"DEPARTURE OF THE JOHN BRIGHT. -- The packet ship John Bright sailed from this port for New York on Thursday, the 4th instant with a company of Saints numbering 722 souls, or 619 1/2 statute adults, of whom 176 were from Scandinavia, and the rest from the British Isles. The Saints were in fine spirits, and were full of joy at being really on their way to Zion, an event for which they had long labored, and hoped, and prayed. Most of them have been members of the Church for many years; some having been for thirty years in connection with it. At 11:30 a.m., a meeting of the passengers was called on deck. President F. D. Richards addressed them upon their position and prospects, and the duties which they ought to perform on their journey. Cleanliness, order, unity, good feeling to each other, kindness and assistance to the aged, sick, and infirm, and obedience to counsel, were the topics principally dwelt upon. Elder James McGaw was appointed and sustained as president of the company, with Elders C. O. Folkmann and Frederick C. Anderson as his counselors. Elder C. Widerborg addressed the Danish Saints in their own language, and explained the remarks of President
Richards and the organization of the company. Elder C. W. Penrose made a few remarks and engaged in prayer, dedicating the vessel with all on board to the care and protection of Almighty God. The hymn, 'Come, Come Ye Saints,' was sung, and three hearty cheers were given with a will. About 4 o'clock p.m., the noble vessel, bearing her freight of thankful and happy Saints, sailed away upon her voyage to the West. The weather was cheerful and pleasant, the sun shone brightly, the sky was clear, and everything seemed propitious. May the blessings of God be upon the ship and upon his people, that they may have a swift, pleasant, and prosperous passage to the land of Zion."
MS, 30:24 (June 13, 1868), pp.378-79
"Thurs. 4. [June 1868] -- The packet ship John Bright sailed from Liverpool, England, with 722 Saints (176 from Scandinavia), under the direction of James McGaw; the company arrived at New York July 13th, and at Laramie City, on the Union Pacific Railroad, 573 miles west of Omaha, July 23rd."
CC, p.78
". . . In 1868 a strong effort was made in Zion to gather means to assist the poor Saints who wished to emigrate, and large sums of money were sent to the British Islands to assist members of the Church to this end, especially faithful Saints of many years' standing. Besides this, the Church sent for the last time teams out to the terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad to bring them thence across the deserts and mountains. Although scarcely any of the means collected was applied to assist the poor from Scandinavia, a goodly number (820) souls emigrated from the Scandinavian countries in 1868, viz: 544 Danes, 209 Swedes and 63 Norwegians; also 4 German emigrants.
Of the above named number 104 Swedish Saints sailed from Goteborg May 29, 1868, by the steamer 'Hero' in charge of Elder Christoffer O. Folkmann, arriving in Hull, England, May 31st. Here they were joined by a small company of Danish Saints in charge of Elder Carl Widerborg and along with these continued the journey to Liverpool by railroad. On the evening of the next day (June 1st) Elder Carl C. A. Christensen arrived in Liverpool with some emigrating Saints from Norway, about 50 in number. They had sailed from Christiania by steamer for England, where they joined the main body of emigrating Saints from Scandinavia. On June 3rd all went on board the ship 'John Bright' (Captain John Towart). Elder James McGaw was appointed president of the company, of which 17 were Scandinavian and more than five hundred British Saints. Christoffer O. Folkmann and Fred C. Anderson were chosen for assistant presidents. The Scandinavian Saints, who were located on the lower deck, were placed under Elder Carl C. A. Christensen's special charge.
The 'John Bright' sailed from Liverpool June 4th. It was intended that the emigrants this year should have crossed the Atlantic by steamers, but on account of the high price demanded for steamship passage, the voyage had to be made by sailing vessels as in previous years, so that those of only limited means could be accommodated. During the voyage there was very little sickness, and only an aged sister from England, who was sick when she went on board, died. A Swedish couple were married during the voyage. The captain was very kind and obliging towards the Saints. The company arrived safely in New York July 13th, and on the following day was conveyed by railroad westward. The emigrants traveled via Chicago and Omaha, and on the Union Pacific Railroad to Laramie City. The fare from New York to Omaha was $14 and to the terminus on the plains $35, but those who would stop to labor on the Union Pacific Railroad were conveyed all the way for $14. The company arrived at Laramie, 573 miles from Omaha, July 23rd. At that time, Laramie City was the western terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad, and also, temporarily, the outfitting place for the journey across the mountains with teams. Here the emigrants met the Church teams and most of the Scandinavian Saints went with Captain Horton D. Haight's company, which left Laramie July 27th, and arrived in Salt Lake City, August 24, 1868.
Elder Folkmann acted as leader of the Scandinavians in this company and also as chaplain for the whole company. Two Swedish emigrants died on the journey across the mountains.
Elder Carl C. A. Christensen, together with some Norwegian Saints, crossed the Plains with Captain John R. Murdock's company, which left Laramie a little before Captain Haight's company and arrived in Salt Lake City August 19th. The fare by the Church teams from the railroad terminus to Salt Lake City was $29, which the emigrants were required to pay later. . . ."
HSM, pp.200-01
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