The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-05
TRAGIC END Of
HOLIDAY OUTING
Little May Elite Loses Her Life
in Swift Waters of City
Creek.
FAMILY LEAVES THE CITY
TO SPEND A QUIET DAY
When Child Is Found One Little
Naked Foot Is Sticking
Out of Water.

Tragedy entered and darkened the
home Of Robert Elite, of the Robert Etc
Candy company, at $40 Fifth street,
with the Fourth of July, Thursday,
White Salt Lake generally was engaged
IN raging demonstration of tine day,
the tragedy was being enacted in City
Creek canyon, three and one-half miles
northeast of the city. Little May Elite,
the three-year old daughter Of Robert
Elite. was drowned in th9 relentless
waters Of the creek The drowning
occurred between noon and ! clock.
Robert Elite and family assisting of
Mrs. Elite and four children, and c.
Il Campbell. Mr.. Elites brother. in, law,
early Thursday morning left the city
for days outing IN City Creek canyon
ABOVE the city, every member flied with
a quiet happiness in anticipation of the
days joys away from the hezt, CRIME,
turmoil and noises Of the crowded city
There was an indescribable difference in
the spirits of the returning party.
Luncheon Not Eaten.
The party stopped near the banks OF
City Greek canyon about four miles
northeast of the city and arranged 20
eat the midday meal. The preparations
were futile, for the luncheon never was
eaten While Mr.. Elite and bis son were
watering the horses that drew them TO
the camping place and Mrs. Elite and
her other daughters were arranging the
luncheon, little May obtained tin cup
and wandered of TO the stream, sup
Posedly TO get drink. This was short.
ly before noon.
About 1890 her absence from the
party was noticed, she failing to re.
spond to the fathers call for luncheon.
Search was begun and the first place
visited was the watering place at the
stream. although the smaller children
had been warned to keep away from
the water. Nothing was discovered
there and the party divided in the
search, Mr., Elite going up stream and
Mr.. Campbell down, spreading the alarm
as they went.
Mr. Campbell had not gone far when
woman OF the ueighborhood told him
| she had seen g little girl in the stream.
| Mr.. Campbell FASTENED onward. and
about a quarter of a mile from the
camp he saw tiny foot. unprotected
by any shoe, protruding from some
brush in the waters Gentle hands
hastily removed the body, the head of
which was resting on the bottom Of the
stream. disclosing for a certainty the
identity of the victim. The mad waters
| had robbed the body Of its life probably
an hour before
Mother Swoons.
Word of the finding OF the lifeless
body was conveyed back 10 the frantic
parents. The shock to Mrs. Etc was
so great that she swooned, and for a
time her life was despaired of. DIR.
II. n Mayo was called and the grief
stricken woman revived somewhat. Fol
lowing the lifeless body of her little
daughter-next to the youngest child
Mrs Elite, apparently Gfeless. was
brought to her home. For some time
the attention OF two physicians wad
given to her there.
The drowned girl was one of family
of FIVE children, the others being Ferniei
the Youngest; Robbie, Alice, Thelma
and Ethel.
AT the point where the body was
found the water is eighteen inches deep.
On account OF the incline, the turbulent
waters have q velocity great enough al
most to carry u strong man from his
feet. The mad waters had carried the
body over rocks aud through one pile
of brush into the second, which caught
and was strong enough TO hold the child
by the foot until Mr. Campbell arrived.
4 shoe had been torn from one of the
little girl s feet,
Tho funeral has not been arranged.