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Show THE HISTORY BLAZER XE'H'S OF UTAH'S PAST FROM THE Utah State Historical Society 300 Rio Grande Salt Lake CitlTl, TT8 4101 ( 801) 533- 3300 FAX ( 801) 333- 3503 Boxing Fans Take the Plunge at Saltair FOR SOME FANS; BOXING WAS NOT THE ONLY EXCITEMENT at Saltair on the evening of - - May 12, 1910. As the match between Pete Sullivan and ' Cyclone" Johnny Thompson came to an end at 11 o'clock, several hundred of the 3,000 fans rushed to the exit to catch the next train from the famous resort to the city. The overanxious would have done better to wait. Due to the weight of SO many people heading to the train station from the Saltair coliseum, a poorly constructed, temporary stairnay collapsed. Nearly 100 people fell, fully dressed, into the salty waters of the Great Salt Lake. Though the water came up only to their armpits, none were prepared for the sudden plunge. More dangerous than the cold water were the flying timbers of the broken stairnay which caused bruises and even broke bones. Rescue teams quickly arrived to pull people out of the water with ropes and shovels. Within five minutes most of the victims had been recovered and were drying on land. Those seriously injured, some ten people, were put on the first train to Salt Lake City. The rest had to wait their turn for another train to take them home. Meanwhile, rumors quickly spread throughout the city. From the first trainload of " survivors" to return home, residents heard an exaggerated account of the event. One story circulated that the stairway had been destroyed by rowdy fans angered by the defeat of Sullivan. Others thought that the entire Saltair resort was sinking into the lake and that thousands of people were dead and dying. Concerned - family- members- a ndSriends- uraited- for-- theilro ved ones at the - - train station late into the night. When reactions to the event finally settled the next morning, newspapers came out with a statement from the manager of Saltair, apologizing for the collapse and asserting that the building was well constructed and safe for further use. The event, he claimed, had not been caused by faulty workmanship but by the excessive weight of too many people on the structure. He denied responsibility for the accident, saying that the injured should seek redress from fight promoter R. A. Grant who had leased the arena. THE HISTORBYLA ZERi s produced by the Utah State Historical Society and funded in part by a grant from the Utah Statehood Centennial Commission. For more information about the Historical Society telephone 533- 3500. THE HISTORY BLAZER ,1' EI1' S OF LTTAH'S PAST FROM THE Utah State Historical Society 300 Rio Grande Salt Lake City. VT 84101 ( 801) 533- 3500 FAX ( 801) 533- 3303 Judge Orlando W. Powers Was a Key Political Figure Tm MORMON~ GENTCILOE~ ~ T . ~ . TLFAITEE 1 9CE~ NTU~ RY p roduced a- number of talented and colorful figures. One of the most prominent was Orlando Woodworth Powers, " the prince of omtors," who was highly visible and active in law, politics, and mining in Utah from 1885 until his death in 1914. Powers was born on June 16, 1850, in Pultneyville, Wayne County, New York, ironically but a few miles from the birthplace of the Mormon religion. After receiving his law education at the University of Michigan, Powers practiced in Kalamamo and became active in Democratic politics. In 1872 he was defeated in a race for the Michigan legislature, and in 1880 lost a bid for Congress. These losses proved characteristic; although Powers would eventually gain respect as a political tactician he lost more elections than he won. In 1885 Powers was nominated by President Grover Cleveland as an associate justice for Utah Territory. Powers held this post, as well as that of judge of the First Judicial District in Ogden, while waiting for Senate confirmation of his position. The appointment was opposed by some Democrats in Washington, as well as by some Utahns ( probably because of Powers's supposedly anti- Mormon leanings), and the nomination was withdrawn in August 1886. Powers briefly retumed to Michigan, but in September 1887 he took up permanent residence in Utah, establishing a law practice in Salt Lake City. His political experience came to the attention of the ( non- Monn~ n)- Libedp. a rty, wbich was . engaged. in. a long struggle to wrest political control away from the ( Mormon) People' s party. Powers' s organizational talents served the Liberals well, as he promoted clubs, marching bands, and parades. Liberal efforts were finally rewarded when they gained control of Salt Lake City in 1889. The final, successful push for statehood resulted in Utah politics being reorganized along national party lines. When the Republican and Democratic parties were established in Utah, Powers returned to his Democratic roots, serving as party chairman and making several unsuccess-ful congressional bids. His law firm prospered as Powers pursued an active criminal practice and also served as corporate counsel for a number of fms. Judge Powers ( as he was widely called) received a nearly fatal reminder of his brief time on the bench on August 26, 1899. The Wells, Fargo Express company delivered a package to his office that Powers originally took to be an ore sample from his Eureka mines. When a few grains of gunpowder leaked out, however, Powers called the police who discovered two pounds of dynamite and a crude detonating device. The originator of this " infernal machine" was identified as John Y. Smith, a train robber whom Powers had sentenced to prison in 1886. Smith sent ( more) |
