A fitting tribute to a fallen Salt Lake County lawman
COPPERTON — It's a cemetery that few people visit.
Most of the headstones, the ones that haven't faded away and are still legible, are dated from around the turn of the 19th to the 20th centuries. Among those buried in the Bingham City Cemetery are three Utah law enforcers, all of them killed in the line of duty.
Monday, in a scene fitting of the old mining town that once thrived in the canyon directly to the west of the cemetery which it spawned, a new monument was dedicated to one of those deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community.
On Nov. 29, 1913, newly appointed Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy James D. Hulsey was shot and killed by a man wanted for already killing three other Utah law enforcers and a civilian.
Local historians call it the bloodiest episode in Utah law enforcement history. Five officers and a civilian were murdered by a miner in Bingham Canyon in the span of eight days.
Like many mining towns of the Old West, Bingham was "a very violent place to work" in 1913, said Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy Randy Lish who spent many years researching the case.
The string of officer killings started Nov. 21, 1913, when Bingham Marshal William J. Grant, along with deputies George O. Witbeck and Nephi S. Jensen, went to Saratoga Springs to arrest Rafael Lopez, who was wanted for murder in Bingham Canyon. He had killed a man he thought was trying to steal his girlfriend.
The officers were ambushed.
Hulsey was a respected member of his community, having worked previously as a barber, bartender and a Bingham City volunteer firefighter. He also possessed excellent tracking skills and was able to follow Lopez back to the mine. Most people thought Hulsey was crazy for thinking Lopez would return to the scene of the crime.
But after it was confirmed Lopez was hiding somewhere inside the mine and receiving help from others who were still loyal to him, 150 law enforcers gathered to search for him. As Hulsey was attempting to smoke Lopez out of an area of the mine by lighting a wagon load of hay on fire, he too, along with Vaso Mandarich, 35, was shot and killed.
Lopez escaped and fled the state. He killed an estimated 30 more people in Texas before the Texas Rangers caught up with him and killed him in one final gun battle, according to Lish.
Later, a ceremony was held at the mine for Hulsey. Approximately 500 people attended, making it at the time one of the biggest ceremonies in the history of Bingham Canyon, said Utah Law Enforcement Memorial historian Robert Kirby. A train then brought Hulsey's body to the cemetery where he was buried.
Recent comments
I too applaud Robert Kirby for making sure this got done. Good for...
I agree | Nov. 3, 2009 at 9:44 a.m.
Robert Kirby deserves some kind of medal for digging up these gems of...
Historian Kirby | Nov. 2, 2009 at 6:50 p.m.
- Jazz clobber Grizzlies 9:28 p.m.
- Prep boys basketball top 20 9:24 p.m.
- Jazz ready to be without Harpring 9:24 p.m.
- Photos: UDOT shows off new toys 9:22 p.m.
- Quality wins, bad losses for Utes 9:20 p.m.
- Two more running for 2nd District 9:18 p.m.
- Night flying may be OK in firefighting 9:11 p.m.
- Senate opens partisan health debate 9:10 p.m.
- Ute women to host Weber State 9:06 p.m.
- Tiger withdraws from tourney 8:51 p.m.
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Boy shot following traffic stop
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Matthews passes new Jazz tests
- U. eyes bowl for redemption
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
898 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
376 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
358 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
307 - Utes won't respond to Hall
250 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
119 - Religion in politics is tiresome
107
Live 'Twittologue' Dec. 2, 4:00 p.m. with Jason Chaffetz. Click for more.
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
I don't see that much "Tradition, Spirit, Honor." (from the BYU football...
I agree with chase let's forgive and forget
How about it Hmmm: If you were president, what would you do? It's easy to...
Between Peterson's observations on the coherence of Mitchell's writtings,...
"After a successful NFL football career one would have much to add to...
Wow!! I'm amazed at the readers who are belittling this excellent article....
you guyd just let both things go. both coleges say sorry tell their fans to...
America! Good, one person - although they didn't dare post a name - lets...
Having been to both LaVell Edwards Stadium and Rice Eccles when the Aggies...
I don't know where you are getting your info. First; where does Parowan play...


