From Fredericia, journeyed we Dec. 19, 1853, by ferry from Fredericia to Strib, from there with two wagons, to Odense, 2 o'clock p.m.
Dec. 20 We lay in the hotel till 8 o'clock, then to Nyborg on two wagons, arrived 1 o'clock. On the road visited we our son Hans. We took steamboat Nyborg to Korsor, 8 o'clock, then with two wagons to Roskilde, arrived 2 o'clock a.m.
Dec. 22 8 o'clock took train for Copenhagen.
Dec. 24 Christmas day we took steamer to Travemunde, took 26 hours. Same evening we rode to Lubeck. Travemunde is a small city, but Lubeck is about like Copenhagen. [p.1]
We traveled on the morning, Dec. 26, with ry. [UNCLEAR] 14 miles to Altona. We lay there three days. We had our bills paid and had a good time, saw many wonderful buildings and ships. We came through one end of Hamburg. It is curious to see people living 7 or 8 stories up in the air. We get tired of looking up at them. Do not know how large Hamburg is; we went through but one end, but Altona is about the size of Copenhagen. We bought many little things here that were cheap.
Dec. 30 From there by train to Gluckstad. There we found our company who left Copenhagen the day after us by steamship by way of Kiel and train to Gluckstadt. We were 400 quartered in a large hall and lay in straw on the floor. We got dinner four times; the rest we provided ourselves with food.
We lay there to the 7th of February [January] for the ice was covering the harbor and drifting in the strand. We can see over the strand 1 mile to Hanover. Here many things were cheap, such as factory shoes. Living was dear. We bought many things here, and if we had known we could have saved half by buying here instead of home.
Jan. 7 6 o'clock a.m. We went on the steamship "Tounsit" with our things. It was wonderful to see the ship breaking through the ice. Nearly all were seasick. The bad smell from the machinery, and the stormy weather, and the North Sea that is always rough . . . [TYPESCRIPT NOTES HERE THAT THE REST OF THIS LINE IS NOT LEGIBLE] We were on the water 58 hours and arrived at Hull, England, 4 o'clock after having sailed 150 miles.
I will here give my recollection of that trip from Germany to England. The ship was a merchant vessel with no accommodation for passengers, and they were stored away in the hole, and when the storm come, they had to shut down the hatches, and that nearly smothered them. I and two other boys, one I learned was Peter Christensen from Nephi, was hid on deck near the boiler under some canvas and stayed there all night. In the morning when they took the hatches [off] of the steam, [it] came up as from a manure pit, and the refuse and liquid was six inches in the bottom of the ship and the sailors drew it up in buckets next morning. I think a child died that night. I wonder [why] father passed over that night so lightly and I recollect it so distinctively, that I got but little of it.
It was wonderful to see so many ships in the English Channel. In Hull we were but three hours. We went the same evening by train to Liverpool. I think Hull is about the size of Copenhagen. There are ships here in the harbor by the 1,000. It was bad, we went through England in the night, as we passed many trains and cities and through tunnels and over rivers and lakes. We rode 44 miles in 7 hours and arrived in Liverpool 3 o'clock a.m., 10th of January. Here we got beds; the first we have had since we left Copenhagen. We have had to lay on straw, on boards and boxes, and have had many trials. Many are sick, but my wife and children are well. We are furnished here, our food, coffee and white bread for breakfast, soup with beef and potatoes [p.2] for dinner, cakes and coffee and white bread for supper; as much as we want and good grub. Here cotton goods are cheap, so is lemons and citrons, porcelain and glassware, but eating is dear. We bought much factory and little things, thread in all colors. There is no end to see in Liverpool. It has 500,000 inhabitants and is several miles in circumference. It has many large stores and factories and buildings not equaled in Denmark, but the most wonderful is the shipping. I think there are 100 harbors and 1000 ships in each. I cannot describe all there is to see; great butcher shops, beef 7 cents, pork 8 cents. We We [SIC] do not see rye bread at all, but wheat bread everywhere. They mix oat and cornmeal together. We lay in Liverpool 15 days.
