one, comes from the poem, "Jeff & Joe," written in 1892. It's been since confirmed, via letters and from Soapy's own notebooks, that he got into sales in Texas, and moved into "cheap John" work, the equivalent of a jam-auction today.

HILARIOUS! I haven't thought about the name Soapy Smith in about 40 years... But I saw this video's title, and it reminded me that 'Soapy Smith' was the nickname that my Grandfather (who was in his 80s in the 1970s) used for ME when I was little. I always asked, "don't you mean SNUFFY SMITH"? And Grandpa would say "nope... Soapy was much worse" and then he'd always laugh. Thank for the great memory!

When history guy said, he needed to find a place where a conman wouldn't have to keep moving on, I thought he was going to say Washington DC

My depression era grandparents would laughingly call me “Soapy Smith” when I was telling a tall-tale...I finally know why 🤣🤣🤣🤣

There used to be a bar in downtown Denver named Soapy Smith's. I visited there frequently when I was a younger man but never knew the meaning behind the name. The title of your video here caught my eye. Thank you for bringing this story to me!

I miss this: "Hi, I'm the History Guy; I have a degree in history and I LOVE HISTORY! If you love history too, then this is the channel for you."

All history, good and bad, deserves to be remembered....totally agree Mr. History Guy! 🍻

When I was in Skagway I was told that the miners were required to have a specific weight in supplies to proceed to the gold fields. The beginning of that route was the photo you had of that long line of miners trudging up the hill. They could not possibly carry all those supplies up the hill all in one trip. Soapy stole what they left behind and then sold it back to them for their return trips. Yes, he’s a true legend in Skagway.

A great story teller this History Guy. Another long lost art in America. Keep up the good work and hopefully inspire others to continue in your footsteps. Its priceless. Just sit and listen!

With all of the riots we a currently having in the US trying to destroy statues and history, it is often forgot how important it is to remember even bad history. Thank you History Guy for teaching ALL history.

I'd say the History Guy has given Jeff Smith the kind of remembrance he deserved, a cautionary tale.

0:49 I love that word "Scoundrel"!!!! It's so old timey and such a damn good description that cannot be replaced by any other word to more accurately describe a certain individual or group of individuals

I watch this in the U.K. ON June 23rd 2020. How wonderful to hear, in a different context during your introduction, that history should be remembered if only that we might not repeat it.

In my eyes, history is never boring. It is our best teacher. Good video Mr History Guy!!

I'm a simple man. I see a very good story about a very bad man, I click. Thanks, Lance.

Thank you, I’ve lived in Alaska over 40 years and learned more about Soapy Smith watching you tell his story than I have in the last 40 years.

Wow, as a native Coloradan, this was a great story to hear. Having been born in Denver, been to Leadville and been to Skagway, a very informative story indeed. Thank you again!!!

On my Soapy Smith websites I have the following quote: "Upon the world he made his mark, and from him we learn how not to be one."

Personally I believe that all history should be remembered, no matter how bad it be. It's really important to remember the past and learn from it.

I love this feed.... I hope it survives though this period of time when everyone is trying to erase history ?. “ ALL HISTORY NEEDS TO BE REMEMBERED!!!” Can’t change the past .

I was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska. I remember in elementary school, back in the 80's, taking a class trip on the ferry up to Skagway. We visited the graves of both Smith and Reid. I can still remember the spring smells on that rare sunny day and will always have a little place in my heart for Skagway.

I study genealogy for the same reason you study history: it deserves to be remembered. In my family tree, I found a great-grandfather who was, by any account, not a good person. By studying him -- and what he did to my great-grandmother -- I could better understand the life decisions that my grandfather and my father made.

This is probably the best channel on KZfaq and one I don't watch nearly enough. Great story.

Thank you for spending the time and your research into Mr Soapy Smith Learning from history is valuable . I live in the UK. and as i grew up I was fascinated by gambling.. I played the first Casino computer games then got in to pubs and played slots. I was getting worse. so I went to las Vegas and spent time on the slots and won a few hundred bucks I thought to get a load of drinks and then go for a walk down the old Strip and their I could see and talk to all the professional Tramps that were living on the streets and had chat about their bad habits that ruined them , It was a horrible thing to see. So that is living history. So the moral to my story is, I gave up gambling because I could see what it can do. 35 years later and still no gambling. so if you don't have any history to learn from then more people would get into problems.

