A little before I was released from my mission, in a dream it was shown me the ship I was to sail in, and I also saw it land safely at Boston U.S.A.; also the railway trains, handcart companies on the plains, and that I would return with my wife in safety to the Valley. After I had the dream, I told my wife Emma, that we should go home that season and soon after, my release was published in the Millennial Star to go home that season.

Eighteenth of April, 1856, we set sail from Liverpool in the S. Curling, a sailing vessel bound for Boston, U.S.A. S. [Samuel] Curling was the captain and owner of the vessel and was a very mean man. On his return voyage him and his crew, ship and all, was lost, (i.e. went to Hell across lots.) While traveling in the ship we had considerable trouble with the captain and crew to keep them from the women. [p.15]

Fifteenth of June we landed at Boston U.S.A. The cook, a good natured Irishman, was kind and attentive to us, cooking our provisions in the captain's galley. Dan Jones was the captain over the Welsh Saints while crossing the seas and also the plains. [David] Grant and [John] Oakley, two returning missionaries, when they found out we were treated so well by the cook, forced themselves into our mess. We enjoyed ourselves first rate while in Boston, visiting the Plymouth Rock and other principle places and after three days started by railway, first class to Iowa City. While on the way, we stayed with Joseph France, a returning missionary who treated us kindly. The same J. [Joseph] France was one of the men who accompanied me on my way to Europe.

We started from Iowa City with the handcart companies . . . We traveled through Jackson County, some apostatizing by the way, a distance of some three hundred miles till we came to Council Bluffs. Here we stayed ten days waiting for the companies to organize and proceed further on their journey. . . . [p.16]

. . . We then traveled along till we met with President Young and company at the head of Emigration Canyon. He felt very badly for the suffering of the people. We traveled into Salt Lake City about the last of September in the fall of fifty six. . . . [p.17].

BIB: Butler, William. Journal (Ms 8795 reel 11 #3) MSS typescript, pp. 15-17. (CHL)
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