. . . After several days we went aboard the Jesse Munn and started to float down the Channel and out on the Atlantic, steering much to the south of west in order to get into a warmer zone where the vessel could take advantage of the trade winds. We received our rations of food once a week. This was a regular allowance of uncooked food, such as peas, rice, salt, beef, sugar, coffee, and also fresh water once a day. The beef was salt beef.
There was a kitchen range midship where an Irish cook held sway, abusing nearly every person who needed something cooked. Outside stood our cooking utensils in a long row from early morning until late evening, waiting their turn to get on the hot stove where they would get half cooked and then be taken away by us. Another cook in the adjoining kitchen prepared the meals for the crew who were rationed. The two cooks could not agree and because of this they had a fight with the permission of the captain. It was held for the public in regular sailor style, which I had the nerve to witness. Entirely stripped to the waist, they went at each other with heavy blows to begin with, keeping it up for perhaps an hour, by which time they both were so jaded that the blows could not hurt much. I do not remember if this battle decided the supremacy of either of them or if they came out even.
For many days the weather was warm and the wind a dead calm, so the vessel scarcely moved. We could then play and dance on the deck just so we kept out of the way of the sailors who had their duties to perform. Again, we had wind storms, causing uneasiness for our safety.
After some seven weeks of sailing, we passed the Island of Cuba at some distance. At first its mountainous outlines against the sky appeared as outlines of clouds, but gradually they became more plain and distinct. I judge we did not get nearer than four miles, but it caused a great deal of relief, excitement and rejoicing among the passengers, as it was a part of America. Passing Cuba we sailed again into the Gulf of Mexico out of sight of land, passing Florida and after several days, entered the muddy waters flowing out of the great Mississippi River, many miles out to sea. The change of waters could be seen long before we entered them.
Soon a pilot vessel came out and lay alongside while the pilot boarded the ship and took charge of it. The next day we were in the Mississippi River and cast anchor off New Orleans. After inspection by the health officers, we were permitted to go ashore and view part of the city. Here we saw the slave market where slaves, male and female, were offered for sale. They stood in rows outside the dealer's place of business, where he would cry them off to passersby, much like other merchandise while the slaves were dressed so as to appear to the best advantage. After a delay of two or three days we were [p.396] transferred to a large steamer with tremendous large side wheels as propellers. These steamers were floating palaces in appearance, painted white and handled mostly by crews of Negroes.
Wood is the fuel to make steam but when two steamers come alongside steering the same direction, a race goes on and then oil and fat pork is thrown into the furnaces to increase the steam power to its utmost capacity. Along the riverside are dense woods where the boats occasionally stop and take fuel aboard, the fuel being carried on the shoulders of the Negro crew. Foodstuffs were very abundant and cheap and large quantities of leftovers from the tables of the officers and first class passengers were thrown overboard into the river, while we look on longingly. On the water floated oranges, apples and other foods.
We were on the steamer about ten days and landed in St. Louis. There we were temporarily quartered in a large storage house, buying our food at the grocery shop where the price of nearly everything was five cents a pound. It was calculated that we should be there about six weeks so a number of the brethren took jobs on a railroad then being constructed in Illinois about 40 miles from St. Louis. Another boy and myself went along to earn a few dollars. When we had worked there about three weeks we received word that the company had left St. Louis, and gone to Kansas City, then a trading post. We quit work and asked for our pay through an interpreter. The paymaster refused to pay us but after some parleying paid the men various amounts just as he pleased. As I was hired for seven dollars a month, he refused to pay me anything as I had not worked a month. After some argument, mainly that I couldn't get to the company without money to pay my way, he ordered the cashier to pay me five dollars. In doing so, the cashier gave me a worthless bank bill for three dollars and two one dollar bills. When we boarded the steamer that was to take us to Kansas the steward refused to take my three dollars and I had but little more than one dollar besides it left. There was but a few minutes left until the boat would leave, and it was time for quick action to arrange to go with the men.
I hastened across the street to get the bill changed and seeing an old lady behind a fruit stand I asked her for some apples and held out my hat to receive them, telling her I was in a hurry. She about filled the hat. I thought perhaps she would not change the bill to get five cents out of it, so I ordered one pint bottle of whiskey which I saw standing on the shelf, all the time shaking for fear she would refuse to take the bill. On handing it to her she held it very close to her eyes, then paid me the change. I was saved by my own dishonesty. I reconciled that act as best I could in this way of reasoning; I did not make the bill and could not help that it was not as good as all the others. I hoped she might be able to pass it again.
Well, I got aboard the steamer, paid my fare and got to Kansas where my mother was glad to see me, having had much worry for my safety. . . . [p.397]
BIB: Christensen, Mads Frederick Theobald. [Autobiography] Our
Pioneer Heritage. comp. by Kate B. Carter, vol. 9 (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1966) pp. 396-97. (CHL)
(source abbreviations)