“The following missionaries from Zion, who had filled different positions in the Scandinavian Mission, left Copenhagen, Apr. 1 [1897], to return to their homes in Zion: Peter Andersen, Edward A. Olsen and Hyrum D. Jensen of Ogden, Utah, Abel Erickson of Albion, Idaho, Lorenzo O. Skanchy of Logan, and Lars E. Danielson of Smithfield, Utah, Peter Magnusson of Mesa, Arizona, Andrew C. Fjeldsted of Gunnison, Peter C. Christensen of Mayfield, Alonzo B. Irvine of Logan and Theodore Tobiason of Salt Lake City, Utah. This company of missionaries and a few emigrating Saints went by steamer to Scotland, an on April 8th they went on board the ocean steamer “Circassia” and sailed down the River Clyde. The next day 150 Irish emigrants were taken on board at Moville, Ireland. The company of Saints on board consisted of 16 missionaries and 59 emigrants. The voyage across the Atlantic was a very stormy one. Elder Peter C. Christensen writes under date of April 23, [1897], on board the “Circassia” as follows:
“We have had heavy sea most of the time since we commenced our voyage, and in the night between the 9th and 19th inst., fire broke out in the ship. With much labor the crew succeeded in putting out the fire, but we had exceedingly stormy weather until the evening of the 16th inst., when the screw axle broke with a terrific noise. Four of us returning Elders in the first cabin and eight in the second cabin united in sincere and earnest prayer that the Lord would preserve us. We all took our turns in praying, and when we were through the storm ceased, and we all acknowledged the hand of the Lord in answer to our prayers. During the eight days in which the storm raged the ship seemed to be more under than over the water and some of the crew said it was the worst storm they had ever experienced. As a matter of course, much sea-sickness prevailed among the passengers, but after the weather settled, the Saints on board enjoyed themselves in singing the songs of Zion and in arranging concerts and other entertainments. The ship arrived in New York April 27th.” [HSM, 359]

“Thursday, April 8. . . . The steamship ‘Circassia’ sailed from Glasgow, Scotland, with 65 Saints on board, including 14 returning Elders, namely, Peter Andersen, E [BLANK SPACE] A. Olsen, Hyrum D. Jensen, Andrew C. Fjeldsted, P [BLANK SPACE] C. Christensen, Theodore Tobiasen, Abel Ericksen, L [BLANK SPACE] E. Danielsen and Peter Magnussen from the Scandinavian Mission; John H. Walker, Willard C. Burgon, Frederick W. Nicholls, and J [BLANK SPACE] T. Rackham from the British Mission and Julius Billeter from the Swiss and German Mission. Jesse Smith and Geo. [George] Comer (from Zion) also returned with this company. The emigrating Saints were all from Scandinavia. (Orig. Doc.)” [BMMH, 1897].

“A ROUGH VOYAGE. Elder Fred W. Nicholls, who was recently released from
presiding over the London Conference to return home, and who left Glasgow on April 8, writes as follows from New York: ‘Just a few lines to let you know that we have at last arrived at the port of New York after a most tempestuous voyage. After leaving Moville, we encountered very high head winds with heavy seas, and for the first week we made but very little progress. On the fifth day we were blessed with fairer weather, which seemed to brighten us up a bit, but not for long, for as the night wore on, we could see clouds gathering ahead of us, and upon consulting the barometer we found it had fallen very low, which had the tendency to cause our spirits to fall; and to confirm our fears, we heard orders given to lash everything taut, and batten all the hatches over again, which was done none too soon, for that night we tossed about like a cork, and all next day and night, during which time, one of the life boats was torn away from its lashings and
landed on top of the skylight, tearing away an iron railing and some seats in its course of
destruction. The storm had abated very little and we were allowed to venture upon the deck, when an accident occurred which made most of us feel faint at heart, for while the wind was at its height and the sea had been lashed into heavy waves, the vessel’s shaft broke, and we were like a cork upon the waters and just about as helpless.
President Anderson called a council together and held a prayer circle with the brethren aft, while I held one with the other brethren forward, asking our Father in heaven to protect us and to quiet the elements in our favor, that we might be safe and rest in peace. In less than half an hour our ship was riding as calmly as if moored in the River Clyde, and many were heard to remark, ‘What a wonderful change has come about!’ and many wondered what had caused it. But few knew, and we felt to thank our Heavenly Father for His kindness to us. We lay in this condition for three days, when the break was repaired and we again started on our journey westward” [MS 59:302]. (source abbreviations)