The 22nd, which is Sunday, we went aboard 10 a.m. the large three mastered ship, Benjamin Adams. We have good accommodations and good beds. We got our provisions;2 pounds white bread, oat meal, wheat meal, tea, sugar, salt--more than we need--and 3 gallons water. We can go ashore each day if we want to. People bring things to sell. We can now have meetings, sing, and pray as we will.
Friday the 27th was we towed out of harbor by a tug about two miles and lay there. Was visited with the Rector and 4 families. Sixteen persons had to go to land and remain till the next company. The English missionaries visited us, but the worst was we could not converse with them--Brother Richards, President of the English Mission, and Brother Kahn. And, we have been in meeting with the Saints in England. Brother Wancot from Copenhagen is here. We here bought canvas for $1000 for tents in America. It is cheaper here than in America. Now that we have rested we have had conference and been laid off in 5 districts with a president for each--Anderson Jargensen [Jorgenson] from Jutland, Lasstroni Windberg from Sweden, and Kalply from Norway. Many spoke and much good instruction given from time to time. We are 400 Saints and about 150 Irish Catholics and some first cabin passengers; I don't know how many. It is beautiful to lay here on the sea between Liverpool and Brunswig. The water is as broad as Little Belt, 2 English miles. Brunswig is a city like Copenhagen. The ships cruise between there by the hundred. In the evening it is beautiful to see the gaslights on both sides of the channel. Children and grown people go barefooted. The weather is like the last of May in Denmark. We are waiting here to sail and hope the wind will soon blow from the east. Myself and wife and all five children are all well. Thank the Lord there is no sickness on board.
The 28th we got 10 pounds bread extra provisions. It is rye bred that we brought with us from Altona.
The 31st we got 5 pounds beef, very good food. A ship left Liverpool for Amsterdam on the 17th with 600 passengers. 2 days after it was lost and 450 perished and 150 were saved. One of them that was saved I have talked with. He said they drifted one whole day then struck a rock close to shore, and the ship went to pieces by the waves in one hour. He lost all he had except the clothes he had on. He is going again. Such [p.3] accounts we hear often in England.
Feb. 1, 1854: We had fast day and prayed that we might soon have good wind and the Lord heard our prayers.
For Thursday, which is Kidamas Day (or Hidamas), 2. Feb., came a steamer and towed us from England, 7 o'clock a.m. Beautiful, clear weather as in Denmark midsummer. Now, may our Heavenly Father give us a safe journey, good wind, luck, and health to get to America. The boat towed us 76 English miles and left us at 9 o'clock p.m. Then all sails were set but little wind. We sailed all night and at noon the 3rd we went by Shetland's large mountains and sand banks. The weather is calm and the 16 big sails can not move the ship but lays as still as in a wood.
Friday at 10 o'clock began to blow.
Saturday we got a head wind. We cruised but did not gain any. On Saturday night and on the 5th which is Sunday we had gone back to where we saw the large banks we had passed. May God protect us that we do not come to harm. Most of us are a little seasick as the sea is rough. We hope it will soon be better. The wind is not so strong today. I, my wife, and children are nearly well, and I think the wind will soon be favorable.
On Sunday morning we passed a large cutter drifting without men or sails. It had been lost in the storm Saturday night. It looked awful to see the water washing over it, and the sails and rigging hanging in the water. Who went down with it, the Lord only knows. Sunday evening we had a large meeting and wedding of 7 couples; Va Andersen, N. Larsen, and N. Neilsen from Jutland, August Neilsen and Rapsel Wingberg [Windberg] from Sweden, and C. Krupe from Copenhagen.
On Monday was the wind strong and against us. In the afternoon a son was born to a sister from Holland.
Tuesday had good wind, and Wednesday we had good wind. We are now in the Spanish Sea.
Thursday we sailed before a good wind. Nearby a storm; the sea is rough, and the ship rolls much. The waves go over the deck sometime. Thursday the weather was nearly still, and we did not come far. We got extra provisions--1 3/4 pounds rye bread each.
