Thursday marks the 125th anniversary of pioneer leader Brigham Young's death. He died of peritonitis from a ruptured appendix at 4:01 p.m., Aug. 29, 1877, in the Lion House. His funeral was Sept. 2 in the Tabernacle.
An estimated 25,000 people went through the Tabernacle the day before the funeral to pay their respects. Many others apparently couldn't get in because of the long line. Another 22,000 people visited prior to the funeral.
Flags were at half-staff in Salt Lake City to honor his passing, and there were also many black drapings on buildings.
Contrary to a popular myth, Young did not have a hearse.
A horse-drawn hearse outside the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland is sometimes erroneously reputed to have been used at Brigham Young's funeral.
Glen M. Leonard, director of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Museum of Church History and Art, said historical records are conclusive.
"Historical evidence shows no hearse was used," he said.
A copy of the "Order of Procession" for Young's funeral states at the bottom, "No horses or vehicles will be allowed in the procession."
Leonard has maintained that Brigham Young's will was explicit about his funeral and burial. His body was carried on a platform by clerks and employees, as prescribed in the will, to the Tabernacle for the funeral. Afterward, the same pallbearers hand-carried the casket up South Temple, through Eagle Gate and to the small private cemetery at First Avenue.
No wheeled vehicle was used in carrying the casket those few blocks.
At the funeral, speakers included such church leaders as Franklin D. Richards, Wilford Woodruff, Erastus Snow, George Q. Cannon and John Taylor.