. . . I shall not forget the grand old ship American Congress, with 350 Saints. I may say; the parting from father, mother, brothers and sisters is a trial that came too often in those days. To stand on deck and watch one's home pass slowly out of sight, well, one's feelings cannot be described. However, my help was needed to care for a little girl who, with her mother had left father, he being opposed to the Saints, and thought they could come to Zion and be happy. Dear Sister Wakefield, her heart failed her as she stepped on deck. She tried to return, but we were moving out to sea. The dear woman had to be carried below. She said to me, "I shall never walk again". She asked me if I would care for the little girl. Well, she was carried up on deck many times during the next six weeks but failing every day. She passed away on the banks of the Missouri. I had been to the river to wash my clothes. I stayed in the water too long, took cramp and was laid on a bed by the side of the dear dying sister. I remember telling the little girl to keep the flies out of her mother's mouth, and knew no more for three days. Some motherly women woke me and offered some broth. I asked for Sister Wakefield. She said she was buried two days since and the girl had gone on the plains. Thus ended my care for the poor child. However, in a few days I was ready for the trip and started with Daniel Thompson's train. . . [p. 1] [NO SALT LAKE CITY ARRIVAL DATE WAS GIVEN IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY]

BIB: Blair, William A. Autobiography, p. 1, IN Maxine L. Breinholt, Biographies (Ms 8691), reel 1, p.1. (CHL).
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