President George Q. Cannon.
Dear Brother,--I hasten to pen you a line as I know you must be very anxious to hear of the whereabouts of the ship Amazon, and how we have got along. After you returned with the tug on the afternoon of the 4th, we had to contend with a head wind until Sunday morning about seven o'clock, when the captain put into the harbor and anchored near Portsmouth, as we had been three days contending with head winds and making no progress, or at least very little. During this time the people were pretty much all seasick: out of the whole company there were not more than twenty that could render assistance to their neighbors; but I must say those that were able worked faithfully to assist those who could do nothing for themselves. Slop buckets were loudly called for in every quarter.
After anchoring, the people rested and cleared up, and put everything in order again. The rest they enjoyed very much; it afforded them a good opportunity to get ready to emigrate. Their appetites are now most voracious--nothing comes amiss. Good health prevails generally in the company, and all appear lively and feel fine. No person wishes to return home to remain, but are perfectly willing to try it again so soon as the wind changes, and that we hope and pray will not be long. The wind is dead ahead, and is blowing a gale; we have still good faith that we shall arrive in good season at our distant port. All are satisfied with the provisions, and speak in high terms of the same. The captain and officers, so far, speak very highly of our company. The captain, hitherto, has proved himself to be a gentleman in every sense of the word, has been very kind, and has given me all I have asked of him for the comfort of the people--he is very kind indeed to all. He did not forget to drill the sailors, and give them their orders relative to insulting, or in any way interfering with the passengers; if they did, he told them what they might expect, which was something not very pleasant.
We deal out our own water daily and have a good supply. We organized the ship's company into fifteen wards, under the supervision of the following officers: John Wells, president of 1st Ward; 2nd Ward, James Poulton; 3rd ditto, Joseph Wilson; 4th ditto, L. A. Cox; 5th ditto, J. [Joseph] Kimber; 6th ditto, S. Liddiard [Samuel E. Leddiard]; 7th ditto, S. [Samuel L.] Evans; 8th ditto, D. [David D.] Williams; 9th ditto, A. [G.] Sutherland; 10th ditto, W. [William] Fowler; 11th ditto, A. W. Van der Woude [POSSIBLY: Vanderwood]; 12th ditto, J. [Joseph] W. Morgan; 13th ditto, J. Berrett [James Barrett]; 15th [p.399] E.T. Edwards; E. Larkin, sergeant of the guard; George Braithwaite, lamplighter and trimmer. We commence to deal out water at half-past five in the morning; while they are taking the water the others are cleaning up and making ready for prayers at seven o'clock; this is early, but we have to commence early or we should have night coming too soon upon us with such a large company. We have prayers at eight at night, and at nine o'clock the hurricane deck is cleared of all the sisters, and the guards are stationed to see that no female goes up after nine o'clock in the evening, and that no sailor goes below. On Sunday morning, at half-past four o'clock, Sister Harris, of Stratford, gave birth to a daughter, and both are doing finely. The wards cook in their turn; first ward commences first with breakfast, also the first with water: there are no dinners cooked until all have had breakfast, and dinners are cooked on the same principle. The next day ward No. 5 is first to take water and breakfast, and the same with all the meals. The following day the 10th Ward commences to take water and cook, and so pass round until all have cooked. We change every morning so as to give every one a chance to get something to eat, and it works very well considering the vast number of people there are to cook or be cooked for with our limited facilities. All feel well; the music from the brass band, songs and hymns succeed each other to cheer the hearts of the Saints and enliven the voyage, and the captain has often expressed his satisfaction with the people. Elders Sloan and Palmer have been pretty well. I have been better than I ever was before at sea; I have been able to move round most all the time. We hope to start from here soon. I must now close, with my kind regards to you and all with you. May God bless you and prosper you in the discharge of every duty; and while we pray for you and your associates, we do not forget ourselves while on our journey over the sea and plains, that the God of Israel will prosper and bless us on our way to Zion. Believe me to remain, your brother in the gospel.
W. [William] BramwellP.S.--June 9th, six o'clock p.m. Now the anchor is raised; we are off with a fair wind. I send this with the pilot. Goodbye; God bless you. All well; yours truly,
W.B. [p.400]
BIB: Bramall, W. [Letter] Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 25:25, (June 20, 1863), pp. 399- 400. (CHL)
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