Complex sentence: In 1847, he took passage in such one of the infamous "coffin ships" that transported Irish emigrants to the New World, wanting to see for himself the horrendous conditions that were leading to the deaths of so many of these passengers.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1847, he took passage in such one of the infamous "coffin ships" that transported Irish emigrants to the New World. He wanted to see for himself the horrendous conditions that were leading to the deaths of so many of these passengers.