Friday the 10th died an old lady from Holland. We had good wind Friday 10th and sailed 12 miles in the watch with east wind; the best wind we have had.
Saturday, 11th of February, we had a right good wind form the south. One died from Holland.
Sunday the 12th Wind southeast--the best wind we could [p.4] have. The ship travels fast with 19 sails. This evening it is a pleasure to be out. We had two meetings today with large attendance.
Monday the 13th Right good wind.
Tuesday the 14th Wind good but easterly, right in our face. We got canvas for tents.
Wednesday, 15 Wind westerly, large waves. A sister from Saland had daughter.
Thursday, 16 The wind southwest. The ship is very uneasy. The weather is mild. Wednesday morning saw we a large white mountain south of us. It belongs to the Portuguese Islands. We saw a ship like ours, but we sailed past it. So, we can see that our ship is a good sailor. We have not seen many ships lately.
Friday, 17 A strong wind from southwest. Many got seasick again. The waves went over the deck.
Saturday, 18 Wind southerly. We sailed south westerly. Wind not so strong. Good sailing.
Sunday, 19 Had good wind from the south. We had good meeting and administered the sacrament.
Monday, 20 Wind was still, and it was so warm that we must lay off our clothes. We got extra provisions, 5 pounds beef. We saw a large steamship today, and ships like ours we seldom see.
Tuesday, 21 Wind easterly and but little wind, the we sailed well. We got extra beef, 1 pound each. We have mild wind. We are sewing our tents for the plains.
Wednesday, 22 Wind southwest and poor wind. One died. We sailed good northwest.
Thursday, 23 Wind southwest, we sailed southeast. We saw a steamship. One died. Hard rain.
Friday, 24 Wind light in southwest. Much rain. We did not come far.
Saturday, 25 Light wind from the east. Afternoon wind in the north. Heavy rain, better wind. We sailed this evening at good speed.
Sunday, 26 Wind in north and good sailing. We had a good meeting and two weddings--Soren Larsen from [-] and Neils Clemmensen.
Monday, 27 Wind light. Did not go far.
Tuesday, 28 Light wind from the east, but so warm we could [p.5] not go on the deck barefooted. One died.
Wednesday, March 1 Hardly any wind. Come very little way. Have our tents ready.
Thursday, March 2 Wind still in the forenoon. In the afternoon blew from the north and rained, and we sailed beautifully. The sailors have been smoking the cabins on account of health in the [-][UNCLEAR]. Wind northeast, right in our backs. We saw many kinds of fish--shark, whale, flying fish.
Friday, 3 Wind in the east, right on our back.
Saturday, 4 Wind the same. We are sailing as good as we can, about 60 miles a day. We saw one ship like ours. One died.
Sunday, 5 Wind east and good. We saw 3 ships. We had good meeting. My wife lost five twenty dollar gold pieces which we were sorry for.
Monday, 6 Morning saw we land. It is one of the West Indian Islands. We saw 4 ships. My wife found the lost money for which we are pleased and thank the Lord. The three islands we saw were St. Domingo, St. Thomas, and St. Cuba; they belong to our fatherland and are 200 Danish miles from America. They are south of us. Wind is east and we are sailing good.
Tuesday, 7 Morning, saw we land again and a very high mountain a couple of miles south of us. Wind easterly, and we are sailing well. Last evening had a dance from 8 to 10 o'clock.
Wednesday, March 8 Morning we saw Cuba to the north of us with very high hills. We were but 1 mile from land. The air was not clear so we could see but sand banks. Wind east. Good sailing.
Thursday, March 9 Was we again Cuba's high mountains that went above the clouds. Such sight have we never seen before. The air is not clear so we can see if the land is fruitful, but they are way above the clouds so they are hardly inhabited. Wind easterly and we are sailing good. We see ships now everyday. This afternoon we had council meeting. The presidents reported their districts. Some are weak in the faith, and some have not means to take them through. Hans Jensen from Jutland don't know where he is going, and J. Jespersen the same. Some lack a little and some have none at all. President Olsen gave much good counsel. We must keep each other spiritual as well as temporal. Want no one to stop at New Orleans as it was a robber town but go as far as St. Louis where there were 4,000 Saints. Meeting adjourned till Saturday.