Sometimes - its just - when people ask you - "How do you know that?" You can say - because I know history. Really - how many can say that today? Not many. Thank you sir for all the posts you make - for you are doing all of us - even those who know history - a lot of good.

We were in Skagway in 2016 on the anniversary of Soapy's death. They remember him annually by toasting him at the town pubs and then, after an appropriate amount of fluid refreshment, everyone heads to his graveside and urinates on his grave. Unfortunately our cruise ship left before we were able to "honour his memory" with the locals. Would have been fun.

I like the way you addressed the small detail of Soapys beginnings after his grandson commented, the fact that you could be open to correction when additional information is provided is the sign of a good youtuber, great stuff.

If history were taught like this in school, students would be hooked!

I visited Soapy's grave in Skagway. A simple board marks his grave, while his killer has an elaborate tomb and a nearby creek named after him. There's an animated statue of him, standing at the bar, in a local museum, Jeff Smith's Parlor. Contrary to this report, he would appear to be buried in the cemetery, their graves are a short distance apart.

I'm glad you did a video like this. It is important to remember all history, not just the good people. I am disturbed by some recent trends to erase unpleasant figures from history, or make it taboo to discuss them.

Another "Ripping yarn" from my favorite history channel on KZfaq. Thanks once again! You have helped immensely to keep me informed, educated, entertained and SANE during the CV-19 lock-up! I cannot wait to see how history will recount 2020! A ripping yarn, by any estimation.

I' thankful for you, History Guy, and others who have come forward in recent years to teach what was probably too embarrassing for textbooks. You are correct, history is not just about heroes, but all people in all parts of life. Everyone has a story. I'm just thankful enough that I lived long enough to see the "insignificant" earn their place in history.

As a science teacher, I wish you were my history teacher.

I have told the story of Soapy Smith over a hundred times as a tour guide in Skagway. I enjoyed this episode greatly and even learned a few things.

Hey History Guy! I was introduced to this story when I took my family on a cruise to Alaska. We stopped in Skagway, and took the 3-hour tour. I also love history, and it was fascinating to hear about Soapy Smith and his life and death in Skagway. I've seen his grave and the grave of the man who killed him. If you ever have the chance to get to Alaska, I recommend it. Especially if you can go on a cruise! Thanks for this, and all your wonderful videos!

Oh boy. Soapy set the stage for many more criminal organizations to follow. Great research and story telling. Thanks!

Thank you, History Guy! My favorite episodes are your tales of outrageous and interesting characters.

I just wanted to say, thank you for sharing this bit of history. I grew up in Skagway, and Soapy Smith is still a huge part of it's local history. Love the channel, keep up the great work!

Hollywood STILL honors soapy Smith every year? Why aren't I surprised!!!

I listened to a two part podcast at 45mins a piece and you told the story so much better in far less time. Excellent work

History is worth remembering and learning from.. It's full of good things and bad things. It's not there for us to like or dislike. There's no reason why it should be erased.

My wife and I agree, ALL history should be remembered so as to learn from. Something we did NOT learn in 2016. Removing statues, renaming streets, etc., will not change history, only cover it up.

Damn cool story and a great bit of context for my home of Denver! We're still a city of crooks and gangs and very bad men but I somehow find comfort in the historical reliability of it all!

We need people like Sir, to keep our history intact. History Guy I salute you! Thank you for your well put together videos and pleasant narration.

Thank you, history guy, and thank you for pinning Jeff Smith's rebuttal to the top of the comments section. When we care about history, of course we care to know the truth, which, unfortunately is often elusive. Those who have nothing to hide also have nothing to fear. The best among us appreciate being corrected when we are wrong, and no one is perfect. So thank you, Jeff Smith, and thank you History Guy.

I was waiting for him to con someone out of a boat. Every good story has a pirate...

