"The ship Ellen went out of dock on the 6th instant, having on board a company of Saints, consisting of four hundred and sixty-six souls, under the presidential care of Elders J. [James] W. Cummings, Crandall Dunn, and William Moss. . . ."
MS, 13:2 (Jan. 15, 1851), p.24
"FIFTY-SECOND COMPANY. -- Ellen, 466 souls. The ship Ellen sailed from Liverpool on Monday, January 6th, 1851, having on board a company of Saints, consisting of four hundred and sixty-six souls, under the presidential care of Elders James W. Cummings, Crandall Dunn, and William Moss.
The ship remained anchored in the river opposite Liverpool until the eighth, about eleven o'clock a.m., when anchor was weighed, and the Saints were soon under way with a fair wind. The good Ellen ran at the rate of seven miles an hour till about eleven o'clock at night when she struck a schooner, thereby breaking her jib boom and main and foreyards. The following day the captain put into Cardigan Bay, North Wales, to repair, and in a few days the ship was ready for sea again; but as the wind on the very day the vessel put into port changed to an unfavorable quarter and remained there for three weeks, she remained in port; and the Saints considered the accident that had happened a blessing to them, as they were comfortable in port while hundreds of people were being tumbled about on the face of the troubled seas. During the storm many vessels were also wrecked, and hundreds of human beings consigned to a watery grave. The captain at length became impatient, and although the wind still continued unfavorable, the Ellen again weighed anchor on the twenty-third of January and put to sea, but the wind blew a strong gale from the direction the ship wanted to sail, and consequently only a little progress was made for several days. On February 1st, however, the wind changed to a favorable quarter the Ellen stood fairly out to sea, and the passengers soon lost sight of the Irish coast. From that time they enjoyed pleasant weather and fair winds, and on the night of the fourteenth of March, the Ellen anchored in the Mississippi River, off New Orleans, making the passage from Cardigan Bay (which is twelve hours sail from Liverpool) in seven weeks. During the voyage ten deaths occurred, two adults, namely, James Wright, of Skellow, and the wife of William Allen, from the Birmingham Conference; the remainder were children. Brother Wright and Sister Allen died of fever; four of the children died with the measles, three of consumption and one of inflamation of the chest. The measles broke out among the emigrants the day they left the dock, and nearly every child on board had them, besides several adults. Altogether there were about seventy cases. Many of the children also suffered from what Elder Cummings terms the tropical cough, which was something similar to the whooping cough. During the voyage six marriages were also solemnized and one birth took place. Immediately after leaving port, the presidency on board divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting ten berths to each division, and a president appointed to preside over each six, so that there were twelve companies in the steerage with a president over each, and two to preside over the whole. The second cabin was organized in like manner. The priesthood were also organized, and presidents appointed over them to see that they attended to their duties. This complete organization was found to be of great utility in preserving peace, good order, and the health and comfort of the Saints while on board. President Cummings and his two counselors watched over their flock with the utmost care, and in meeting in council with the brethren who had charge of the smaller divisions they could easily learn the condition of every Saint on board. If any were sick, or in want, or in transgression, they were made acquainted with it immediately adopted measures to relieve the wants of the needy and to prevent iniquity from creeping into their midst.
Men were appointed to visit every family twice a day, and to administer to the sick.
At New Orleans the company chartered the steamer Alexander Scott, to take the emigrants to St. Louis, Missouri; they paid two and a half dollars per head for adults, all luggage included, and half price for children. The company left New Orleans on the morning of March 19th, and landed in St. Louis on the twenty-sixth after a good passage. Two children died coming up the river, and one child was born.
A number of the emigrants, who were not prepared to continue the journey right away, found employment in St Louis, while the others proceeded on their way to the Bluffs
. In the Frontier Guardian of May 16th, 1851, the following notice appears:
'Elders J. W. Cummings, Crandall Dunn and William Moss arrived at Kanesville per steamer Sacramento, on Friday, May 2nd, 1851, from St. Louis with a company of two hundred English Saints, generally in good health and spirits; many of the company are destined for the Great Salt Lake Valley this season, the remainder will settle in Pottawattamie. Elizabeth Bladen, one of the company, died of congestive fever coming up the river; her age is said to be nine years.' (Millennial Star, Vol. XIII, pages, 24, 158.)"
Cont., 13:7 (May 1892), pp.327-28
"Wed. 8. [Jan. 1851] -- The ship Ellen sailed from Liverpool, England, with 466 Saints, under the direction of James W. Cummings; it arrived at New Orleans, March 14th.
"
CC, p.41
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