. . . Thursday, 11 o'clock a.m., on board the fine American clipper ship Germanicus, 2,000 tons burden commanded by Captain Fales who sailed from the Mersey at Liverpool on Tuesday a.m. Apr. 4, 1854, having 200 Saints on board, under the able presidency of Elder Richard Cooke [Cook].********[PRESUMABLY, THESE MULTIPLE ASTERISKS REPRESENT AN ELLIPSIS]

Monday noon, April 10th, 1854. Since my last entry we have enjoyed excellent weather, for a day or two we made little progress, it was so calm and delightfully serene. ******* Our president and others went aside for private prayer, in answer to which we have had the wind favorable and made at an average of 8 miles an hour.*******

Saturday, 22nd April, 1854. This morning we are becalmed off Santa Cruz, and have viewed the mountain Teneriffe, which raises its lofty summit 12,170 feet above the level of the sea.******* On the 18th, we had a sudden change of wind in a squall which agitated the ship, the crew, and all on board, but soon all was snug and for two days it blew tremendously, but save an increase of sickness which for the first time affected my family, no accident occurred.*******

Sunday noon, 23rd. April, 1854. Yesterday evening I witnessed the marine funeral of a German passenger, not in the church, who breathed his last about three o'clock a.m. About a score of Germans a hymn in their native language and style, one read a portion of scripture, prayed in the German language, and the sailors who had previously bound up the body in a white sheet and laid it on a board one end resting on the rail raised up the inner end and launched it with iron ballast fastened to his feet over the ship's side, whence it plunged like lead into the deep waters.*******

Friday, 12th. May, 1854. Yesterday we experienced strange feelings. Our dear children feverish and void of sugar &c. but by the good providence of our God we had a tolerable dinner, and potatoes were in our pot.

Saturday, 13th —a fine day of sunshine with a fair wind. Our dear Sarah has been violently feverish, and little Mary is full of sores about her head and face, but seems a little better.*******

Tuesday, 16th May, 1854. Becalmed on the coast of Cuba. Our dear Sarah has been very ill. She was administered to by Brothers Cook, Armstrong, and Hart on Monday morning. ******** This morning she is decidedly better, and she is now under a boat on the poop where I slept the two last nights. Bro. Hawkes' boy fell down the hatchway and soon afterwards his [p.11] father took him on deck in a fit. When we all thought he was dying, only retaining in our minds the word of the Lord through his servant that not a soul should die on the passage if faithful.******* The child is now as though no accident had occurred.*******

Wednesday, 31st. day of May, 1854. We are all quite joyous and relieved from an embarrassment which overtook us on the vessel grounding yesterday ******* at Garden Quay on the island of Tortugas - a kind of depot for provisions &c, to obtain a fresh supply whereof, and water was our good captain's object of calling there.******* After great exertion we are again in deep water.*******

Thursday, 8th June, 1854. A good strong head wind, enjoying a fine, cool breeze, and the ship scudding along - hearing the men singing at the pumps by night "Carry Her Along Boys, Carry Her Along" &c. In the glorious naval freedom of nature's wild inspiring themes—again heaving the lead, weighing anchor, rollicking and frolicking, beating, driving, running, squalling, gliding wildly, softly through the dashing waves, the surge, the spray, the calm; nature by sea!

Thursday, 15th. June 1854. We are now between 3 & 400 miles up the river on our way to St. Louis, on a boat quivering so that I cannot write properly.*******

Sat. 24th June. Situated on an island within three miles of St. Louis for quarantine.

26, Aug., 1854. In my own house rented from Mr. McGie, in Main Street St. Louis, I have resided for some time. I have had plenty of work. I first began her on new work at 2 1/4 a day, but in the course of providence I left for the Marine Railway Docks, and there I got 2 3/4 - work not so hard and steadier—without a single one of our lovely children. Our dearly beloved Mary died at Brother Bradshaw's in Gravois, where we went from the quarantine grounds, at past 1 o'clock Sunday morning, Jul. 23rd. Sarah, our darling and most enchanting girl of four years died on the Friday following at 12 o'clock noon being the 28th. Jul. They both lie side by side in the Holy Ghost burying ground. Billy Firestone died on the 2nd Aug. and he lies close by.

I was appointed a visiting elder in the first section of the Sixth Ward on [-] and president of that section on [-]. May the Lord bless my efforts.

Tues. 28th Aug. 1854. On Sabbath night we got a letter from my dear wife's eldest brother Andrew Milne Cruickshank, Wolcottville, Connecticut, which we have answered, and this evening we got letters from home, the first since our arrival in this country.

Fri. 8th Sept. 1854. Yesterday was the anniversary of my birth in 1820.