WARNING! The following is anecdotal: My Great Grandfather, John Fitzgerald, was Captain of Detectives in Tacoma, WA. during the 1890's and early 1900's. According to my grandmother, Catherine McGeough (nee Fitzgerald), who was a girl at the time, Soapy Smith made a stop in Tacoma while on his was to Skagway. At some point during his visit there he was confronted by Capt. Fitzgerald, who was known to one and all in Tacoma simply as "The Captain." The Captain advised Soapy that it would be in the best interest of his health if he were to vacate Tacoma no sooner than yesterday. Soapy, apparently being no one's fool, took The Captain's advice to heart and immediately left Tacoma for better climes (probably to Seattle where the steamships left for Alaska). In a nutshell, my great grandfather, according to my grandmother, ran Soapy Smith out of town. As stated, this is all anecdotal - stories my grandmother told me many, many years ago in the 1950's when I was just a dumb kid and didn't have sense enough to press for details. I wish I had! I had no idea, at the time, that Soapy Smith was, or would become, a historically significant character. I do recall that grandma McGeough did make mention of the "soap bar scam" and have always assumed that this was the reason for his confrontation with "The Captain." Who knows? Grandma also acknowledged the fact that Soapy had a "gang," but not while he was in Tacoma. As an aside; I have a solid gold, six point badge that was, according to the engraving on the backside, presented to "The Captain" by his fellow detectives on December 25th, 1901.

Thank you for not turning a blind eye to the truth. And telling it as it was and is!!!!

Very good example of why the study of history is so important to the future.

Glad to learn more about one of the outlaws that came to Alaska. My high school Alaska History class was not as in-depth as your video, but we learned most of the major information mentioned in the video about Soapy Smith.

I mean, how could we ever have history that deserves to be remembered if we couldn't talk about pirates, hardly the most virtuous of historical figures.

Actions speak louder than words !!! Philadelphia USA 🇺🇲

Soapy is definitely a legend in Alaska-I learned about him from my uncle from Ketchikan.

@THG, enjoy your videos! So glad I stumbled across your channel. The stories you tell are interesting and informative. Your 7 to 17 minutes of forgotten or unknown history enlightens my day and I can share the stories with my coworkers and roommates.

Thanks for filling out the life of "Soapy Smith". I'd read of the gunfight that ended Smith's life in SIXGUNS (Elmer Keith, 1961 edition), but knew nothing else of him. He may have been a scoundrel, but nonetheless he is a fascinating character whose story definitely is worth remembering. If nothing else he is a good "bad example"! As always, greatly appreciate your channel!

My group would perform at the historic building and venue called soapy Smith’s in Denver on market Street. We were told that it was a restaurant/ brothel back in the 1890s. For some reason I never question the name Soapy Smith. All of these years later we still perform in Leadville and Denver. I stumbled on the title of this video and knew I had to get educated on the man’s name sake. Thank you for a concise presentation.

Thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to Soapy Smith. Your content and delivery were first class and your look is excellent. Keep up the good work. From England.

In the old DOS game "The Yukon Trail" you can go to Skagway and get cheated out of your money. Soapy Smith was therefore indirectly responsible for some terrible moments of mine, losing all my virtual money in this game as a child. I shake my fist at you, Soapy!

In 1994, while on my honeymoon, I was in Skagway and was able to stand before both graves. I was always fascinated by the story. Thanks for the incredible backstory! (By the way, Skagway is SO constantly windy, there's not ONE woman in town with hair longer than yours. LOL)

This subject just made me Subscribe, ALL of history should be remembered, the good , bad and ugly, if we erase it, or rewrite it, we all lose. We will repeat mistakes that could have been avoided, ending in disaster.

As colorado native I love hearing history and traveling to the old mining towns

Great story...never heard of him till now. And yes, it figures that Hollywood would find it necessary to memorialize him. We are, after all, judged by the company we keep.

This is some interesting history and it does contribute to the old adage that crime doesn't pay. It only makes you think that it does.

History is never boring. All of life is history, all of history, life - it’s the absence of history that’s boring.