Friday, March 10 We saw Cuba again. Wind easterly, but light. Air is heavy with rain. We are sailing very well but slow.
Saturday, March 11 Northeast wind and sail northwest very [p.6] well. An outgoing ship reached us today at noon with Dutch aboard. We was so near that the captains spoke to each other. They were about half as many as we. It had three masts was much less than our ship. We saw a brig, two masts, no passengers, but in ballast. Five o'clock was council meeting. The Saints felt better spiritually, but several were short temporally. President Olsen said that all should try to come up the river from New Orleans to St. Louis, and wanted the Saints in meeting tomorrow to see about the needy and help them.
Sunday, March 12 We sailed well today. Tonight we are a long way from that two masted ship that followed us yesterday. The wind today is northeast. We sail north northeast. We had good meeting.
Monday, March 13 A child died. Monday morning we saw the last of Cuba. It was low and flat and many . . . [UNCLEAR]. We have now 200 Danish miles to America. The wind is north and as much wind as the sails can carry. We sailed good speed north northeast.
Tuesday, March 14 Wind same as yesterday. We sailed past several ships smaller than ours. The birds are beginning to visit us.
Wednesday, March 15 Morning wind was still. Along in the day began to fresh up, toward evening was still again. An old sister died. Brother Swen Ladsen from Norway went wrong in his head that we had to watch him.
Thursday, March 16 Light wind form southwest. If it would clear up we could see land this evening. We are sailing north little the last 24 hours. We drifted back 20 miles. We have yet 200 miles to America.
Friday, March 17 Today the wind is favorable. Are making good time with northwest wind. A child died.
Saturday, March 18 Tonight the wind was so strong that we had to take in all the sails. The wind is not so heavy, but a head wind, so we have to cruise. Yesterday little Christine's eyes were so poorly that she was quite sick. She is today a little better. Thank the Lord the rest are all well. Many of the Saints are not well. Some are so weak they can not walk. Some have their feet swelled that looks like dropsy. Many are much tired over many things that transpires among us. The wind is again still, so we are drifting back.
Sunday, March 19 We have a good wind from southwest, but so foggy we can't see far. Water is as muddy as at Liverpool. We keep on sailing back and forward. The Lord knows why he will not allow us to land. We sail now south then north then east and west. Today we are fasting and praying for the unclean spirits that many among us are in possession of that the Lord will soon allow us to land. For 8 days we have not come any nearer. Our prayer is that the Lord will have mercy and compassion on us. Four o'clock came a war vessel loaded and went ahead of us to [p.7] America's land. Five and one half o'clock we first saw the mouth of the Mississippi. We cast anchor and lay there till morning.
Monday, March 20 We have splendid weather, a little foggy. Saw many birds and fish, especially untold seal and many ships. Seven thirty o'clock came a beautiful steamship like a three story building and took us in tow. Great relief to our hearts. It is six weeks and three days since we were towed out of Liverpool Harbor. We have been about 8 weeks on the ship. We rejoice now to see the end of the long sea voyage. Ten o'clock it left us and another with three other ships and took us along. The beautiful steamship took us and three others and towed us up the Mississippi River. It was grand to see land on both sides. We were but a gunshot from land with both sides. It is like a large swamp full of trees. Some large and some small trees are floating in the water. Several lighthouses and a town we passed. It is still weather and very warm. Here is many mosquitos. We travel easterly higher up the river. We came to small houses and cattle and beautiful green trees. Eight thirty o'clock all five ships tied up till morning.
