Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-12-01
LAST STAND OF
DESPERATE
LOPEZ
UTAH BANDIT RUN TO EARTH IN
AN OLD mine, AND SHERIfF'S
POSSE BLOCK Up The EXITS
WITH SMUDGES IN AN ENDEAvOR
TO SMOKE HIM OUT.
OVER 200 DEPUTIES
GUARD ENTRANCES

+ Bingham. Utah, Dec. l.-While pois-
onous gases gradually thckened and
penetrated the farther reaches of the
| Utah-Apex mine today, Ralph Lopez.
slayer of six men, crowded to the bulk
head of the Andy tunnel this after.
noon and called for his friend, Julio
!Corrello.
! What do you want? Speak now for
in half an hour you will be dead"
commanded the deputy in charge Of
the posse at the entrance.
| Lopez refused to answer, except to
call again for Corrello, who was sent
for. When the latter arrived, how
ever, and shouted through the bulk
head, he received no answer. 1t is
supposed that Lopez, fearing some
scheme to trap him, retreated back
into the mine, or himself was resort
ing to some strategy, for the gases
being forced into the mine have not
yet gathered in sufficient quantity to
overcome him if he keeps close to the
ground.
A break for liberty was looked for
at any minute.
Bingham, Utah, Dec. 1.-Smudges
were lit early today in the Utah-Apex
mine where Ralph Lopez, desperate,
is making his last stand. With all ex-
its to the mine except that of the Andy
tunnel bratticed and sealed with mud
and with much poisonous gases float
ing back into the depths of the work.
lngs, it was expected that the fugitive
would make break for liberty today,
A large amount of dynamite is stor-
ed in the mine, and knowing Lopez
could easily blow out one of the bulk
heads the seven sheriffs early today
stationed a dozen deputies at each of
the fifteen tunnel mouths with orders
that they shoot. him on sight
The ten thousand inhabitants of
his canyon-walled mining town. deep
n drifts of snow, were waiting in
.ense excitement for the denoument
If the man hunt that already has cost
six lives.
A more dramatic setting for the
ending of the career of Lopez. who
shoots for the heart and makes every
bullet count, could hardly be found
anywhere in the west. The mine Is
ocated near the top of precipitous
vail of the canyon and from any of it's
fifteen tunnel mouths, one could throw
stone that would descend for nearly
thousand feet before it struck the
bottom. Here and there miners
,abin clings to the cliff and from one
# these a widow sat watching today
or the avenging Of her husbands
leath.
Just before noon the mouth of the
Andy tunnel was stopped with bulk
read and the fumes of sulphur
;mudge directed into the mine through
n the other mine mouths yesterday,
nd at noon smudges of various COM
POSITIONS were sending their poisonous
umes back into every tunnel II
.opez did not attempt to break out
t was planned to continue the smudg-
ng for two days. The exits of the
line are at different levels, and al
nOuSn there is no TeCOTu, IL is eSlI-
1ated the tunnels, inclines and blind
topes crss-cross for total distance
f thirty miles. The seven sheriffs in
barge have over 200 deputy sheriffs
nder them. Practically all of these
ave been in pursuit of Lopez since
.ovember 81.
Lopez took refuge in the mine Fri.
ay night with a limited supply OF
ood. He was formerly one of the
sssees of the mine, which produces
old. silver and copper. and is famil-
n with every passageway. Mike
who shot and seriously
his wife several days ago,
lay also have hidden in the mine,
was thought. The deputies were in.
Iructed to allow him to surrender.
imself peacefully, if he came out
lone. Lopez was to be shot on sight