The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-15

were in good spirits and averaging
fourteen to sixteen miles a day. Here
we forded the Platte river to the south
side and were followed by the hand
carts.
Never was a more soul-stirring sight
than the party and the passage of this
company over that river. Several of
the carts were drawn entirely by Wo-
men, yet their hearts were glad and
full of hope.
1t will be remembered that President
Franklin D. Richards and his company
| OF returning missionaries left Florence,
Neb., on September 3, passing Martins
company on Sunday, September Z, and
in five days more overlook Willie's
company as above recorded. This
would then place the latter company
from 125 to $50 miles west of Martins,
and in the vicinity of Fort Kearney,
where their cattle were stolen.
Captain James G. Wiilie's digest of
/ his journal of the journey of his COM
pany from Liverpool, England to Salt
Lake City. Utah.
Synopsis of the fourth handcart COM
pany's trip from Liverpool, England.
to Great salt Lake City. in the spring,
summer and autumn of 1856
written by Elder James G.. Willie.
Captain.)
On Thursday, May 1, the ship Thorn
ton, Captain Collins. received the
Saints (761 in number) on board the
ship in the Brammerley- Moore docks,
4 Liverpool, and on the following Sat
urday President F. d. Richards, &C
companied by the government Inspector
and doctor, came on board. and the
Saints answered to the usual inspec-
ton and were all pronounced by those
IHef4r III
Richards appointed myself DANES @.
Willie) captain of the company and
Elder Millen Atwood. Moses Clough
| and Johan A. Ahmanson, my counsel
| ors. and afterward in a few appropriate
remarks exhorted the people TO strict
| obedience on the passage, as otherwise
| they could not expect, and would not
have prosperous journey. President
Richards then blessed them in the
name of the Lord and by authority of
! the holy priesthood. Captain Willie
| then made the usual appointments for
/ the promotion of cleanliness and good
order, and on Sunday, May A. at 3 a
m, the company was tugged out of the
/ river by the Pilot. Sea-sickness soon
commenced, but through the blessings
| of the Lord il was not frequent during
the voyage, and which terminated at
New York on the 18th of June. The
spirit of the Lord prevailed. The ships
captain yielded to the influence which
| surrounded him and was kind and af-
fable to all, often voluntarily giving
from his own table for the comfort of
the sick and infirm, and otherwise min
fstering to heir wants with his own
hands, He seemed to be a good man.
and ! felt all the time and still feel TO
say God bless Captain Collins" BY
his sanction meetings Cat which he was
generally present for preaching and
bearing testimony were held on the
/ quarterback, and every liberty which
could in reason be expected was grant
ed by him. He often, in polite terms.
| Complimented the Saints upon their
cleanliness and upon their ready COM
pliance with his requests from time to
time. and said he never wished for a
better or more orderly lot of passen-
gers.
They certainly deserved the captains
encomium, for with scarcely an excep-
ton, they did their utmost to carry out
| to the very letter the Instructions Civ
en-. Previous to landing at New York
| a testimonial, expressive of the Saints
appreciation of the captains and the
Doctors kindness, was presented to
! them by myself; and one signed by the
! captain, first mate and DOCTOR on be-
half of themselves and the ships COM
pany, was presented to me on behalf
of the Saints. On our arrival at Castle
! Gardens, New York, we received a
hearty welcome from President John
Taylor and Elder Felt. Several gentle
men of the press also paid us a visit
and were very courteous toward us
appearing DESTROYS to obtain informa-
ton concerning the company from it's
officers, and subsequently several par
agraphs appeared in different New
York newspapers in praise of the gem
eral appearance and demeanor of the
entire company. On Tuesday, June H.
they started under the presidency of
Elder Levi Savage for Dunkirk, dis
lance of $50 miles. where they arrived
on the 18th, leaving Brother Atwood
and myself behind to transact sundry
Items of business. We, however, ar
| rived at Dunkirk by express train on
| the same day, and Immediately en-
| bdrked with the Saints on the Jersey
| City for Toledo. $50 miles further
where we arrived on Saturday, the 21st,
In good health and spirits. We al once
started per rail for Chicago, which we
reached on the following day. / should
mention that the railway authorities
at Toledo manifested very unkind
spirit toward toward us, putting us to
every inconvenience in their power.
! The conductor compelled US to land in
! the streets of Chicago, but the super
| intendent there gave us the use of an
empty warehouse for the night. The
! day MCETlu((((((S. sraelcfiyvgqx,f /:
next day (the 23d) most of the English
! Saints left per rail at 8 p. m. and the
| rest at IL p. m. for Rock Island On
| the first train arriving at Pond Creek
the next day. it was ascertained that
the railway bridge there had fallen
down while a previous train was pass
ing over il. Several brethren, includ-
ing Brothers - and Erastus Snow,
were in the train. and although many
of the passengers were seriously in
jured, they escaped unhurt. We slept
in the cars, and on the 25th the re-
mainder of our company came up. We
had much difficulty in obtaining pro-
visions.