The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-10-01
DAYLIGHT IS LEFT
FAR BEHIND BY
INQUISITIVE TAFT
PRESIDENT GOES DEEPER INTO
EARTH THAN ANY OF PRE-
DEcEsSoRS.
ROOSEVELT RECO D BROKEN
Attired in Linen Duster And SLOUGH
Hat The Executive Sees Mines
For Himself-Makes Hit With The
Miners.


Miners.
HELENA, Mont, Sept. 2S.-Attired
in linen buster, an old black SLOUGH
hat and swinging an electric lantern
at his side, President Taft was locked
in a narrow cage and dropped 1000
feet through midnight blackness into
the depths of the famous old Leonard
copper mine at Butte Monday. When
he had assembled after half an hour
under ground, the President, blinking
in the glare of the MONDAY sun, was
cheered to the echo by the crowd of
curious people gathered at the hoist.
He declared enthusiastically: would
not have missed it for the world"
1t was the Presidents first visit to
the Montana copper district, and be-
tween the smelters at Anaconda and
the mines at Buttes he had a series
of interesting experiences. Not the
least of these was a thrilling automo-
bile ride over the mountains from
Butte to the mouth of the Leonard
mines. The grades we're steep and
winding. There was a sight of relief
when Mr.. Taft had once more been
placed safely aboard the Mayfiower
for the run for Helena.
Arriving here he went directly to
the State Fair grounds, where he made
an open air address and witnessed i
race of cowboys. I
Leaving here Monday evening he
headed for Spokane, where he is ex-
pected to deliver his formal speech on
the conservation of natural resources
and the reclamation of arid lands.
President Taft walked with a limp
when he first got off the train at
the result of a strained ten
don on his right foot The sprain
occurred at Beverly, but he suffered
little inconvenience from it until to-
day, when his foot was considerably
swollen. There is nothing serious
about the sprain and Mr.. Taft did not
let it interfere in any way with his
plans
The President made a flying trip
through the Washoe smelter of the Y
Copper Company at An
he xr,hi oraoknA
him on the streets there were the
argest he had seen since leaving Chi f
ago. The police had their hands full
n opening a way for the automobile !
procession and after the Presidents
ar had passed the crowd swarmed in
ts wake. ]
Speaking at the court house the
PRESIDENT looked out upon mass of B
that blocked the square and
pread far down the converging steps
lie made a decided hit with the great H
hrong when he told of the wonderful
IMPRESSION the country was making s.
pom him, and ended by saying: Il
m like the Dutchman, who said, the
lore you live, the more you find, by A
oily"
When the President disappeared D
own the shaft of the Leonard mine
18th hearty goodbye, everybody
1outing to the waving group at the Y,
ltrance, he carried with him into the
epths of the earth two Of his Cab Y,
Jet officers and won the President
cord for the farthest under ground.
resident Roosevelt entered some Of W
e Butte mines during his term, but
d not get down to the 1000 foot tt
vel
Postmaster General Hitchcock, who
ined the President at Anaconda, and
,cretary Ballinger, accompanied the We
'esident in the picturesque trip down
e dark chute and through the cross r.,
is and drifts of the deep level
The elevator used by the President
d his party consisted of small steel
ored square cages in three decks.
lie lowest of these was loaded first,
en- the second and lastly the Presi-
mt got into the top one accompanied TIL
John Hays Hammond and others. =
ere was a sheer drop of 1900 feet
fore the first level was reached. An
n
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