The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-30
A DEN OF THIEVES.
The Blue Mountains of Utah n Refuge o.
MI

Criminals.
The Blue Mountains in Utah have for
years been the resort of all kinds and con-
ditions of criminals. The La Sail Mountains,
connected with the Blue range by spurs
and ridges, form a part of tile almost i'm
penetrable region which has served to keep
many a rascal from the law and to defeat
the ends Of justice.
The criminals who infest these Businesses
are all of Western practice and profession.
None OF the Eastern fugiiives have as yet
learned OF such place, and it is doubtful if
any of them could stay there long if they
should find their way into it. 1t seems to be
the special preserve of band Of Western
thieves and desperadoeS who often work To-
gether and know each other and each others
meth DDS we'll Their field of operations in
cludes several States and Territories, whether
in the line of train, mail, express or stage
TobbinR, h0rse-sttaling, or any other enter
prise in their particular line, they are equally
at home in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New
Mexico, Texas, Wyoming. or anywhere in
the Indian Territory. Nearly all of them
are murderers, or, to use their own express
sion, men who have got the first shot 1t
would take strong and Well-armpd force to
drive such body of desperate criminals out
of hiding into the numerous jailS which are
yawning to receive them. 1t might result in
a wholesale slaughter of the innocent as
well as the guilty, but it is the unanimous
opinion of officers Of the law and members
of vigilance committees, that sooner or later
IL will have to be done.
The occupation of the country by such a
class has resulted in a great and wantou
slaughter of the game. Last year more than
5000 deer were killed only Tor their skins,
the most OF every carcass being left 10 rot on
the ground. The country, as far as it was
penetrated by an official party, was found
filled with the Skeletons of the dead animals.
The peltS were sold at the nearest trading
post. and must have resulted in great profit
to the butchers.
The rustlers of Southwestern Colorado are
large patrons of the Blue Mountains. They
are continually committing depredatiOnS
and as often getting out of the way of the
officers. If they can reach the mountains
they are, or always have Teen, safe, for
Parker is the first man who has ever been
brought out of the mountains after having
reached them; Remaining in seclusion for "a
time. the rustler energies 10 renew mis- plum
derlng operations. He has been such
nuisance and affection TO honest people that
if il is once proposed to raise Il force of men
sufficient to break up his lair there will be
no lack OF recruits. When the attack is
made it can have but one result, although
the criminals will make a desperate resist
ance aud die with their boJts on, and will no
doubt make some corpseS with the same
pedal adornment in the attacking party.
The people are ready to take the chances,
though. 1t will not be long until the Blue
Mountain refuge is broken up. The first
posse after a criminal who has gone there
will be the largest that ever went into the
country, and it will 20 in to stay uutil it has
done its work.-St. Louis Republic.