Saturday, July, 1854.

. . . May 30, Elder Richard Cook writes. At the above date the vessel was at anchor at the island of Tortugas, four hundred miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River. The vessel had made a rather lengthy voyage, in consequence of which, she had to put in at St. Georges, [Georgetown] Grand Cayman, where she stayed two days, and took in eight days' water, and again at Tortugas for a further supply. Sister Mary Warren gave birth to a fine son, May 14. Both did well until the 21st, when, about six o'clock p.m., the mother was taken sick, and she died at eight. She was buried in the churchyard at George Town. With this exception the Saints have enjoyed good health. Elder Cook says--"The Saints generally express their satisfaction with the quality of the provisions you furnished. Captain Fales is a very agreeable gentleman to travel with, and seeks to make the passengers comfortable."

We have been informed that the Germanicus ran aground at Key West, near Tortugas, but Elder Cook makes no mention of such a circumstance, so we are unable to speak as to its truth or falsity, though, if it had occurred previously to his writing us, it was evidently a circumstance to which no particular importance was attached. However, our information gives us to understand that the vessel was got off again without damage. We have seldom, in connection with the vessels chartered by us, had to record even slight casualties that have befallen them, and never any serious ones. The good hand of our God seems to be spread out over the Saints when they abide by his counsel, to protect them from the multitudinous dangers of the mighty deep, and this is a source of heartfelt gratitude to us, and we are sure that it must be to all the Saints. But while the Lord extends his preserving care to his Saints who emigrate in companies under the direction of those who have the watch care over them, it does not appear that an equal measure of that care is in all cases vouchsafed to those who emigrate by ones, or twos, or threes, with companies who have no sympathy for the Saints. An elderly sister of this town embarked sometime since on board the "City of Glasgow," which vessel has not been heard of since. A young brother and a sister, just joined in wedlock, embarked in the "Red Gauntlet," which vessel is also lost. These circumstances may serve to teach the Saints the necessity of being united as far as possible in all the actions and movements of life. And we feel constrained to counsel the Saints to cross the mighty deep in companies, so that their faith may be united, and they thereby may have power over the winds and waves, the pestilence, and all opposing circumstances, and thus be enabled to stand in holy places, and triumph over the destroyer. . . . [p.440]

BIB: Foreign Intelligence--The Germanicus [Summary of a Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 16:28 (July 15, 1854) p. 440. (CHL)
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