Monday 28th. There was a couple married after we sailed, although unknown to me, but I was informed afterwards. [p. 46]
Monday 28th, March. This morning was appointed for us to sail from Liverpool, so I got up and wrote two letters, went and posted them, & when I returned about 10 a.m. the ship soon began to move out. The Saints was engaged in singing the songs of Zion &c while the sailors was heaving out the ship. We got clear through the gates about 5 minutes past 2 o'clock p.m. when the steamer tugged us out a few miles and then left us, moving along at 4 or 5 miles an hour and continued so till we went to bed.
Tuesday 29th. This morning I got up about 6 o'clock for prayers but after getting my clothes almost on I felt very sick and had to return to my bed again. I vomited considerable and being at the fore end of the ship [p. 47] I was brought down to about the center to sleep with Brother [James] Livingston for convenience of him waiting on me, and where the ship did not heave so much. I continued sick all that day and dept vomiting now & then. I understood that there was two marriages this day but I was unable to attend them.
Wednesday 30th. I continued sick all this day and could eat nothing but drank water & vomited it up again. Weather was still very tame.
Thursday 31st. I was still sick. I could take no meat. This day a child died aged 11 months. In the evening the wind began to rise & about 7 o'clock all in a sudden the ship commenced [p. 48] to rock & dart at such a rate and the tins tumbling back & forward, and also the boxes, for there was few of them tied for we was not looking for a storm, & when the chests began to tumble, them that was not in bed nor prepared for had to rush into bed clothes & all. Brother Livingston came running into the bed beside me while I lay sick. Shoes & all on, & Sister Widdison had went to her bed in the same way, the hoses was put on and left us all in the dark while the chests continued to dash from one side of the ship to the other in great fury. In the waves was dashing over the ship & was running in at the seams of the boat at a [p. 49] considerable rate which terrified some of the women & children. It continued in this way till about morning when it got a little tamer.
Friday 1st April. In the morning the hahas [UNCLEAR] was took off and they began to get up and everyone was seen looking for their property among the water & confusion of boxes, tins &c. Some chests was broke and their content scattered, many of which was never got, and a great many of the tins had to be thrown overboard. I was still unwell & had not the pleasure of seeing all the sports of the day, but it still continued to be course that day, and the apparatus for cooking was all destroy [UNCLEAR PROBABLY, destroyed] so that we could get nothing cooked, I having took no. [p. 50]
Monday 11th April. This morning I felt a little better, got up & washed & shaved myself. We had fine weather sailing at the rate of seven miles an hour. I stepped out of bed all day for the first since I left Liverpool. In the evening I was called to offer up prayer which I did and then retired to rest.
Tuesday 12th. This morning I got up about 6 a.m. in tolerable good health, and felt my heart full of joy & thanksgiving to my Heavenly Father for his kindness with me. I got washed & met as usual to prayers at 7 a.m. About this time there was to been seen at the fore end of the ship a great many fish jumping out of the water & the first mate wounded one of them with a spear and they [p. 51] shortly disappeared, before I had the pleasure of seeing them. About 10 a.m. there was a child died belonging to the English people and was put overboard in about an hour after. This child was the second that died belonging to the same parents. We had a shower of rain but afterwards brought about a fine day with a good wind, but in the evening it got very tame so that we was scarcely moving out of the place when we went to bed.
Wednesday 13th. We had a good wind and going very well. This day I felt rather unwell [-] to the change of climate & in the evening had to go to bed.
Thursday 14th. This morning I still felt unwell & was so all day. Still I was able [p. 52] to be on deck & sewed a piece of the tent cover. This day we saw a drove of fish porpoises swarming around the ship. The mate wounded one upon which the rest shortly disappeared. This day we had a good wind and was going pretty quick. We had a prayer meeting at 4 o'clock but I could not attend for getting sick at the end of the ship. At night I felt a little better.
Friday 15th this morning I felt a good deal better & tried to make myself useful in getting our food cooked & this day was very calm so that we moved but very slowly along.
Saturday 16th this day I felt well & to rejoice. We had good wind & going first rate. [p. 53]
Sabbath 17th. This morning I felt first rate. It was a beautiful morning and we enjoyed ourselves reading the stories & till 11 o'clock a.m., when we convened together in the fore end of the ship for preaching & dispersing the sacrament &c, the Spirit of God rested on them that addressed the meeting. After sacrament the Saints bore testimony and much of the Spirit of God was felt by all present. At 4 o'clock we had preaching on deck. Several of the brethren spoke with much spirit & power. The ship captain & some of the crew was present.
