Ogden, Utah, July 23, 1874.President Joseph F. Smith.
Dear Brother,--I am very thankful to be able to write to you favorable intelligence concerning the progress of [p.538] our company, which left Liverpool, per steamship Idaho, on the 24th of June last.
As we have already informed you, our passage to New York was a pleasant and healthy one -- no trouble of any kind, no sickness, no death. It was made in eleven and half days. Brother W. [William] C. Staines, who awaited our arrival, came on board with the Custom House Officers, and made every arrangement possible for the speedy transfer of our emigrants. Our people and their luggage were landed first, and it took all day to do it, while the "gentile" portion of our fellow passengers -- both steerage and intermediate -- waited rather impatiently until this unshipping process was through. We were told several times by our good Captain Forsyth that our troubles would commence after we left his ship. We were reminded of his words, when in Castle Garden, as bedtime approached.
On Tuesday, the 7th instant, our company, which occupied seventeen cars, left New York. Our train being a long one, many a bystander watched us speed by. On arriving at Pittsburgh depot the following day, the infant child of Mrs. Ann Crowder died. The mother is a young woman from the vicinity of London, whose husband met her at this place; neither of them belong to the church. Brother G.F. Gibbs stayed with her, to attend to the burial of the child. They overtook us in a few days afterwards. One day's ride from Omaha, we buried the infant child of Brother and Sister Hardvigsen, of Norway. While I am sorry to record the death of any, we all very readily acknowledge the preserving hand of the Lord in bringing us through so happily and well.
At Laramie City, two extra cars were attached to our train for the accommodation of some non-"Mormon" emigrants. The morning after leaving that place one of these emigrants (a man) had his foot taken off by the train. We were told he was one of our people, which caused no little consternation among us, everybody of course wanting to k now who the unfortunate person was. This intelligence was perhaps invaluable to our people, for many of them, up to that time, had been very careless, contrary to our advice and instructions. One of the brethren, who had been misinformed with regard to the time the train was to stop at a station, was left behind. We did all we could to have him forwarded, but have not yet learned of his arrival. It would be well for our brethren and sisters who may come after us, to be very cautious, for they k now not what trouble they might suffer by being careless.
We were all very glad to reach Ogden on Wednesday, the 15th instant, about 6 o'clock p.. Brother Erastus Snow and son met us and cordially gave us their welcome home. At about 8 o'clock the company went down to Salt Lake City. On Thursday, the 16th, the emigrants got their luggage, with a few exceptional cases where their luggage had not arrived.
A meeting was held in the tithing yard, in the afternoon, when Brother Snow gave many good counsels and instructions to the newly arrived Saints, and spoke in the Danish language. After meeting was closed the company separated, the Saints going with their relations and friends to their homes.
I remain your brother in the New and Everlasting Covenant, [p. 539]
P.C. Carstensen.
BIB: Carstenson, P. C. Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 36:34 (August 25, 1874) pp. 538- 539. (CHL)
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