White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-06
Simpson Dies
at Salt Lake
WELL KNOWN FIGURE IN EARLY
DAYS OF DISTRICT ANSEWRS
FINAL SUMMONS AFTER PRO-
IONGED ILLNESS.

among his intimate associations dur
ing the early mining days of Ely as
big Sim, died last "Wednesday
morning at his home In Salt Lake,
after having been in i'll health for
nearly year.
!, The deceased who was familiar
character on the streets of Ely for
more than twenty years earned un-
dying fame during the silver era in
Nevada as hunter OF outlaws and
even a state line didn't stop him
when he had the drop on a man that
ne wanted
Mr.. Simpson pursued Spanish Abe,
one of the most notorious crooks that
ever infested the state, when he was
"a years old, and party of horse
thieves from Eureka, Nevada into
Utah He caught up with the bandit
across the Utah line, the chase ex-
tending over 700 miles. The undesi-
rabies protested against being taken
into custody. claiming that they had
passed out of the Jurisdiction OF the
peace officer.
II don't know whether we have
crossed the Utah line or not" was Mr..
Simpsons reply. II am a deputy
sheriff and know nothing about sur
veying. As these remarks were be-
ing uttered, he had the bandits cover
ed with a rife and placed them under
arrest. Ii developed later that the
men had been taken into custody in
the vicinity of Moab. He succeeded
In bringing about the conviction of
Spanish Abe. who had a record OF
having killed twenty-one men.
Mr. Simpson again distinguished
himself as a peace officer when he
tracked don an uncle of Rafael Lo-
pez, the Mexican outlaw at Bingham.
He was accompanied by companion
and the chase lasted for week. The
case terminated in gun fight and
the pursued man was shot to death
by Mr.. Simpsons companion. The
fugitive was wanted in California
on murder charge.
The deceased was a native of Alex
ander, Tennessee. having been born
April 16, 1858 He drifted out to
California when he was l S years old
and later was attracted to Eureka hen
that community enjoyed a national
reputation as a lead producer. He
was employed at one of the lead
smelter. and also served as deputy
sheriff.
When Eureka lost its prestige in
the mining world Mr. Simpson moved
TO Taylor in 1888. that camp being
In the throes of full tiedged mining
boom He was married in that COM
munity to Miss Edna Bryant. August
30. 1885.
With the decline in the price of
silver and a general exodus of the
population to other parts. Mr.. Simp-
son moved his family to Ely which
had been designated the county seat
in 1887. His activities in this To-
eaity were largely confined to min
ing He was general foreman at the
Chairman mine, when IL was general
ly believed that Ely was destined TO
become a producer Of the precious
metals Mr. Simpson was also super
ntendent of the Mckinley Mining
and Smelling company. when those
properties were under The manage
ment of w n McGill
Having disposed OF his mining and
realty interests during the boom days
following the completion of the Me-
vada Northern Mr. Simpson and
family moved 10 Salt Lake in 1907.
He acquired a small sized fortune
from his local holdings. but his assets
gradually dwindled away through nn-
fortunate investments lie is surviy-
fNu DA Il NiI0M Auh NAt AEAAAtAhs " -
liam, James Louis, Edward and Mrs.
c. +. Stack. all OF Salt Lake.
Numerous floral offerings from Ely
were in evidence at the funeral OF
Big Sim In Salt Lake last Friday
afternoon. \ large circle of friends
paid their last tribute to the menl-
ory of the man who was actively iden-
tilted with mining propositions in the
district for more than twenty years.
lnterment was in Mt Oliyet cemetery
i Rev. r. A. Simpkin gave brief
sermon. and Miss Elida Mack SANG
three songs. Crossing the Bar. :
abide With Nc" and Face to
Face"