"In May 1879, my husband, George Ashley, decided to go to America. Within nine days everything was auctioned off and preparations were made for the trip. We set sail from Liverpool to New York for America in the Steamship Wyoming with my husband and our two children, George Frederick and Alfred Shakespear [Shakespeare], Alfred being seven weeks old when we left England. I was sick all the way with a gathered breast. . .While crossing the ocean our vessel struck a very heavy leak which detained us several hours pumping the water out. I was awake and asked the steward what was the matter. He said, "Just letting off a little steam." We did not know how near we came going down till the next day when they told us it was a very heavy leak and came near being fatal. I was afraid at the time. The answer I got to prayer was the Lord would not let us go down after gathering his people, as there had never been one Latter- day Saints vessel sunk . . . ." [p.88]

BIB: Ashley, Sarah Jane Neat, [Autobiography], In Bennett, Archibald F. Ad Nordgren, Blanche Bennett, Comps., Our Legacy from William and Elizabeth New (privately printed, 1984) p. 88. (CHL)
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