. . . My Uncle Gibson Condie and his wife with her two daughters are Joyce and Mary and William Hunter and family and a few more families of Saints from Clackmannan going to America. Apostle Orson Pratt chartered a ship for the Saints, those going to New Orleans, America. Father then went to the office and paid for us to go. The name of the ship, Zetland. A fine ship, the commander Captain Brown. We was delayed three weeks longer than we expected on account the ship not being ready. We all went on board the vessel. They were over four hundred Saints composed of English and Scottish. Brother Orson Pratt and few other elders came on board the vessel, and organized us and appointed, Brother Orson Spencer as our president with his two counselors, Brother James Ure and Brother Mitchell. Brother Pratt then stated to the Saints, "if you would follow the direction and advice of those brethren we have appointed all will be well with you." He also blessed the Saints and he gave them some good counsel and advice how to be clean and not forget their prayers and live as Saints and respect the ship's officers all would be well with them. He promised them the ship would arrive in New Orleans with the Saints all safe. It was a time of rejoicing to the Saints to have an Apostle, Brother Pratt, giving us such good counsel and advice, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, promising us in the name of the Lord that all would be well with us and arrived in safety. Also the beautiful hymns was sung for that occasion, farewell hymns &c. Orders then was given to set up sail. A steamer came along then and pulled us out of the docks into the Irish Channel. The Saints then took a last look of their native land. While many shed tears, parting with their friends and singing their farewell hymns it was very touching almost to everyone. When we was in the Irish Channel the steamer then returned back again to Liverpool, accompanied by several of the elders in Liverpool. Our ship was then left to herself. Then the ship began to toss to and fro. The buckets or cans would tip over. I would say we left Liverpool January 29, 1849. The people than began to be sick, dizziness, began to vomit. They could not [p.23] sit up nor eat anything. They call it seasickness. Everyone [who] goes to sea, they generally have that attack, lasts three days and sometimes longer. A person do not feel like eating. They feel as though they could not live. I was about a week myself before I was able to be round again. Shortly after we left the docks, the first mate of our vessel got drunk and neglected his duties while we were in the Irish Coast or Channel. It is [a] very dangerous sea full of rocks, &c. Our ship had a narrow escape from being dashed to pieces. She run against some rocks. The captain thought there were [was] something wrong. He then saw for himself the danger of the vessel and he then took charge and change the course of the vessel. He then took first mate into custody. He was not permitted to be on deck on daytime, only at night. His office was took from him. He was a prisoner all the way to New Orleans. The Lord was over us and preserved us from the jaws of death. Another circumstance, our galley (fireplace) got on fire. We were all frightened, our vessel being on fire, no way to escape only to jump into the sea and be drowned. We succeeded in then checking the flames. Having in our power, we all felt thankful to our Heavenly Father in preserving us [in] the two narrow escapes we had. On Sundays the captain gave permission for the Saints to have their meetings on deck and it was well attended. Good order prevailed. Generally the captain and most of the crew would listen very attentively and come regular to our meetings. The Saints were well pleased with their president, Brother Spencer, and they greatly respected the captain always at his post if they were any danger. We enjoyed ourselves pretty well on the ship. We would amuse ourselves [with] all kinds of games, playing checkers. We would set our hook and line by the side of the ship, catch the fish. It was a grand sight to see the beautiful fishes of all kinds. They were very large. There were many a day that I have been amused to see them play around the ship. The sailors set their hook and line hanging by the side of the ship. One day the sailors hauled up a dolphin on deck. It was as large fish, larger than a horse. We were scared to see this monster. The sailors cut it in pieces, gave to the passengers; some would eat
, others did not care about it. If there were any sickness on board we would see the sharks follow the ship for days. I think we lost two children deaths on the voyage. They sew them up in a sheet and threw them overboard. The sharks then are ready to devour. It is very sad affair to throw the dead overboard to be devoured, ate by the sharks. Our health generally was very good. The provisions we had, they were a variety, very good and enough to share. We lived well.. They were all satisfied with the provisions we had. If there were any quarreling on ship it would be around the galley or fireplace on account of their pots on the fire. They would remove their pots to one side, they then would put theirs [on]. They would [p.24] get angry and have hard words one with another. While on ship, a man wished to be baptized. On his request it was granted to him. It was a grand sight to see Jamaica Island. When we came in sight, the natives in their canoes would come along and bring different kinds of fruit to sell. They would get in our ship. I should think we would be two miles from land, we would then see other islands day after day. The largest of the islands is Cuba. The natives with their canoes would come for miles out of sea and sell fruits, fishes and nuts &c. When we saw the islands in a distance say from two to five miles we all felt thankful to our Heavenly [Father] to see once more land at a distance. We had been for weeks [and] could not see land, only the great waters all around us. A few days more we come into the Gulf of Mexico. Fresh water. It was a grand sight to see the dividing line between the Atlantic sea/salt and the Gulf fresh water. You would have thought there [is] a wall built expressly to separate the salt and fresh water. As far as the eye could see you would thought it was a solid wall. I consider we were greatly blessed. Enjoyed health & strength. Having good times on the ship, free from diseases. We were about nine weeks on ship. While we was in the Gulf we could not go any further. I think we stayed a day waiting for a steamer to tug us up the river to New Orleans. They were another vessel waiting also in the Gulf. That ship came from Africa with a load of slaves (Negroes) to sell. A steamer came along and took both ships. Ships on each side of the steamer. We would go over to the other ship and see the negroes; how they were fed on cornbread &c. This was the first that I ever tasted corn doger. They gave us some to eat. I like it very well. I think from the Gulf to New Orleans is about 100 miles. We arrived all safe. From Liverpool to New Orleans is over 5000 miles (arrived at New Orleans April 2). The surroundings all around New Orleans down the river is like a paradise. The slaves (negroes) were sold at this place commanding a high prices at auction. The same as they do selling horses. Here we left New Orleans by steamer, bidding adieu the faithful ship Zetland, also the captain & officers. For St. Louis we continued going up the river, occasionally landing at places to get wood. It was cut in cord wood for the engine. It is a beautifully country all the way up the river. Here then we arrived all safe. I think the distances from New Orleans to St. Louis 1800 miles. We arrived at night. While on steamer my Father was sleeping or dozing. That night one of the sharpers came along. Took fathers watch, cut the chain. Father then reported to the captain, that was all about it. It appears there are a class of men on the steamers who steals and plunder for a living. Next morning Father thought he would go onshore and take one of our boxes on his shoulders. He walked along one of the planks. It appears the plank spring [p.25] up. He then lost his balance. He and the box falls in the river. He sank and rose again looking. He saw some loose ropes hanging down the sides of the steamer. He swam and grasp one of the ropes and climbed himself on deck. We were surprised to see him on deck all his clothes wet. No one see him fall in the river. He undressed and put on dry clothes. We were all thankful to our
Heavenly Father in preserving Father from being drowned. That day we all went onshore with our boxes &c. I think it was the first part of April we arrived in St. Louis. Here we found some of our old acquaintances from Clackmannan. They came here in 1
848, the Sharps, Fifes, Wilsons and others. They advised us to come to Grove Diggins, seven miles from St. Louis. Father and all of us went. It is a coal mining place. Shortly after Father one day went to St. Louis and bought two cows for eleven dollars for both. Pork could be bought at one cent per pound, sugar browned 20 pounds for a dollar, good whiskey 20 cents per gallon. Other things was very cheap. Coal miners was making good wages, laboring men the same. The people lived well. It was the custom if you visit any house they would bring out a gallon jug with liquor and treat you. We had to follow the custom the same as they. They were mostly all Mormons here mixed with English & Scotch and a few Americans. They were a Branch President by Elder John Easton. They had very good meetings. Father and I, we went in the coal mines. We worked a few months. We made good wages. My sister Janet was married to Joseph Sharp. Brother John Sharp from Clackmannan. August 28th 1849 married by Elder John Easton, shortly after we arrived. Mother was confined to a son [who] shortly died in confinement since then. Father maned him Robert. Cholera set in Grove Diggins. Raging fearful also in St. Louis. All along the river. There were many thousand attacked by the destroyer. Hundreds died of that plague. I had seen able bodied men being attacked. They would not live many hours. The Saints was attacked as well as the gentile. I have seen the father & mothers and children only one left to tell the tale. I well remember they called a prayer meeting at night to implore their Heavenly Father to bless and comfort those who were bereft. Children lost their parents, mothers lost their husbands &c. They were very humble and sorrowful. All alone in the world. No one to attend to their wants and to stay the plague. We did have a good time, the Spirit of God rested upon the speakers. The gifts of tongues and interpretation the Spirit of prayers and singing. It was a comfort to the Saints. About that time in St. Louis a fire broke out destroying many blocks. Hundreds of houses. mostly stores in the main part of the city. You could see the blaze of the fires at night for miles around. It was a fearful sight to look at. I went to St. Louis next day, and saw the ruins. There were millions of [p.26] dollars destroyed. That large fire quenched the plague, the cholera abated. My little sister, Mary, took sick and died. She was going on three years old. In that part of the country fever and ague prevailed. Father was attacked with that disease. It lasted for weeks, may a time he told his family he would have to die. He suffered fearful and he had no hoped for recovery, but the Lord had mercy on him. He gradually recovered again.
