. . . Fri. Oct. 20. Elders Woolley, Croft and Greaves & also several Saints were at the station to see me off. Elder Greaves gave [me] three small boys. [p.139] Herbert & William Julian aged 10 & 8 and Thomas [Judson] aged 5 [4], into my charge to look after them on the journey home. Took the 9 o'clock express for Liverpool arrived at Central Station at half past 11, took cab and had luggage transferred to [-] Street Station. Left boys at station, went to office 42 Islington, attended to business, saw several elders, came back [on] Station Road to Alexandria Docks and worked hard until 12 o'clock assisting Saints to get settled.
Oct. 21st. During night, ship moved up the river 5 miles, opposite [UNCLEAR, POSSIBLY: Pounci's] Landing. Went onshore with some of [the] brethren, went to 42 [Islington], purchased a set of Church [p.140] works one pound, seventeen guineas. Returned to vessel and at 3 o'clock after all the good byes had been said, streamed down the Mersey on our way Zionward. Considerable good natured confusion occurred among the Saints in getting settled in their several berths. The company numbers 416, including 28 elders.
Sun. Oct. 22nd 1882. Only 2 elders sat down to breakfast, (seasickness). By noon nearly all the elders & Saints were seasick, myself as well. We reached Queenstown 240 miles, by half past 11. The steamer anchored in Cork Harbor for half an hour to take on passengers and also to send off mail [p.141]. I wrote several cards & letters though I was quite unwell. Held meetings in steerage in afternoon. Elders [C.B.] Felt, [H.J.] Romney, & myself were the speakers. Administered to several sick persons. Elder Romney & I blessed Willard and Nellie Shill.
Mon. 23rd Head wind & heavy sea. Ship makes very slow progress. Nearly all down with seasickness. Half a dozen elders at table. Held meeting in evening.
Tues. 24. Sea very rough indeed. Nearly everybody sick. Held a meeting in evening.
Wed. 25. Head winds & heavy sea. Vessel rolls about and makes us all sick. Held meeting in evening. Administered to several of [the] Saints. [p.142]
Thurs. 26th October 1882. High seas & but little abatement of sickness. Elder Matthew McCune had a violent fall on the deck, which injured his side, arm & head. Held meeting in the evening.
Fri. 27th Sea somewhat smoother. Seasickness abating among the Saints. I have been installed as nurse to look after Elder McCune. Had a concert in the evening in the steerage among the Saints.
Sat. 28th Winds & waves moderating. I am quite myself again. Company nearly all recovered. Another meeting in evening.
Sun. 29th Sea rough & every appearance of a squall. Held two meetings in steerage & administered to a few sick. [p.143]
Mon. 30th Quite an improvement in people, wind, waves & things in general. Held another meeting.
Tuesday 31st Lovely weather, sea calm as a lake. Vessel making 13 knots an hour. Held meeting in evening.
Wed. Nov. 1st 1882. Foggy, fog horns blown every few moments. I am appointed post master for the company. Sea smooth. Wrote several letters. Play draught, read, converse on scripture & other matters. [p.144][CONTINUED IN BOOK NUMBER 4 FROM BOOK NUMBER 3]
Wed. Nov. 1st 1882. On board steam ship Abyssinia of the Guion Line. Dense fog. Fog horns blown every few moments. Council meeting held in cabin. Elders are instructed by President G. Stringfellow as to duties on landing at New York. I am appointed post master for the company. Sea smooth, vessel moves steadily along. Spend the day writing letters playing draught, read, converse on scripture & other matters.
Thurs. 2nd Sun shining brightly. Sea calm as a lake. Met the pilot in a small sail boat 160 miles from New York. Took him on board. [p.1] Reached Sandy Hook, 21 miles from New York, at 7 o'clock. Vessel moved on at one o'clock & daylight found us lying between Staten & Long Island. A good view is obtained of both islands as they are less than one mile apart. The scenery on both much resembles that of England.
Fri. 3rd 1882. Weather clear and cold. Vessel lies at quarantine. Dr. comes on board and inspects the steerage passengers. All but one family pass: they have measles and are to be detained at New York. Left ship at 10:00 a.m. having made the voyage in 13 days. [p.2]
Passed custom officers with little or no difficulty, although having to handle the luggage so many times made us all very tired. Luggage and passengers were taken on board tender & transferred to Castle Garden where all remained a few hours. I went up Broadway to General Post Office & purchased $7.00 worth of postage stamps & mailed upwards of 200 letters.
Returned to Castle Garden & arranged for the emigration of two boys. Our company was then ferried over the river to the Jersey side and by 7:30 we were comfortably seated on train ready to start on our overland trip a distance of 2,500. [p.3]
Had a few minutes chat with Brother James H. Hart, church emigration agent. Learned that President Albert Carrington was to return & his place filled by Apostle John Henry Smith; also learned that the Quorum of the Twelve had been filled by immediate revelation through President John Taylor. George Teasdale & Heber John Grant filling the vacancies. Started for home at 7:45, tired almost to death, the luggage having been handled three different times in one day.
