Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-07-06
The Death of Mr.. j. Lopez.

The Death Of Mr.. j. Lopez.
| have see many of the muta-
tons attending three-score years;
have felt the pulse of Joy and
known the drone of sorrow again
and again. The nearest and dear
est have been taken from the home
circle by sudden death or through
the slow and certain approaches of
disease. Link by link has the
chain of life's friendship been
shortened until to-day l may count
upon the fingers Of one hand the
names of those now living who in
my youth formed the world about
me. The heart is mercifully cal
loused by the burden of years to
the lash of woes and misfortune
whose blows ever thicken rs the
end draws nearer and nearer The
frost which kills in the sap of
spring is inocuous to the dead of
winter. Death is terrible to youth;
to age tits but an incident, certain,
though saddening eve when the
victim hath garnered his fulness OF
days. Yet, the aged are rarely
heart broken, but stolidly endure
the ills that earlier in life would
have distraught reason and been
beyond the bearing.
! Last Sunday we had just sat
down to dinner when there came a
knock at the door, and n of the
members of the family answered
the call. In minute or two he
returned with the announcement,
"Jake Lopez is drowned!"
"Drowned? that cannot bel" was
the exclamation that desire forced
to our lips against the sickening
truth. The dinner was left untast-
ed, and soon the whole town was
alarmed and in motion. Vehicles
were secured and the way to the
Shut-In-where the fatal accident
had occurred-was lined with hur-
rying neighbors and friends. Up
on their arrival at the place, sew
eral parties went into the water in
search for the body Of the drown
ed man. The stream-Stout's
creek-hows through the gorge,
and is rough with rocks hidden
and above the surface. The 9
cent rains had greatly increased
the body of water and it's current
was swift and boisterous, with
deep pools here and there. After
a search of one hour and a half the
body was finally discovered in a
pool probably a hundred and fifty
yards below the place where it had
disappeared. The remains were
taken to the residence of MI. Price
Ringo in Arcadia, and that eve
ming a coroner's inquest was held
over it. According to the evidence
somewhat conflicting-a verdict
was rendered that deceased came
to his death through drowning.
The facts attending the fatality
are: Last Sunday morning, Mr..
lhopez, attended by MI. Oscar
II yg and wife, and Mrs. Berg's
sister, Mrs. Dennig-all of ST.
Louis-went down to the Shut-In
to battle. Mr.. L. was the first to
enter the muddy water, and, div
ing, struck his head upon a rock
with such force as to render him
unconscious, and he sank to rise
no more. His Mortified compan-
ions could do nothing to help him,
and Mr.. Berg Immediately drove
to town with his startling news.
Such the brief detail of the un-
timely taking off OF one esteemed
and beloved by all who knew him.
Born and reared in this town, he,
in his thirty-four years, had made
an enemy of no one worthy the
name of friend. To me he was
almost as a member of my own
family, and, despite the familiar
ity which an existence beyond the
average duration has bred to the
uncertainty of life, | San not yet
fully realize that I shall never
again take him by the hand; never
more hear his CHEEKY voice, nor
meet his pleasant gibe with friend
ly answer. l can safely cry, May
his eternal award be commensur-
ate with his virtues on earth!
Mr.. j. Lopez was n of a family
of eight: father, mother, three
daughters, and three sons. Of
these but one now remains. l
knew them all, and Am led to
pause In Reconsideration of the
e~vanescence of human existence.
Truly, imam is as a shadow and
continueth not"
The remains were taken to st.
Louis by his brother, Mr.. A. Lopez,
who had been notified by wire and
came down on No. 1 Sunday eve
ing. They were attended to the
station here Monday morning by a
delegation from the local lodge of
X. Ps., of which the deceased was
a charter member. The body was
inferred in Bellefontaine Cemetery
Wednesday morning, the funeral
occurring from the residence, BIAS
| W~actuoinctar plaoa at 10 o,o1ook