The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-23
TRAGEDY OVERTAKES
LEGISLATIVE PARTY
Clint B. Leigh of The Herald and Rep
resentative Seth Taft Killed at
Bingham Canyon.
Hurled From Flat Car Steep Grade by Impact of Runaway
Ore Carriers.

In terrible accident on the Copper
Belt line of the Boston Consolidated mine
at Bingham canyon. Clinton Is. Leigh.
legislative reporter for The Herald and
Representative Seth Taft of Wayne coun-
ty. were killed at 5:3O O'Clock yesterday
afternoon The accident was caused by
the breaking of a coupling chain. which
released two cars loaded with ore coming
down grade from the mine and allowed
them 10 crash into the train on which the
two men who met their tragic deaths
We're seated
The two men who were killed were a
part of the legislative junket which Wis
ited the Silver Shield and Boston Con
solIdated mines at Bingham yesterday
afternoon. They were returning from
their tour of inspection when the tragedy
occurred and were within 500 feet Of the
terminus of the spur track which led TO
the Boston Consolidated mine
Backing Down Grade.
The train was backing down grade and
car OF the train which carried the LEXIS
IdtlNe party and were facing the engine
The ore cars that broke loose from the
train higher UP the grade came down the
hill and collided with the train. so that
both men were Knocked off. Leigh fell
beneath the wheels of the ear and WAS
Killed almost instantly. while Representa-
tive Taft was thrown beneath the car IN
such a manner that the locomotive
crushed both of his legs He was con
scious for about two hours but he was
injured so seriously as to leave no hope
for recovery and expired at about 80 last
evening.
The legislative excursion that met with
such a tragic end was hurriedly planned
Thursday afternoon by Speaker Harry
Joseph, who invited the members Of the
house to visit the Silver Shield mine in
which he is heavily interested. His invi-
tstion was seconded by Louis Gates, su-
mr. of no & f1ate 4
property at Bingham. which is controlled
by Samuel NewhOuse.
Members of Party.
AS d result of these invitations the trip
was planned and a party or eleven made
the trip from Salt Lake yesterday morn
ing On account of a freight wreck the
party was delayed two hours at Bingham
Junction and did not arrive buckingham
until noon The party occupied the pTi-
vate car Wassteh and went via the Rio
Grande to Bingham. Those in the party
were Speaker Harry Joseph. Representa-
tive and Mrs Harry Robinson, RepreSen-
tatives Seth Taft. J. p Miller, Heber J.
Meeks. Martin Jensen, G. r. Dorius. John
y. Henrie. Senator Alonza Brinkerhoff
and Clint Z. Leigh of The Herald
The party took lunch at Bingham and
then went through the Silver Shield mine.
After inspecting this mine they were in
voted by Louis w. Gates. superintendent
for the Newh0use holdings at Bingham.
to visit the mines of the Boston ConsOli-
dated Copper company. They came down
grade to the intersection of the two min
ing railroads and took the Copper Belt
line up to where the operations of the
Boston Consolidated Mining company
were being carried on. At this point Rep
rcsentative and Mrs. Harry Robinson left
tic party and went to visit friends in
Bingham.
Start on Return Trip.
At the Boston Consolidated mine the
party viewed the gigantic steam shovels
removing the shale to expose the ric1
copper ore Representative Taft and
Clint 3. Leigh were among the most in
terested members of the party. as both
of them were on their first trip to Bing-
ham canyon. After going through the
mine the party ate dinner at the mine
and began the return trip to Bingham
On the return trip down the 3 Der cent
grade from the mine Speaker Joseph sat
on the left-hand side of the flat car, near
the front and next to the engine. Rep
resentative Miller sat next to him. facing
the side of the car. and Representatives
Meezs and Jensen We're next to him. At
the rear of the car was Mr.. Gates. with
his back TO the engine. Mr.. Leigh was
sitting on the second car talking to Mr.
Gates and facing the engine. Mr.. Taft
was sitting beside Mr.. Leigh and also fac
ing the engine. Representative Henrie
was standing in the center of the car