Alaska Facts and History

Did you know that the Alaska Gold Rush of 1897 to 1898 brought 100,000 gold seekers to Alaska?

Welcome to Skagway in 1897–1898.

And by the way, Clancy’s Saloon pictured above, was one of the fronts for con man Soapy Smith and his gang of thugs and thieves. If you had money going into Clancy’s, you might not have it when you left.

While the Klondike gold fields were in Canada, along the Yukon River, the cheapest entrance was through Skagway, Alaska, or Dyea which was located across the Lynn Canal.

It’s estimated that 100,000 prospectors, known as “stampeders” crowded into Skagway and Dyea on their way to the Klondike.

Gold stampeders wait to get on a steam ship like the Excelcior pictured above in San Francisco. July 28, 1897

Most left for Alaska by steam ship from Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. Ships traveled up Alaska’s inside passage and into the Lynn Canal, the deepest Fjord in North America and one of the longest in the world. Skagway and the town of Dyea were located off the Lynn Canal.

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Pictured above is the famous Chilkoot Pass in 1898.

The Chilkoot Pass led stampeders from Dyea into Canada on their way to the Klondike River. The Canadian Mounties required every prospector to bring a full years worth of supplies with them. So, every person had to make many trips up and down this very long pass to get all their goods to the top. As you might imagine, while stampeders were busy making multiple trips up and down the Chilkoot, theft of supplies was rampant.

The Chilkoot had steps cut into the pass that the stampeders used to get up the steep grade. It was called the “Chilkoot Steps” and it was a hard climb. Imagine doing that over and over until you had all your supplies on the top. Only to have them stolen.

Pictured above is the Dyea waterfront in March 1898

Before the gold rush, Dyea was a seasonal fishing camp and a port for trading ships with goods headed for the interior of Alaska. The name Dyea means “to pack”.

Gold seekers came to Dyea to use the Chilkoot Pass to get to the Klondike gold fields. When the stampeders arrived, Dyea consisted of the Healy & Wilson Trading Post, a few saloons and a rugged tent city. There was also a U.S. military contingent, but they were instructed not to interfere in civilian matters.

Dyea is now, mostly a ghost town.

BONUS

Take a look at this video about the history of Dyea and discover

Pictured above is Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith and part of his gang in Jeff Smith’s Parlor in Skagway on July 8, 1898.

Soapy Smith got the name “Soapy” after a con game. He would sell bars of soap for a dollar with the chance to find 10 dollars, 20 dollars or more, tucked inside the wrapper.

However, Soapy had men planted in the crowd who would “find” the soap bars with money, causing the gathered crowd to get so excited that they would buy up all the soap, hoping to find money in the wrappers.

Of course Soapy’s men were the only ones to “find” the money (which they later had to give back to Soapy). The take was always enough for Soapy to play a few games of faro.

Soapy Smith

A brilliant con man, Jeff Smith brought his gang from Colorado to Skagway to take advantage of the men arriving in Skagway with money to buy goods to get them to the gold fields. And to rob miners returning to Skagway of any gold they found in the Klondike.

Soapy even had men working the steam ships headed to Skagway and Dyea. His men found out who had money, so that when the ship arrived and the passengers got ashore, they could be mugged or conned out of their money.

The Skagway Telegraph Office

There was no telegraph service in Skagway. But Soapy came up with a brilliant con.

The Skagway Telegraph office had a telegraph cable that went as far as the inlet. Inside the office, Soapy’s men would take your message and “send” it. In the backroom, Soapy’s men wrote the “replies”.

People were sending telegrams about how much money they had or how much gold they found. Then Soapy’s men, who were working the Skagway Telegraph Office con, would report to the gang, who would then find various ways to steal the person’s money or gold.

One Man Law

Thieves, thugs, and con men could operate pretty easily because Marshall Rowan was the only lawman in Skagway.

Soapy had tried and failed to get Rowan in his pocket. Later, Rowan was shot and killed by a shotgun blast in a Skagway saloon. It is believed that the shooting was set up by Soapy.

BONUS

Gold Fever, Skagway and Soapy Smith

Author Michael R Dougherty has written an ebook about the gold rush.

From the e-book:

That Darn Newspaper Headline

The large words printed on the page screamed at you so loud you couldn't ignore them. You were unable to look away. They grabbed your mind like a mythical Greek Siren's wail and pulled you in. There it was in the 1897 edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper.

“GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! Sixty-Eight Rich Men on the Steamer Portland. STACKS OF YELLOW METAL!”

Take a look at Gold Fever, Skagway and Soapy Smith and enjoy the adventure

What You Have to Say

From a previous story about Anchorage’s Tent City

“Good roundup. Thanks. But, sorry, by 1916, Anchorage had been established for a year, and there was nothing left of the tent city.”

Mark

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Did you strike gold?

Just reading about the Alaska Gold Rush was like striking gold… But now you have to make sure that Soapy Smith and his men don’t take it away from you.

As always, Mary and Mike value your comments and suggestions. We even get excited when you take the time to say things like, “I panned for gold at the state fair”.

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Until Next Time

Mike and Mary

Anchorage Memories.com