Sat. Nov. 4th 1882. Passed a very uncomfortable night and morning found me tired, stiff & sore, also suffering [p.4] from a cold. The sun shone pleasantly all day. Stopped half an hour for breakfast at Susquehanna. Having been appointed to look after one car load of Saints with instructions to attend prayers with them night and morning; also to see that all men [are] provided with food. I took several out and purchased provisions for them, they [were] not yet understanding the value of U.S. currency.
The ride through the state of New York was much enjoyed. The scenery is like many parts of England. We traveled on the Erie, Grand Trunk and Western Line. A lovely view is [p.5] obtained of the Portage Falls while crossing the Genesee River over a bridge 275 feet high. Took train at Hornellsville. The elders have a car to themselves. A few joined our company at New York. Among them a Sister Finch and daughter Emma, very interesting people.
Administered to four sick persons. Reached Buffalo at 7 o'clock, changed cars and by nine were moving westward. A few minutes ride brought us to the famous Niagara River which we crossed some distance above the falls. The river appeared to be nearly a mile, and presented a grand appearance by the dim light of the moon. [p.6]
Sun. Nov. 5th 1882. Weather clear, cold & frosty. Once more in British possessions, being on the Canada side. Skirted the St. Clair Lake for several miles. Saw several sail boats and a few old fashioned steamers on the lake. Reached Detroit about 9 o'clock, changed from car to boat & was ferried over the St. Clair River, took train & were soon moving swiftly westward on the Michigan Central. Very tired, as many of the Saints have twice as much hand luggage as they should have & consequently require much assistance at every change.
Stopped 20 minutes at [p.7] Jackson for dinner. It is quite a place and boasts of having the state prison. Arrived at Chicago at 8 o'clock and after an hour's delay in changing etc. were once more steaming Zionward on the Chicago & N. Western through the state of Illinois. Crossed the Mississippi River at 2 o'clock in the morning. Several inlands & mud banks mar the beauty of this majestic river.
Mon. Nov. 6th Weather fine. Not much comfort in trying to sleep on a single seat in an upright position: Cold no better. Breakfast at Cedar Rapids. Passed many fields of standing corn in Iowa. [p.8]
Arrived in Council Bluffs, a distance of 482 miles from Chicago, at half past eight in the evening. Changed cars, crossed the Missouri River to Omaha & by quarter to twelve started on our 1033 mile trip to Ogden.
Several of company down with measles. Placed them all in a car to themselves. Run along the North Platte River for 400 miles. It is very low. The prairie is almost level as far as the eye can reach on all sides. Saw the old trail my parents traveled on with ox teams in 52. A little child of Sister Vincent's died at 5 o'clock. [p.9]
Tues. Nov. 7th 1882. Lovely weather. Crossed the North Platte at 6 o'clock in evening, nothing special occurred.
Wed. Nov. 8th. Arrived at Cheyenne, capitol of Wyoming at 10 a.m. It contains about 5,000 inhabitants. [A] casket was procured & the body of Sister Vincent's child was placed in it. It cost $15.00 which was made up by the Saints in the train. The plains are dry and parched with little or no life upon them. Arrived at Sherman (Wyoming), the highest point on the Union Pacific at one o'clock a.m. A monument of stone is erected at this place in honor of General Sherman. Crossed Dale Creek Bridge at 4 p.m. [p.10]
Thurs. Nov. 9th 1882. Lovely weather, snow in [the] mountains. Invited to dinner with Sister Finch, Armatage and [-]. Quite enjoyed it for all felt particularly jolly. Held concert in evening in the car. Arrived at Evanston [at] 6 o'clock, a furious storm arose which lasted all the way down the Weber & Echo Canyon.
Reached Ogden at 1 o'clock in the morning, the storm still continuing. Not many out, as we got in earlier than expected. It came my turn to stand guard the balance of [the] night, saw a few friends. [p.11]
Fri. Nov. 10. Called on Uncle Franklin & was kindly received. Enjoyed a good breakfast. Chatted awhile & came back with him to the car. Attended to shifting some baggage & moving Saints etc. Was taken by Uncle Franklin to my cousin Sammie's. Had a happy meeting. Cousin then took me to his house & on the way met father, Frank, Eddie & Moroni who had just arrived on the morning train. Another joyful meeting was the result. Saw Fredonia and babies; also cousin Wealthy & her husband, Mr. Ensign; also Mr. John Pincock, cousin Alice's husband, [p.12] besides a great many other friends who came to see their friends. Said good-bye to the Saints who were staying at Ogden or going north & by 11 o'clock we moved out & by one, rode into the depot at Salt Lake.
A great many friends were waiting and lots of kissing and hand shaking immediately followed. My brother George was there. We were not long in walking 2 blocks when such a happy greeting welcomed my return home after an absence of two years & two months.
A splendid feast was waiting & ample justice was done of it. Many relatives & friends called [p.13] during afternoon and evening and a general time of rejoicing was experienced by all. [p.14]
BIB: Wilcox, Charles F. Diaries (Ms 188), bx. 13, bk. 3, pp. 139-44 and bk. 4, pp. 1-14, in Matthew and Claire Noall Papers. (University of Utah)
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