Naomi's Story
. . . Edgar, my oldest brother, left England in 1862 for America and Salt Lake City, and on June 4th, 1863, I set sail on the ship Amazon, accompanied by my brother Harry, a lad of thirteen years. We were placed in the care of Brother and Sister Dorsan. George Q. Cannon gave the departing Saints instructions and appointed officers for the company. On board ship there was a good band that discoursed lively music, and dancing was indulged in. Meetings were held on the ship which the ship's captain and officers attended. The weather was cold and stormy and most people were seasick. The ship cast anchor upon reaching the Isle of Wight, due to stormy weather. After three days the journey was resumed. One baby died and was consigned to a watery grave. When ships passed, the captains would communicate and signal with flags.
A riot in New York and dispute over wages had caused much trouble and the immigrants considered it providential that they were delayed in their journey until after the riot had subsided. Six weeks were spent on the ocean. The immigrants arrived at Castle Garden, then followed up the Hudson River to Albany, New York. Here I was surprised to find my former acquaintance, Edwin Dowden, laden with a basket of delicious refreshments, waiting to meet me. He pro- [p.48] posed to me but I declined as I had promised my parents I would consider no proposal of marriage until I reached Salt Lake City. Thus my true love gave up his position in New York and traveled west in the company as I. From Albany, New York, we were loaded into cattle cars and sent to St. Joseph, then, taking a boat up the Missouri River, we arrived at Florence, Nebraska. Here we rested three weeks, doing washing, patching, mending and preparing for the tedious journey across the plains.
Finally each individual was assigned to his company and wagon. Captain [Daniel D.] McArthur had charge of the company to which the Dorsans and I were assigned . . . .
. . . The company arrived in Salt Lake Valley October 2, 1863, and my brother, Edgar, who was ill at the time, walked fifteen miles from Salt Lake City to meet us . . . . [p.49]
BIB: Dowden, Naomi Debenham, [Autobiography], Our Pioneer Heritage, Comp. By Kate B. Carter, vol. 7 (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1964) pp. 48-49. (CHL)
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