Tuesday, March 21 Six o'clock sailed the steamship with all 4 ships. We saw today many nice residences and plantations, 2 forts right across from each other, several good harbors, and trees full of oranges, great many wild turkeys. We saw many wolves and ducks and many birds we did not know. The land is very flat but little improved. The water is fresh in the river and runs constantly out in the Spanish Sea. A great many trees float out with the stream A good deal of it is taken to land. After 10 o'clock we passed a large grove on fire. It looked like a great illumination in the night.
Wednesday, March 22 Six o'clock we began to sail. Last night we had the hardest thunder, lightning, and rain that I ever saw. We saw today many beautiful gardens and sugar plantations. Horses were small. We saw cows and sheep. It is a beautiful sight, so level and flat, so green and fruitful it looks with pretty groves on the plantations. Saw we the black slaves at work, 30 to 50 in a gang. On the steamship are 6 blacks. They do the heaviest work. They buy them here for $25 each. Half that we have seen yet are black. We ran aground but after a couple of hours hard work came off again. We see . . . [UNCLEAR] yet, but the farther the prettier buildings
. We landed in the harbor of New Orleans 3:30 o'clock. Two agents from Zion, Brother Brown and one other, came aboard to help for us, and brought word from Zion that all was well. They took us to a store where we could buy things. A Brother Olsen together with the agent found soon a steamboat that we will take tomorrow. Great many came aboard to us.
Thursday, March 23 We sent in the city and bought things for the journey. Powdered sugar is cheap--4 cents [a] pound, rice cent [a] pound, butter 12 cents [a] pound. Two o'clock we went aboard the new steam- [p.8] boat. The black carried our baggage from one ship to the other. The sailors on the new ship are better to us than the old. The black are polite and the folks in the city are accommodating.
Friday, March 24 We got our provisions aboard and enjoyed ourselves in the nice weather about the city to see the many black people and especially in the harbor we saw many wonderful . . . . [UNCLEAR] on the ships, especially steamers. The city and streets are not so pretty, but the harbor and the shipping is a delightful sight. It is quite warm here to go about the city. Potatoes are not to buy. They cost $7 a barrel. Fish we can hardly get with money. Dress goods are dear. A pair of boots for myself cost $16, but groceries are cheap, such as sugar and . . . . [UNCLEAR] Ironware is dear. Grain is dear.
Saturday, March 25 It is raining so we must stay aboard. The marshal have hard work to get all aboard to get ready to sail. Five o'clock we sailed with the new ship. It was nice to see beautiful meadows on both sides of the Mississippi River with woods and buildings. But both land and water are cursed and for that reason it is very unhealthy. We ran aground tonight and had to have help of another steamship as before. That and ours worked all night and got off at daylight. My wife took sick, 11 o'clock this evening with cramps in hands and feet, and so hard taken with diarrhea and vomiting, and at 2 the 26 of March, which is Sunday, she could not talk, but went quite dark on her hands and feet, likewise eyes and mouth and cold all over her body. She soon got medicine but did no good. She could not stand to have the clothes on her which we dearly wanted her to have on to keep her warm, but she held her hands in the air as if pointing toward heaven, but now she could not speak. I gave have her a little wine, sugar, and water as long as she could swallow. Sunday, March 26th, 2 o'clock p.m. she died peacefully. The ship carpenter made soon coffin for her. And in the evening 9 o'clock the ship came to land and we carried her a distance in the woods, 10 men, and dug there a grave for her, and buried her there in all quietness where she can rest in peace till we see each other again in the resurrection.
Monday, March 27 Quite early, we ran aground but came loose again with our own help. There are already three dead this morning. The Lord have mercy on me and my children.[THE SON OF RASMUS NEILSEN (CHRISTIAN EMIL) NOTED HERE AFTER TRANSLATING A PORTION OF HIS FATHER'S JOURNAL IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY, This is the last my father wrote. The next day on the 28th he died,. . . .] [p.9]
BIB: Neilsen, Rasmus. Journal, (Ms 6006), (Typescript), translated from Danish by his son C. E. Neilsen, Mona, March 21, 1902, pp. 1-9. (
CHL)
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