Ep 12. Eye in the Sky, Soapy Smith

The episode Eye in the Sky, Soapy Smith of Mysteries at the Museum season 6 unravels two fascinating stories that have baffled historians for centuries. The episode is engagingly narrated to uncover obscure details that make sense of the mysteries surrounding two unrelated artifacts kept at separate museums.

The first story is about the Eye in the Sky that once overlooked America's western frontier and ensured an uninterrupted telegraphic communication with the east coast. The episode takes you back in time when telegraphy was in its infancy, and the country was expanding westward. The telegraph played a critical role in connecting the new settlements with the rest of the country, but the rugged and hostile western terrain took its toll on the telegraph lines that kept breaking frequently. The episode narrates how the Army pushed to overcome this challenge by introducing an innovation that changed the telegraphy game.

The Eye in the Sky was a primitive but operational system that was installed in the western states to create a 'visual' telegraphy link. This system utilized a system of mirrors and lights that could reflect messages over miles, ensuring uninterrupted transmission of intelligence from the frontier to the coast. The Eye in the Sky was successful in its objective and became a crucial part of the American telegraph infrastructure.

The episode goes on to unravel the technical aspects, the implementation, and the impact that this innovation had on America's westward expansion. It highlights the challenges that came with such a novel communication system, with interesting anecdotes of how the communication system was sometimes used for trivial personal messaging as well.

The second story in this episode is about Jefferson Randolph 'Soapy' Smith, a notorious con-artist who ruled the dark underbelly of America's frontier towns in the late 19th century. The episode explores his life, his ways of working, his mastery in the art of deception, and his ultimate downfall.

His rise to fame as a gentleman's club owner was just a cover for his real business- scamming people out of their hard-earned money. It explores the different ways he duped his clients, from rigged games of chance to fake clairvoyance shows. His unique approach to scams made him a wealthy man and earned him a legendary status among the criminals of his time.

The episode tells his extraordinary and sometimes dangerous life, the enigmatic maze of his criminal empire, and the series of events that led to his downfall. It reveals how his ruthlessness and his crippling addiction eventually brought his criminal empire to its knees.

The episode is intriguingly narrated with expert commentary that walks you through the details of each mystery. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, technology, and crime. The stories are brilliantly researched and documented through rare footages and historical artifacts, making it an unforgettable experience. The episode stands out as a perfect blend of mystery, adventure, history, and creativity, bound to leave the viewers with a glimpse of America's magnificent past.