On board S. S. Wyoming, June 18, 1890.President George Teasdale.
Dear Brother,--We have now the pilot on board, and expect to arrive in New York tomorrow morning, and will then have made the voyage from Liverpool in 11 days, 16 hours.
It was a beautiful day when we left Liverpool, and the Saints were all rejoicing at the prospect before them; but as soon as we left Queenstown, the weather changed. A fresh breeze from the west sent us some showers of rain, and stirred up the waters of the deep. The ship rolled a little, but it was too much for some of our friends. This breeze continued, with fogs for a change, almost without interruption until Monday morning last. We have had lovely weather the past few days - the sea calm and the sun shining. The storm and fog have delayed us a little, but we feel pretty sure that even this delay is for our good, and we are happy and content.
It need not be said that some of the Saints were very seasick. They thought that the weather was uncommonly bad. Most of them recovered in three days, while some suffered a few days longer. A few cases of other kinds of sickness occurred, but the power of God was manifested in a remarkable degree, inasmuch as not one failure occurred whenever the sick were anointed and the diseases rebuked in the name of the Lord. It makes us all rejoice to think of this. There has also been felt a wonderful influence of the Spirit of God in all our meetings and associations with one another. We have had our prayer meetings and services regularly, and each meeting was well attended and contributed toward the preservation of the happy feeling with which we started on our way to Zion.
It is remarkable that people who have never seen each other before, come together from different countries, and feel like brothers and sisters toward each other, as the Saints do. There are in this company eight different nationalities; Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Germans, Swiss, Dutch, English and Americans, and there is only one spirit- one great aim. Surely, if this were not the work of God, it could be considered nothing short of a miracle.
The treatment we have received from the officers of the ship has been most excellent. We thought it proper to give some acknowledgment of this, and have, therefore, forwarded the following letter to the captain:
"Captain C. L. Rigby, Wyoming
At the close of this voyage, we feel it a very pleasant duty to express to you, on behalf of all the passengers associated with us, our acknowledgment and appreciation of the excellent treatment we have received in every respect during the time we have been on board your ship. Among the nearly 300 souls [p.442] that embarked with us at Liverpool, consisting of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, German, Dutch, Swiss and English people, only one feeling prevails, that of entire satisfaction. And we would, therefore, take great pleasure in recommending the Guion Line to emigrants intending to go to the United States of America. We also unitedly beg leave to assure you of our high esteem for yourself, and for the officers acting under your directions."
[Here follows the signatures].
Sometimes, among the Saints in Europe, the question is put, Why we always patronize this one line of steamers. But when the kind treatment we have had from this line is considered, the answer can be readily given. It would be a very poor move indeed, to take our patronage from friends, and give it perhaps to enemies.
It must also be mentioned that we had a family with us who, through some misunderstanding, had only money enough to take them to New York. The Saints, with great willingness, collected the money necessary to take them on their journey, and presented it to the needy family.
We feel to thank God for all his mercies manifested in so many and various ways towards us during our journey.
New York, June 19th.
I have only time to add that the company passed the authorities, with the exception of the family for whom we had gathered money. They will have to remain until examined by the commissioner.
One family by the name of Hahn, from Germany, lost their young child by death on board the barge that took us from the Wyoming to the steamer for Norfolk. The ship leaves for Norfolk at 3 p.m. today.
Respectfully yours,
J. M. Sjodahl. [p.443]
BIB: Sjodhal, J.M. [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 52:28 (July 14, 1890) pp. 442-43 (CHL)
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