Monday 18th. It was rather courser this day & I did not feel very well. [p. 54]
Tuesday 19th & Wednesday 20th. I still felt unwell it still being rather course. 20th a child died aged about 4 years.
Thursday 21st. I felt a good deal better this morning at 9. Dull. We had all to get on deck while our berths was inspected & washed out. This I sewed a piece of the tent cover and tried to enjoy myself although I did not feel altogether well.
Friday 22nd. This morning I felt still not so well. About the middle of the day the wind rose very high and tossed us about considerable & I felt sick and then vomited up all that was on my stomach and was very unwell and had to go to bed in the after- [p. 55] noon, but got up again at half past 8 p.m. & felt a little better it being a little tamer. This day Brother Brothal, for him who was in possession of the evil spirit had got handcuffed & the elders had administered him but not effectual.
Saturday 23rd, a fine day with a good wind I was well all this day and went on watch from 12 at night till 3 in a.m.
Sabbath. 24th a fine morning with a good wind & I felt well in health. At 11 a.m. we met in the fore end of the ship & administered the sacrament. The Saints bore testimony & all felt to rejoice under the instruction that was given. The president requested the priesthood to join with [p. 56] him in fasting before the Lord that the evil influence that was upon Brother Rockwell [Rockell] might be removed by their administration which many of them did. We had preaching on deck at 4 p.m. when several of the elders addressed the meeting to the joy of the Saints. The captain met & some of the ship crew was present. In the evening the elders met in council . . . They then united in prayer and went & laid hands on him in the name of the Lord and administered to him, but he was little better that night. [p. 57]
Monday 25th. This morning I felt well, we had a fine day & pretty good wind, but in the evening it got very damp & foggy.
Tuesday 26th. Rather courser this morning & I felt not quite so well. About the middle of the day it got very stormy. The sail was almost all taken down & the rain fell in torrents & it continued so all day with very short intervals. I felt a little sickish & unwell all that day but managed to be up all the time. Many of the brethren & sisters was sick & vomiting. I was called at 8 o'clock to offer up prayer with the Saints which I did.
Wednesday 27th. Very calm this morning & I felt very well. About the middle of the day the wind rose and blew us along first rate. [p. 58] In the evening it got very wet & the wind very low so that it was about a standstill. We saw a great deal of lightning this night as well & last night, Brother Rockwell [Rockell] was still unwell. I stood on guard with him from 6 to 9 p.m. The president & several of the elders administered to him but had not yet effect, half [-], 10.
Thursday 28th. Rose at 8 this morning. I felt well in health. It was very wet, but soon faired and we had a fine day.
Friday 29th. All well. The wind was very calm and the day was very warm & in the evening it was so calm that we was not moving out of the place. This day several ships was to be seen around us. [p. 59]
Saturday 30th. All well. The wind was now began to rise a little better and blew us along it being right behind us. In the afternoon the wind rose higher & we was going about 9 or 10 knots an hour. At 4 a.m. we had a council meeting at which some useful items of business was done. It was also agreed that we present the captain of the ship & the 1st & 2nd mates with a memorial testifying of their kindness to us &c. It was thus agreed that we be allowed another hour on deck at night, till 10 instead of 9.
Sabbath 1st May. All well with a fine morning & the wind still on our favor going about 10 knots an hour. At 11 a.m. we met in the fore end of the ship dispensed the sacrament and had much [p. 60] good instructions from the elders who spoke & those that bore testimony. Much of the spirit of God was poured out upon the meeting & all felt to rejoice. We met on deck at 4 o'clock. I was called to open by prayer. The Saints was then addressed by several of the elders to the rejoicing of the Saints.
Monday 2nd. I rose half past 6, all well, it was a fine morning. The ship was still going at 10 or 11 knots an hour. This morning we saw many fowls flying in the air which we thought was a sign of land. We was also visited with many porpoises who came with great speed to our vessel as if fond to see us. The passengers also came running to see them [p. 61] being so long without visitors was glad to see them in the absence of better. We continued to go on well the remaining part of the day.
Tuesday 3rd. All well. The wind still in our favor. As the day broke up the wind rose higher and we was going very quick and heaving considerable & I felt rather squeamish & unwell & in the afternoon went to bed a little but rose again and felt a little better the remainder of the evening. I came on at 12 p.m. to watch the ship below.
