On the 12 of May 1866 Mother, Claus, Carl, (myself), and Hilda, bid adieu to our native land. First day we went to Skofde where we remained ten days. While we were waiting there Father and August went to Gotenberg to get work, but failed, had to return to Skofde walking nearly also the way a distance of 84 miles.
In the meantime we left for Gotenberg arriving thee in the evening by rail. Eleven o'clock p.m. same evening we embarked
Everything being ready we left Hamburg June 1st 1866 the Saints were under the direction of Niels Nielson. We started out along the northern shores of Germany and Holland, then through the Strait of Dover into the English Channel. After that we saw nothing but the rolling billows, and the blue canopy of heaven for two months, with the exception of an endless variety of fishes sporting in the great deep. The only hope that we cherished was to look to that omnipotent being, that controls the elements and the destinies of mankind; for his watch care to be over us during our perilous voyage across the Atlantic. One stormy day the ship was going at a fast rate, a sailor fell over board, in front of the vessel, it going over him; when first seen behind the vessel he was bloody. Everything within the power of man was done to rescue him from a watery grave, but all in vain, he was left to the monster of the deep.
We sailed along for several weeks on our monotonous voyage; until one day we were aroused by the distant firing of cannon. The captain informed us that a vessel was firing to attract the attention of a pilot and that we was not far from New York. As we was on deck reconnoitering the distant shore a small schooner came in view, and in a short time it arrived at our vessel with a pilot, to pilot us into the New York harbor in safety. I gazed upon these men with great curiosity, as they were dressed in red and blue costumes. In one and a half days we reached the harbor, then we were compelled to stay on deck for two days while the quarantine officers were fumigating the ship. On the 31 of July 1866 a small steamer came out in the harbor and relieved Cavour (the vessel) of her burden. After being on the water for 61 days, three having died naturally and one fallen overboard, we were all glad to once more be on land, and we were soon walking up the streets of New York as happy as Columbus when he landed at San Salvador. We were all taken to Castle Garden, furnished our names for publication. We remained there until late in the [p.1] evening, then we all marched down the streets and embarked on a steamer. Next morning we landed and continued our journey westward, by rail, until we arrived at St. Louis. There we left many sick behind, after laying over one day and two nights on account of the cholera we continued our journey to St. Joseph by rail. There we embarked on a steamer, while we were going up the Missouri River first evening we buried four and the next (day) five. We arrived at Wyoming Nebraska August eleventh. I could not help but feel sad, in seeing suffering humanity excruciating in the most horrible manner until death relieved them of their suffering. It was daily sweeping young and old into a premature grave.
We left Wyoming August 13th 1866 traveling with ox teams; the dreadful cholera continues its ravages, until the cool weather, then it ceases . . . .
. . . As we approached the boundary of Utah, it was late in fall, and nature began clothing the everlasting hills with its white robes. We finally reached Parley's Canyon, which we passed through and camped at its mouth. Nest morning we arose very early, to gratify our enthusiasm by getting the first look at Salt Lake City and the surrounding country . . . . [p.2]
BIB: Anderson, Charles P., Journal of Charles P. Anderson, (Gilbert Publishing Co., 1975), pp. 1-2. (CHL)
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