Seen recently on Facebook: History is not there for you to like or dislike it. It is there for you to learn from it. And if it offends you, even better, because then you are less likely to repeat it. It's not for you to erase; it belongs to all of us."

Soapy was an integral part of the Klondike story. Partially because of his gangs operations, the Mounties established the Yukon/Alaskan border where it is today.

I grew up in Atlantic City. We all know how honest that town was back in the day.

Thanks again, for helping us understand our past.

After learning about Soapy Smith on a trip that included a stop at Skagway, it occurred to me that the character of the ambitious land stealing bad guy in so many Hollywood westerns was probably inspired by Soapy Smith.

That story didn't even need a pirate! Thanks.

His 'crimes' seem to me to be no worse than the average politician.

I love your channel ❤ History Guy!!! I am a History Major who went to Engineering School so I would be employable. Ha ha . History is where it is at!

For me it's just fascinating to learn about ALL famous and infamous characters. We admire, even in some cases idolize the good, and despise the bad.

I would love to see an episode on the saying “One a day in Tampa Bay”. The Tampa, FL area was a large training center for pilots during World War 2 and there are very few people left who remember the phrase, and even less who know it’s origins. Thank you for the great content!

What's so illuminating is how easy Smith found it to find corrupt officials. Another great episode.

I've never heard this story. Its a fascinating tale. Thanks for sharing!

There once was a fellow named Jefferson Smith who went by the sobriquet "Soapy" An entrepreneur of the scam artist trade, who knew that all greenhorns were dopey If you're just off the boat, and he was around, twas a fact that it wouldn't be long That in under an hour you'd be out in the street, and all of your cash would be gone

UK version of "schill" is known as a "feed". The variation on the shell game is "find the lady". Three cards, one of which is supposedly the Queen of spades. Thanks THG.

"Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it". I always respect that quote.

Thank you for your Channel update God bless you

There are millions of Soapy Smith's in this World.

We had a saying in the navy about Skagway. " Skagway, where men are men, and sheep are nervous."

Once again, helping us remember why our history and why it is so important. We must remember the past, to direct our future.

History boss channel. Fantastic telling skills, too!

Dates and faces change but human nature remains the same.

Today I learned than "con" is derived from "confidence", thanks 😅

Thank you for making everything interesting and fun to listen to.

Hello "History Guy" .. Just wanted to thank you for all that you do in sharing your passion for History. In our own unique history of Covid pandemic and political rift raff it's reassuring to listen to a good "yarn" from you. I am part of a surgical team and a hospital staff dedicated to caring for others. We share a bond of respect and trust that comes from being on the front lines of crisis. You have a gift of gab that soothes the soul. It is much appreciated. Thank you.

What a character! But times have moved on - these days, he might even get himself elected President of some large, powerful nation.

Soapy is one of those individuals who spot opportunities a mile away and manage to get away with it. Even as a bad man, you have to admire the ingenuity...

History that is forgotten is doomed to be repeated.

My wife and I were fortunate to visit Skagway in 2019, we took a delightful tour which included a visit to the cemetery where Soapy’s grave is just outside the official property line.

Why does Hollywood seem like the natural place to commemorate a lifelong con-man?

I probably shouldn't have drank that Bajoran spiritual tea before watching that new opening

I lived in Denver and knew Leadville fairly well. This was enjoyable to learn history that they would never teach us in school.

History is so facinating . I love learning about obscure people or events . Thank you for all you hard work and your talent for telling a story, in the way ,a story should be told ✌️🙊🙉🙈👍

I was awe inspired by the parallels that we see in our corporations which of course run the corporatocracy which we all live under today. I was amazed at the point by point rendition of soapy's lifework and scams seeing used by our corporate overlords over our entire global society. Even down to the philanthropy giving to the poor who are made poor because of the generous givers. I admit I was a little bit surprised that you were unable to make the parallel connection which is so blatantly obvious.

“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. “ - George Santayana

Thanks for that lesson. I got to visit Soapy's grave once. I even read a book about him. However I just even learned more about him from you in this short clip.

Brings back memories. I came across Soapy Smith's story around 1970 in a long article in one of my Grandfather's "Old West" magazines.