. . . Thursday, June 24 - I was appointed captain for the emigrants to England on this steamer. Elder A. Jensen from Aalborg companion with me. The Saints were from Aarhus, Aalborg, Stockholm, and Totteborg Conferences, while the Saints from Copenhagen, Christiania, and Malmo Conferences went on the Pacific. Captain Soulsby, President C. G. Larsen, Elders J. [-] and L. L. Andersen and A. Andersen was with that company.
Friday, June 25 - At two a.m. we went [-] and soon we started off, the Pacific being about twenty minutes ahead of us. The weather fine and not a wave to be seen. We soon passed the other steamer and salute was seen from one vessel to the other. At seven p.m. we passed the skaw and turned towards the west. We had very fine [weather] all day and no sickness. No sickness was seen among us. I had guards put out in the night so [-] and appointed chaplains.
Saturday, June 26 - In the morning the Pacific was lost out of sight. Weather fine. All feeling well until towards night when the winds commenced to blow a little harder. Several was sick.
Sunday, June 27 - The ship was rolling some causing some seasickness among us. I was sick too but soon got better and went all around looking after the Saints. We had no meeting, the seasickness preventing us.
Monday, June 28 - About one a.m. we passed Grimsby going up the river Humber and arrived at Hull at three a.m. The captain and crew has been very kind to us and treated us with respect. [p.15] We now laid at anchor about 8 a.m. The "Pacific" came in and we was taken to shore about 11 a.m. and started 3 p.m. to Liverpool per railroad. Distance from Copenhagen to Hull is 300 miles and from Hull to Liverpool 175 miles, traveled in 4 days. I felt to thank God for his mercy in bringing the Saints so quick on their way. We arrived in Liverpool a little after 9. The Saints was taken down to dock on board the S.S. Idaho, Captain Beddoe. Some of the brethren was taken along with the goods to look out that nothing was lost. [p.16] It took us most of the night to get into order and some did not find berths till next day.
Tuesday, June 29. The elders was very busy to get the emigrants into berths bringing the young men by themselves. L.S. [Lars S.] Andersen and I went up to the office and returned tickets.
Wednesday, June 30. Tickets was examined and all passed the government doctor. Everything found right. We was laying in the river a few hours after going out of dock. President J. [Joseph] F. Smith appointed [p.17] C. G. [Chr. G.] Larsen president. The others as counselors to him. And about 6 p.m. the anchor was hoisted and we started for America. Weather fair and very calm.
Thursday, July 1. President Larsen called a counsel and Elder A. [Andrew] Jensen [Jenson] was appointed captain of the guard. The Saints was divided into wards and a president of each appointed, while the elders should have a special oversight over the different districts. The weather continued fair except a little fog. Having now got organized we commenced to feel a little more at ease. We found it a rest to us after [p.18] several days hard labor and care. The organization was now as follows: C. G. [Chr. G.] Larsen president, J. Frantsein [Jens Frandsen] clerk, L. S. Andersen [Lars S.] and N. Andersen, P. C. [Peter C.] Gertsen and Miles Williams presidents of the different decks, A. Jensen captain of guard and 762 Saints in all, elders included. We arrived at Queenstown at 7 p.m.
Friday, July 2. We had headwind and a rolling sea which caused much sickness all over. I was in bed most of the time till toward night. [p.19]
Saturday, July 3. Headwind continued but not so much sea and less sickness. I went all round and tended to those feeling ill. Fairer weather toward night. Run 236 miles.
Sunday, July 4. The sea calm and smooth. Religious service in the saloon. We held meeting on deck where all the elders spoke and most all felt well. I tended prayer with the English Saints and spoke to them and also to those of the Scandinavians put in my charge. The run was 244 miles. [p.20]
Monday, July 5. The wind was on the rise but favored us a little. Distance made 264. We are now about 1/3 of the distance to New York.
Tuesday, July 6. I had a bad headache. Made 234 miles. Sea calm and nice. We stopped 2 hours to clean some pipes.
Wednesday, July 7. A sister from Sweden was moved to hospital being very sick. Several others was bad. We went 227 miles. Half the distance was made to New York. [p.21]
Thursday, July 8. We had fair weather but headwind. Made 240 miles. An old sister died from Sweden, 70 years old by the name of Kjersti Swenson on the 7 at 5 p.m. and was buried in the sea at 10 p.m. Service was done by Captain Beddoe.
