. . . Feb. 22, 1854, I sailed on the ship Windermere from Liverpool for New Orleans. We were eight weeks and five days on the way, and we encountered heavy storms.
On the 18th of March we were in the same latitude that we were in on the 8th. The weather was very rough, and the captain of the vessel came to Elder Daniel Garns [Garn], who presided over the [p.350] Saints, and said, "Mr. Garns [Garn], I have done all I can for the vessel, and I am afraid that it cannot stand this sea. We are in great danger. I don't know, whether there is a God or not. Your people say there is, and if there is a God and he will hear you, you had better talk to him." It was early in the morning; a fast was decided upon, and prayer meeting held at 10 a.m. The storm abated a little--enough, to make us feel out of danger--but continued in considerable force till the 18th.
On the 14th (March) smallpox broke out. There were forty cases on board and thirteen funerals took place between Liverpool and New Orleans.
On the 17th the ship caught fire under the cooking galley. Great excitement prevailed, until the fire was extinguished.
On the 27th, the provisions and water supply failed and from that time till we reached New Orleans April 23, 1854, our ration was one sea biscuit a day. We had no new cases of smallpox after leaving New Orleans, but were afflicted with cholera, which proved fatal to many from that time till June 19th, when we commenced our journey over the plains from our camping ground near Kansas City. We arrived at Salt Lake City Sept. 23, 1854. . . . [p.351]
BIB: Burton, William Watton, comp. Jensen, Andrew. vol 1 Latter
-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia. (SLC: Western Epic, 1971) pp. 350-51.
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