Wednesday 4th. This morning at a little past one o'clock a.m. while on watch was to be seen a light right ahead of us. It was a lighthouse on land which was joyful news to all of us. [p. 62] Several of the brethren & sisters came on deck to see it. I went to bed at 3 again but the brethren that stopped up some land at the place where the light was about 5 o'clock but they soon passed it. At about 10 a.m. we could see land on the other side south side but soon disappeared again. The wind was still in our favor & sailing very well. In again some rocks that we saw on the south side. At night it commenced to rain & lightning to fly. The rain continued to fall all night in torrents far to surpass anything we was accustomed to in the old country. The thunder & lightning also continued at a awful first rate all night almost without intermission.
Thursday 5th. This morning [p. 63] the wind was very calm, occasioned by the rain the night before and the sun was very warm. After breakfast, at half past 9 a.m. we had all to come on deck and bring our beds with us to be aired. While our berths was smoked out, it was very hot on the deck and little or no wind os that we was moving little all day. We saw a great many large black fish today that almost half out of the water. The mate fired several shots at them but could not shoot any of them. We saw dolphin fish also. We had no meeting today owing to the heat. At night I was called to open the meeting by singing & prayer, which we prolonged a little owing to having none that day. [p. 64]
Friday 6th. Some of the brethren at 6 a.m. this morning went into bathe, it being very calm & warm still, but the wind rose a little and we went on somewhat quicker. In the afternoon the wind rose still higher and we went on first rate. About 6 p.m. there was a ship passed us just a few rods from the stern. Both ships hoisted their colors & the passengers saluted each other with a cheers repeatedly. Prayers as usual at 8 o'clock.
Saturday 7th. All well. This morning many of the brethren was out & got bathed. The wind from 4 a.m. began to get lower until we was going but very slow in the forenoon, & it was very warm. This morning we saw some rocks, on the south side. About night the wind got a little higher & we moved on better. [p. 65]
Sabbath 8th. This morning we got up at half past 4 a.m. and got a bath & at 11 a.m. we met in the fore end of the ship. We had teachings from the elders the sacrament was dispensed & the Saints bore testimony and the spirit of God was poured out upon us and we all rejoiced together. We again met on deck at 4 o'clock, and was addressed by President [Cornelius] Begnall [Bagnall] & J. [James] McNatin [Mc Naughtan]. A vote of thanks was given by the Saints to the captain for his kindness to them and the interest he manifested in preserving their health &c &c. We had a good breeze all day.
Monday 9th. A good morning with a fine breeze, but it began to get lower till in the evening it was very calm & had been very warm all day. [p. 66]
Tuesday 10th. It was still very calm & we was not moving out of the places & it was exceeding warm. Many of the brethren went into the sea to bathe & in the afternoon I went in also & I swimmed away before the ship &c and after stopping in a good while I got pulled up with a rope. The evening was still very close & warm & we stopped late on deck as it was very suffocating below & some of them slept on deck & some of them brought up their beds. Others slept on chests & on the floor below it was so very warm in the beds.
Wednesday 11th. It was still very calm & very warm this morning and one of the boys was in bathing at the fore end and letting [p. 67] go & swimming away. The ship got before him & he could not get the rope again but the 3rd mate threw him one at the stern as he passed and he got up & this put an end to their bathing. This day all our berths sweeped and washed out. In the afternoon we had a meeting at which was read the memorials that was presented to the captain & 2nd mate for their kindness to us. Both of their replies was read also which was very satisfactory to us. A memorial was also read which was to be presented to the president & one to each of his counselors, which received the sanction of the meeting. Memorials was also to be presented to the president of each ward and a vote of [p. 68] thanks was given to the stewards, cooks &c. We also had some good instruction with regard to landing & the arrangements of the goods. After meeting the wind got a little higher and we moved on fine.
Thursday 12th. Was very warm with very little wind. This day was appointed for the concert to come off as had been before agreed to, so all the names was taken that could sing or recite, and we came together on deck about 7 p.m. and there enjoyed ourselves in singing &c till 11. The evening was very calm.
Friday 13th. Very calm & warm in the evening got a little stronger which we was glad of. [p. 69]
Saturday 14th. We had a better wind and was moving on first rate. All well.
Sabbath 15th. We had a fine wind & held our meeting & all as usual.
Monday 16th. We got the tug & crossed the bar and went on up the river.
On Tuesday 17th we anchored at night in sight of New Orleans, and landed the next day.
Thursday 19th. We got our luggage aboard the steamship St. Nicolas," then went down the river a small distance to get more cargo, and sailed the following day.
Friday 20th. In passing the ship Falcon we gave her three cheers. . . [p. 70][NO ACCOUNT OF JOURNEY TO SALT LAKE CITY CONTAINED IN THIS JOURNAL]
BIB: Leatham, James. Diaries, (Ms 1830) 1-2, vol. 1; pp. 46-70 Acc#26450 (CHL)
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