One day father went to St. Louis. There were an auctions selling condemned government guns. They were in large boxes. I supposed about 50 in a box. They were barrels. The stocks was not there. Father bought, I think, a couple of boxes. They were rifles barrels or augers. He went to a gunsmith if they would stock them. Arrangements were made, prices was fixed. He was a German. He then stocked the guns. Father then went around selling them. Father was anxious to leave that part of the country
, [he] being unhealthy. He wanted to go up the river to Council Bluffs, Iowa. He then made arrangements to leave. We left about the first of March 1850. We lived in Grove about eleven months. We engaged a team to take our luggage and ourselves to St
. Louis. We left behind my sister, Janet and husband. Also my Uncle Gibson and family. They were all going to start that spring for Salt Lake City. They were to buy wagons & oxen in St. Louis. There were many of the Saints that year going to Salt Lake City. Brother Nathaniel Felt presided in St. Louis then. We made arrangements to go by steamer to St. Joseph. We continued our journey by steamer up the river. My mother was taken sick. She had a miscarriage on board. She had to be packed in her bed with four men took her ashore in St. Joseph, Missouri. We stayed until mother got better. We were thankful to see mother getting better. She had a narrow escape of death. Some thought she could not live, her being so low. But the Lord preserved her for a wise purpose. Father and Brother Joseph Slinger made arrangements with a man his first name Henry. He called himself a brother in the church. He had three yoke of cattle and a good wagon. We then continued our journey by land for Council Bluffs. The roads then was very muddy in March. Brother Slinger and wife having a large family, they were English, both families had to walk all the way, except the mothers and small children. We had a fearful time in traveling going through mud holes. The wagon would get fast in the mud. The women would get out of the wagon. If there were any hole on the road we would pry on the wheels. Sometimes we would unload. The cattle sometimes would not pull out the empty wagon. Sometimes the cattle had too much corn, they were foundered. They would not pull. They were bulky. It tried all our patience. Our clothes were in mud. We continued that for days . We did not travel many miles a day in that condition. We were all getting tired of our journey. I would not like to pass through the same ordeal. [p.27] We arrived at Kanesville, Council Bluffs after a tedious journey. Very dirty. Anxiously [wait for] a place for us to change our clothes and to have a good wash to clean our bodies. We were very thankful again to have another resting. First thing Father wanted to buy a place. He inquired for places who was selling. All around Council Bluffs they were mostly Mormons. They were driven from Missouri and Illinois and came here to have a start and then continue to go with the body of the church in the Rocky Mountains. Father then found one who wanted to sell out. . . [p.28]

. . . We lived in Council Bluffs two years and three months. We lived very comfortable. It is a fine place to live in. A poor man if he has a farm he would do well. They generally have good crops. Wheat do not yield much. It is more adapted for corn. The land is very rich. Brother Orson Hyde came along and organized us in a company. We were in Captain Howell's Company. He had charge of 100 wagons. They were divided into fifties and tens. Brother McCullock was the captain of our ten. . . [p.33]

. . . We traveled up the Big Mountain five miles very rocky until we got to the top. We could have a view part of Salt Lake Valley and descended down the other side until we came to the foot of the Little Mountain. We again traveled up the mountain. Had to double until we got to the top, about one mile and half in length. We could have a good view in the Valley and descended down the Little Mountain. Lock both wheels all they way until we came to Emigration Canyon. We passed Captain Smooth's company. They were camping. We traveled down Emigration until we came to the bench. Now we had a beautifully view of the Valley and its surroundings. I marveled to myself how the pioneers could find their way cross the mountains making roads, cutting brush and timber to come to this beautifully Valley. Surely the Lord opened their way for them to pass through the chain of mountains and canyons. Our company of 13 wagons arrived in Salt Lake Valley September 2, 1852. The rest of the company would be in a five days. We left part of the company 500 miles back. It was considered to do so on account of feed being scarce and water to go in small in companies. . . . [p.35]

BIB: Condie, Gibson. Reminiscences and diary, (1849), pp. 23-28,33,35. (CHL)
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