The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-21
TRAGIC DEATH
OF H. G. BUTTON
Well Known Citizen Suffocated in
a Mine.
EAST HoNERINE ACCIDENT
CAUGHT By CAVE AND DEAD
WHEN FOUND.

Herbert G. Button, superintendent OF
the East HOnerine mine at Stockton.
and a well known resident of this city,
was killed by an accident yesterday
afternoon at 2:20. while exploring the
underground workings. With two or
three miners he started out on the 400
foot level to visit an old side drift, from
winch encouraging reports had come
He preceded his companions some dis
lance. when suddenly the roof gave
away and he was entombed The
tragedy was doubly horrifyinE when
1t was learned, later. that the suDerin-
tendent was not instantly killed. He es-
capped death from the falling dirt. as he
TAXED to his companions after the
cave, but the air was shut off by the
cave and his death was apparentlv
brought about by suffocation. For some
time after the accident in the tunnel
the men heard his calls and although
they worked desperately. the danger
was too great to make any great prog
fess in clearing away the cave and
when the body was reached. four hours
later. life was extinct
These are the brief details telephoned
in from the mine yesterday afternoon
The announcement of Mr. Buttons
tragic death Will be shock to his hun
dreds of friends in this city in poIiti-
cal as well as mining circles He was
one of Salt Lakes well known citizens
CGA AaA6 Tic LWEiNe OF LulEleen years or
MS residence here, he was in public
life as member Of the constitutional
convention and later as a deputy
sheriff under Harvey Hardy.
The first word of the accident came
by telephone from Foreman Mingle to
Attorney W. A Byers, one of the own
ers of the mine, at about o'clock The
message stated only that there had
been an accident and that Br Button
had been caught in It Afterwards
came the more shocking announcement
that the superintendent was killed. The
body was not found until O'Clock. Mr.
Byers was badly upset himself, but he
conveyed the sad word to Mrs. But
ton at her rooms in the Eagle block.
She was Frustrated by the blow.
Mr. Byers concluded at once to go
to stockton accompanied by Under
taker O'Donnel, and they win leave
this morning to bring home the re
mains. which have been brought from
the mine down into the town.
Mr. Buttons Career.
Mr. Button was a man 4 years of
age He was born in BinghamtOn, \.
Y He lived there until after his mar
rage to Miss Nellie McHaIe and in
1886, came west to Wichita. Kan. where
he set up as a contractor and builder.
It was during the boom days Of 1901
that Mr.. Button came to Salt Lake
and engaged in the same business He
became prominent as a Republican anC
in 1894 was elected a delegate to the
constitutional convention from the Sec
ond precinct In that body he served
upon the public lands and labor com
mittees and took a prominent part in
their deliberations. At the beginning
of Harvey Hardys administration as
sheriff Mr.. Button became a, deputy.
He remained an active figure in local
politics until a few years ago
After leaving the sheriff'S Office, Mr..
Button returned to his former vocation.
that of contractor and builder, and
followed it until six months ago. when
he led out in acquiring for a company
of four or five the East HOnerine prop
erty. of which he owns One-fifth. or
100. 900 shares. Then he went to the
mine as superintendent. and the load
ing of the first shipment of ore was TO
begin today. The mine is considered
to be on paying basis at present. and
without doubt Mr. Buttons entire in
terest has been bequeathed to his
widow He was a member of the Wood
men of the World and the odd Eel
lows society. He carried some inSur-
ance in the former.
Mrs. Buttons grief is pitiful The
happiest marital relationship existed
between them. There is one child. a
10-year-old son. The widow is attend
ed by her sister. Mrs. Agnes MahOney.
The funeral arrangements will be de-
ferred until the arrival Of the de-
ce2sed's brother. Edward Button. who
is with the Hayes Seed company, in
Denver. There are no other relatives
Of the dead man in the west