Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-09-10
OLD TIME FUNERALS.
WHEN LEADWLLE DID THE "PRoPsR
THING" FOR DEAD MEN.

when TEXAS Jack" Was Hurled tho
whole Town Turned Out-rhcre Was
nrass Hand, Chorus from mn Opera
Company and Long Procession.
To one who passes along the streets OF
ITadyillo now there is just ono feature
n particular which serves as mark Of
einparison Of tho Lcadvillc Of today
with the mining camp Of thirteen years
ago. Lcadville now is respectable,
tlid and as solemn ~ u mining city
can BE-, but is.isn't the solcmnity in tho
ABSTRACT wi&h strikes ono now IL Is
specific solemihty which concerns
irelf with funerals.
To one who has lived In the past. when
every funeral was an occasion for as
much celebration MS circus, the quiet
and scdn;o coficgo moving along Chest
nut street today IS something not 10 ho
Considered. Il 81 too gloomy TO suit the
Oh timer; but, ulasl the old timer 10 no
moro.
In 1870 tho town was wild. Every
body carried a "guu'-not In his pocket,
mind You, only the natural bora fool
did, and he rarely lived to repent Of II.
The weapon was stuck In his belt right
handy for immediate action. As a con-
sequence mrely Jay passed without
violent death. Added to this the work
oipnoumonia kcpt the gravoliggor over
IN tho valley at work night and day.
This may sound like oxaggoration, hut
II isn't. The twinkling lights in tho
valley presented a growsome appearance
OF night and moro sowhon their purpose
was known. fhoy lit the grayodiggors
at work. Pneumonia wus fearful
enemy hen were strong, fearless,
healthy In tho morning, and when ovon-
ing came with Il was the physician and
the next day tho undertaken. No Gc-
commodations fit TO be called such We're
obiainable, and men after days Of hard
work in the mines were obliged TO sleep
in that frosted atmosphere wherever
they could.
Rev. 4. J. Mackcy was th6 most pop
ular clergyman in town at that time.
lie was loved by tho good people and
respected, almost voneratod, by the
gamblers and the miners, which doesn't
imply that miners were not in them
selves reputable people. Whenever "a
miner or q sporting man or woman died
It was Parson Mackoy who was called
in. There was one day in particular
when the parson held four funerals, and
that was tho record. Four was ire.
quently oqualod, but it stood us tho top
notch for one Clergyman.
Ar. Maokey, who was an Episcopal
Clergyman, held services in tho Tabor
opera house. Fifty dollars u day was
the rent, and tho collection never fell
short, 1t was necessary 20 close tho
doors then long before tho time for tho
beginning Of the service to keep back
Inc crowds. This four funeral day
Spoken OF was the day on which ]. II.
Omohundro, known all over tho world
as"rexas Jack" was buried.
Leadyillo never did funerals by halves.
brass band was regular thing. No
funeral wac held without one. The
pand attending upon Jack was made up
ol my pieces, being n combination Of
le'eral, Fay Tcmploton's opera COM
any was playing an engagement in
Leadyillo then, and Fay agreed to sup
piy nor company TO act as choir. Tho
comm was sot upon the stage loaded
WIN flowers, and flowers were rarer
man mines in Leadyille, and Rev.
Aaekey appeared in his regimentals as
chaplain of the Tabor Light Guards to
Preach the funeral sermon. As hc pro-
.eeaed, Whenever 10 made IN illusion
~ahy good quality In Jack the congre-
sauon appauded rs vociferously as
enough they wero approving u fine
nature OF play. There was no dis
olueF-these people meant II all. They
Wept AZ tho preachers words and stamp
amer feet in approval Of his hope for
'aeA chances over there.
Before tho services Mr.. Mack,y had
S 9ecn waited upon by the Tabor Light
ouaFas' They recited to him tho fact
NAV all tho senior officers but the chap
,5lh We're absent from the city, and told
AN mat as he was ranking officer OF
v Jay no must don his regimentals
nu lead Tho company. At first no do
,-,I vigorously, but finally, equipped
'h ulue ana gold aud sword that
huVw hot It's place and tho propriety of
se1Mns IT, he marched upon tho stage
ohelp Jack along. When the service
NAVY over he found thoy had provided a
y T, Tor him to lead the column.
.,s u preacher wasn't the most remark.
s oo nofseman in tho world, but no wa.
me ana he mounted and started
an-si Directly the band struck up tho
bi. ~ Asrcsitn Saul" tho preacher and
M WV o became almost as prominent II,
sl.on spspse-or they would have been
vs,'.. than in Leadville. Her,
"ssy'hins went. The dominic waltzod