14th Nov. 1854.******* I have to record the incidents of one month and upwards. I attended the St. Louis conference from its opening on the 3rd, 4th., and 5th. instant and in consequence of the non-arrival of Elder John Taylor it was adjourned until the 12th, where and when I was, I was present. [UNCLEAR] On the 5th instant St. Louis was organized into a stake, and I have been appointed a member of the high council, and ordained under the hands of Erastus Snow, Milo Andrus, [-] and George Gardiner, his counselors, a high priest on the evening of the 5th. We are now subject to the law of tithing, ******* and I say, amen. Mon, 13th Nov. 1854. ******* Brother Cannon is now lodging with us. This is the second week of his stay.

Wed. morning, 17th Jan., 1855. My dear wife gave birth to a daughter on the evening [p.12] of Wed., Jan. 3rd 1855., (Named Mary Margaret) 29th Jan., 1855. There has been stormy weather here for a week. The Clara Wheeler Saints arrived per the "Oceana" from New Orleans last week. Among them were three families from Deptford. Ships carpenters Pollard, Follet & Grey, with George Osmond alias Flight, with letters from Henry Butter.

15th July, 1855. Sunday morning in my room at the Farmer's Inn St. Charles, Missouri ******* I find myself unavoidably detained in this part of the country for at least another year. My wife and dear little Mary Margaret, whom I walked home to see in St. Louis last Sabbath, both well. ******* From my dear wife, "Now, my dear, I can feel you are not a little troubled about our emigration. Well, you know I should have liked to have gone, but as we are dependent on other people we must rest satisfied and abide their decision. We have one before us. Let us set to work with all our might and do what we can. If we can raise a wagon, well and good, if not we shall try and raise half a one, and failing that I shall sell off all and go by the emigration. ******* Bro. Restall says you will soon be home. When that is the case I shall be glad for you know, William, that nothing is happiness to me unless you can partake in the same with me. ******* I sign myself your true and faithful wife Maggie."

10th Sept., St. Louis ******* I have been at work in this city again for about six weeks and at the docks, principally calking.

20th Nov. 1855. ******* Met in the high council last night with my brethren in the presence of Elder John Taylor from New York. Our dear Mary Margaret died on Thursday morning, the 8th. instant My dear wife had been very sick a good while, but I had been on constant work and had sufficient means to pay all demands, and more.

I am appointed to labor in the Sunday school and I find great pleasure in the service of the Lord.

Tues. Jan. 8, 1856. About this time I realize that I must continually guard against offenses. I am so sensitive and so liable to attacks from such as do not seem to relish my manner. I must lean upon the Lord and get the Holy Spirit for my guide ******* resolving to cleave unto this organization, ******* & strive more to keep my own counsel in humble submission to the general authorities of the church. I attend to the prayer meeting every week held at Brother Pollard's house.

Tues. 12th Feb., 1856. This is a stormy season. I have been out of work—done no carpenter work these last 16 or 20 days, but the Lord in His goodness has richly supplied all our wants. On Sunday week Captain Adams for the first time came under my roof. To him we bore testimony. He reads our publications and does not dispute our testimony, but is willing to be baptized, and is going to take us with him to Utah in the spring. ******* My dear wife is doing well and we may yet bring forth children and educate them in Zion for God's kingdom, for which blessing we pray.

28th Feb., 1856. This day I went for Judge Thomas of Utah at Captain Adam's request who was baptized by him at the Virginia Hotel full of faith and sincerity. Judge Thomas dined here last Monday week, President Hart accompanied him, and we expect them here to supper this evening. On Saturday the 17th. of Feb. we received the first intelligence of our dear brother Andrew's death in Con. [UNCLEAR] from England. ******* 5th Apr. $3.00 for hat and shoes to a Danish orphan boy whom I have taken and kept since the arrival of the Danish Saints under the presidency [p.13] of Brother Peterson about six weeks ago. ******* Now men have struck for wages affecting for the present my prospects Zionward. ******* Captain Adams is still living with us together with his young wife ******* Married by President Hart at Brothers Dow's, 23rd of Mar. 1856.

12th, June, 1856 on board the steamer "Arabia" on her way up to Florence with a company of Saints under the presidency of Elder John Banks. ******* I wrote letters to father and mother Cruikshank and Brother George, and desire to remember Welling soon. I have been appointed to preside over the lower part of the Arabia, and hold fellowship meetings morning and evening. Brother Ellis is my counselor, Brothers Banks, Church and Harris are our presidents. ******* We left St. Louis Mon. 2nd. instant. . . .

. . .6th July, 1856. Encamped at Shell Creek. We left Florence Thur. 26th June, 1856. . . . [p.14

BIB: Morrison, William, 1820-1899. Journal, 1851 Feb-1889 Aug. [LDS Church Archives, Ms 1645, pp. 11-14; Acc. #24185]
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