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Show - A L ? ' U . ; 'If! r 'I '.? af r nr . i , n i m 'i f, ' . w" nmii 1 'C ' eene-- fi 1Hj Mil im t" ! First Presidency Opens Metal Box Fornd In Eagle Gate v j . , Deseret Mews storvtjf Oct. 5, 1891 describes contents in container A By JOSEPH LUNDSTBOM Deaeret News Staff Writer Reverently, the large, gentle hands of President David O. McKay unwrapped the brown paper. With' a small pen knife- he has carried , for' years, the president cut the string. Photographers and cameramen leaned forward expectantly as the president opened the rusted top of the old, black tin ' box. As he raised the lid flash bulbs popped and cameras - spun. The interest it was and wide spread-r-center- men, searched ed small box for which on a work- two days. Seventy years ago, the box had been placed during a quiet, unpretentious and brief ceremony, in the base of the Eagle Gate pillar the last pillar to go up, were removed two weeks ago to permit widening of State St. between South and North, Temple Sts. The arches and eagle were removed a year ago after a truck the arches ' accidently pulled The pillars , v down. A new gate and eagle will be erected when the street widening prolect Is completed. The pillars were trucked to the state road commission shops and for two days workmen pried and pulled apart the stones seeking the hidden box. They found it in the southeastern pillar. The box was rusted through on all sides. It was given to George Cannon Young, architect for the new gate and a grandson of Brigham Young who had the first gate built. He took the box to a lock- - 4 smith who spent two hours picking' The rusted lock after breaking a key made to open the box. When the lock was unlatched, the tin box was . carefully wrapped In brown paper and string and presented to the First Presidency. It was, however, a disappointing discovery to find that all of the pictures had been As damaged from dampness. ' they were unwrapped and exposed to daylight, they crum- The First Presidency inspect decayed mementos found in box' placed i,n Eagle Gate lar 70 years ago, as state road and Church officials look on. " " " roof and of the original Eagle pled. Many of the pictures were by the Utah pioneer photographer C. R, Savage, father-ln- law of President J. Reuben Clark Jr. "This is a great shock to me," he said, and urged that In . the future hermetically Gate. As the President removed the items from the box It became evident that the newspapers and magazines were well preserved, although damp. .They had been tightly folded and folded to fit in the box. The last item in the box was a business card of "Karl G. laeser, DX..D., General Superintendent and Director of Schools, Provo City, Utah." Rulon Ballard of the State Road Commission explained that the box had become damp because of moisture seeping down from the tops of the rather than up through the bottom. A small copper plaque, turned dark green from age, was found in the box. Assistant Church historian A. Wil-- liam Lund brought copies of the Deseret News story of Oct 5, 1891, which described the placing of the box and its contents. , President Moyle read the story to those present The story said: EAGLE GATE CEREMONIES A Quiet Bui Important Affair List of Articles Deposited in the Base of the Last sealed copper boxes be used to withstand weathering and , ging. A pile of flaking paper, warm, brown and damp, was all that was Jeff of seores of personal and business cards which had been placed in the box when it was sealed in the pillar In 1891 the year the gate was lastremodeled. Only a few names could among them were John E. Hansen and John T.jCalne. The collection of photo--graph- s by "C. R. Savage at his Art Bazar were the most disappointing feature of the opening event. Most of the pictures had discolored, the emulsion had separated from the heavy cardboard backing and as they came in contact with the air Pillar they crumpled and rolled up. The last pillar of the Eagle Two photographs in thelxx Gate is now In course of conwhich Were faint but still struction, and it is expected recognizable Were of the conthat within a few days the struction of the Tabernacle grand old bird will be restored to its accustomed perch, where for- - so many years it was an object of attraction andadmir-atio- h to tourists and residents of our city alike. ad, -- Poole of Road Commission shops foundbox of mementos hidden in base of sutheast Eagle Gate pillar. 10 CHURCH r - - Week Ending, April 1, 1961 EagU Tint pillnn wr Eagle Gate, Temple, Tabernacle Choir, likenesses of Presidents Brigham Young, Wilford people Irrespective of political or religious opinions. The committee in charge of Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, John Smith and the late Squire Henry Wells, was put in the box by C. E. Jensen. A Collection of photographs front Savages Art Bazaar as follows, was also put In the box: Wasatch Moun- tiiaj 4f9-of - Andersons tower, Temple, Brigham design Young, Assembly Hall, Gardo House, grave of Brigham. Young, Salt Lake City from Assembly .Hall, Eagle Gate, construction of tabernacle thought It proper that some kind of a demonstration be mado before the last stone should be placed in position. In ' accordance with this desire a small fftowA- of gentlemen and ladies assembled at the head of State Street at 1 oclock this afternoon. Among those present were noticed Presidents George Q. Can- -- ' pil- - The restoration of this historic landmark gives general satisfaction among all fair-minde- d pil-lar- be-re- LI W:-.- non and Joseph F. Smith, Apostles F. M. Lyman, H. J. Grant.Hon, John T. Caine, An- gug M. Cannon, Bishop H. B. Clawson, Spencer Clawson and Dr. Seymour B. Young. A cavity had been made In the base of the pillar which is entirely of granite about eight by twelve Inches. Into this President Cannon deposited a tin box in which had been placed a copy of the Deseret Evening News of September 18, 1891; a copy of the Des-- e ret Evening News of the same date; a copy of the Deseret Weekly of September 19, 1891; a copy of the Salt Lake Daily Herald of September 17, 1891; .the Christmas Herald for 1890; Salt Lake Daily Tribune of July 26, 1891, containing an editorial on the life and labors of the late President Brigham Young; Juvenile Instructor of September 15, 1891. A package of photographs carefully sealed in an covering, of the Gardo, Bee Hive and Lion House, the old Semi-Weekl- y oil-sil- r.mnvrl from . roof, Salt Lake from Prospect Hill, Ute Indian Jim, Lion and Beehive houses. Temple block. In addition to the above a beautifully polished plate of pure copper, bearing the fbl- .lowing inscription, artistically executed by David McKenzie, was put In the box: "The Eagle gate was erected in 1859, Hiram B. Clawson designer. Ralph Ramsay and William Boll, carvers. It formed part of a cobblestone wall eight feet high and five hundred rods long, which surrounded the grounds of President Brigham Young, and was built by him as a protection against Indians, and to furnish : labor to the unemployed. Torn down In 1890 to widen the street and to permit the passage of electric cars. Rebuilt In 1891." ng Business cards bearing the names of nearly all present were also placed In the box. No speeches were made.' The affair was altogether quiet and unpretentious. an4-visiti- nnH spent two days looking for box. . . |
