. . In 1863 Father and Mother, my two sisters, Celia and Henrietta and myself left our home and started for America. The other children had already been sent ahead, two at a time. We boarded the ship Amazon, leaving London the first part of June, 1863. We were six weeks and three days reaching New York harbor. Because of very hard winds, the captain said we had traveled many extra miles on the sea. There were 882 Saints aboard and 100 sailors. I was the only one of my family who was not seasick. I waited on them for three days. We were out of food as so many were sick. I went down into the kitchen to try to help prepare food for my family. While there I took cold and became very sick. They were afraid they would have to bury me at sea. Again the elders administered to me. I was given another good blessing. I was made strong and able to continue my journey to Utah. Two Welsh brethren gave me the blessing.
When we landed in New York both my parents were ill. My two sisters were small and I was still weak from my sickness, but it was up to me to get something for us all to eat. We soon boarded the train and were on our way to Zion. One day the train had one of the cars catch fire and burned much of the people's luggage. All their clothing was destroyed. The railroad company gave the train officials $5,000.00 to pay for the loss, but for some reason our family did not receive any. When we reached Saint Joseph we took a steamboat for Florence and as the river was low some had to get off and walk along the bank. There was wild fruit along the way and we were able to gather some and eat it. At Florence the people made camp for a week. We heard cannons of the Civil War while we were at Florence. I went to see if I could get a little money for our losses from the railroad company, but was told that it had been paid to the emigrants. As I began to inquire around I found that none of the Saints had received money for their losses. We had all been cheated of our rights.
Our company of Saints arrived in Salt Lake City, October 6, 1863, the first day of conference . . . [p.364]
BIB: Wall, Francis George, [Autobiography], Our Pioneer Heritage
, comp. By Kate B. Carter, vol. 7 (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1964) p. 364. (CHL)
(source abbreviations)