Friday, July 9. Made 250 miles. I wrote some notes for money borrowed. Fair weather. Rain at night.
Saturday, July 10. We made only 225 miles. Several was sick and had been for sometime, [p.22] but was getting a little better. I used my time to assist the sick and tried to get something to strengthen them.
Sunday, July 11. We sailed 263 miles, had strong winds against us but sea stream was favorable. We could not hold meetings on deck. Several became seasick.
Monday, July 12. Weather fine, but headwind continued. Sailed 235 miles. Got pilot on board. We gathered a little money for the stewards. Meeting on deck at 2 p.m. [p.23]
Tuesday, July 13. We sailed 268 miles. Weather very fine and sea smooth. I wrote a letter home and one to Aarhus [Aarhuus] to President A. R. Andersen. In the afternoon we came within 6 miles of New York and cast anchor waiting to be passed by doctor in the morning. Many cried for joy.
Wednesday, July 14. Doctor came by sunrise, and passed us; and soon anchor was hoisted and we was taken to dock No. 15 [p.24], New York, from which place we was taken on a tender to Castle Garden where we arrived about 1 p.m. We could get provisions and everything in this place in that line. Money exchange was also here. After our names was booked and the people settle, some of us went out in town and bought a few articles. I bought a hat & revolver.
Thursday, July 15th. At 6 a.m. our luggage was checked and put on a boat which took several hours hard labor. We left the Garden at 11 a.m. and went to dock 1 from where we was taken to railroad [p.25] depot in Jersey City. We got good and comfortable cars and at 3 p.m. we started off on the Pennsylvania railroad - P.C.R.R. We rode through New Jersey and arrived at Philadelphia, 90 miles from New Jersey and New York City about sundown. We went now through the state at Pennsylvania, and went up the Susquehanna River near which place Joseph Smith finished the translation of the Book of Mormon. Heavy rain in the night. We came to Altoona in the morning.
Friday, July 16. In Altoona the train was divided in two as it was considerable uphill. [p.26] We made good time and arrived at Pittsburgh at 12 a.m. We was now taken in the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Saint Louis R.R. into Ohio. This is a good state with rich land. At 1 a.m. we arrived at Columbus City which is the seat of government. We had now traveled 637 miles on railroad from New York. Heavy rain.
Saturday, July 17th. We went on pretty slow most all day. At 12 a.m. we came to Union City on the line of state between Ohio & Indiana and 741 miles from New York. The distance we traveled in Ohio was 253 miles from east to west.
We came now into the state of Indiana [p.27] and at 6 p.m. we arrived in a place called Logansport. We here crossed two rivers called Wabash & Eel River. The last river empties into the first and that falls into Mississippi River. We got a new conductor and fresh supply of water. Being nearly dark before we left, we went through the rest of Indiana in the night and passed into Illinois.
Sunday, July 18th . We arrived at a place called Peoria, 1074 miles from New York. At 20 minutes past 5 a.m. stopped a few minutes and confirmed our travel to Burlington [p.28] where we came to at 12 a.m. We came within a few miles of Nauvoo from which the Mormon people was expelled in 1846. We crossed on a fine bridge over the Mississippi River. Burlington has about 30,000 inhabitants. We had to change cars here. After which we continued our journey through Iowa being short of bread and on Sunday we had to telegraph ahead and got supply at a city called Ottumwa. [10,000 inhabitant] We crossed the Des Moines River where the water a while back had been very high and dangerous to travel, but all was good and safe now. [p.29]
Monday, July 19. At 7 a.m. we arrived at Council Bluffs. Luggage was changed and unchecked and put into other cars of which Elder J. Frantsen [Frandsen] and myself was put to oversee while the other elders went with the emigrants to Omaha. . . [p.30]
. . . Friday, July 23. At 1 a.m. we arrived in S.L. City and stopped in [p.33] the cars till morning. At 7 the emigrants was taken to the Tithing Office where they was provided for with provision. . . . [p.34]
BIB: Geertsen, Peter Christian. Journal (Ms 1507), fd. 2, vol. 3, pp. 16-30, 33-34. (CHL)
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