Monday the 21 Presidents Lyman, Rich, and Carman my self and many other elders went on board of the ship by the tender and after the people or emigration Saints passed the inspection of the Government Officers and doctor the Saints was all called together and after many very appropriate remarks was made by the presidency they then proceeded to organize the emigration by appointing James Brown conductor of the company [p. 88] and John Lindsay and J.C. Rich his councilors which was all unanimously sustained by the votes of the Saints on board. They then bid us adieu and amid cheers of the most spirited style they was hasten away in a small boat to the shore after which I together with my council called the people together and entered into a temporary organization so as to call watches for the night. We then had prayers and retired about 12 o'clock in the night.

Tuesday the 22 we came to a more permanent organization by organizing into 9 wards, with a presiding teacher over each ward. [p. 89] When this organization was affected the sturdy Brother A. Nelson issued rations to the passengers and they cooked and eat. Sung hymns and songs and was very merry.

Wednesday the 23 [OF APRIL] at 5 o'clock Captain Thomas and wife came aboard and the doctor and at half past 7 they raised anchor and we was towed out some 20 miles and they left us to a strong headwind and we beat about in the Irish Channel all day till about 4 a.m. We made sight of the Isle of Man. Sailed close along up by it so as to see the towns and houses. Then we tacked ship and [p. 90] sailed away along the coast of Wales and the entire company of emigration was very seasick in many instances so poorly that they could not hold up their heads nor one wait upon another there being 696 of the emigration and the captain and crew making up the total sum number of sales to about 795. The scenery was awful to behold. Brother Hardy's child that was about 5 months old died from inflamation in the bowels. The Saints was all prostrate except about 8 or 10 of the brethren who had to stand guard all night. I with my council went down on both decks and waited on the people all day and [p. 91] 8 o'clock at night when I walked from one end of the deck to the other on both sides on the higher and lower deck preaching and exhorting the Saints to have faith in God so that they might be healed. This I and my council walked the deck with some few others of the brethren until 10 when I felt full of the power of God and the people was completed and felt blessed. I then retired until

Thursday the 24 when I got up at half past 8 o'clock and went down and again cheered up the passengers then buried the child at sea; when we was sailing north in the Irish [p .92] Channel between Ireland and the Isle of Man at 12 o'clock of this day the great majority of the Saints was on the upper deck and much better of their sickness. We had a fare wind but very light. My health was very fair having been very seasick myself. Yet by the power of God I was blessed with sufficient vigor to wait on someone else all the time and in the afternoon wrote up my journal from Saturday the 19 to the present.

Friday the 25 very light winds and still in the channel and a great many people sick.

Saturday the 26 still in the channel. Wind still light and we was in [p. 93]sight of Ireland on the left and Scotland on the right. Sailed very close to the coast of Ireland so that we could see the houses, farms, and roads very plain. The wind died away and the tide set us in close to a small island off the coast of Ireland.

Sunday the 27 a light breeze from the west and about 12 o'clock, we lost sight of land. Today Island off to northwest coast of Ireland hoping the last in sight. We held a meeting on the quarter deck and I preached to the Saints on their present condition and instructed them in regard to other cleanliness and many regulations that should be preserve health. The Saints seemed cheered [p .94]up and much revived. We again held meeting at 6 a.m. when we was much annoyed by the 3 mate of the ship and a lot of rough sailors pushing their right. The congregation over women and children and reported their conduct immediately to the captain who reprimanded them. We dismissed our meeting in good order and the Saints all felt well.

Monday 28 light winds and a head so that we was headed a way off in in [SIC] 55 d 26 north latitude. The air was very chilly. The health of the people was much improved. Many cheering. Hymns was sung on deck and the Saints seemed to enjoy a good spirit throughout the ship. [p. 95]

Tuesday the 29 winds still ahead and light. Saints generally feel well. I waited the few that was sick cheering them up as best I could.

Wednesday the 30 wind still light and ahead. Saints not so well as there was their being quite a heavy sea on from the southwest. And not wind enough to steady the vessel so that it sailed so that as to make many of the people sick.

May 1862

Thursday the 1 a dead calm and heavy sea. Saints dull and stupid. The day passed with a sad gloom and at night the wind rose to almost a gale and with a head sea it carried away [p. 96] the jib-boom and fore top gallant mast.

Friday the 2 the wind blew quite fresh and we sailed under reefed sails. I became very much exhausted from waiting on the sick and was confined to my bed the greater part of the day.

Saturday the 3 light winds with some rain and heavy seas.

Sunday the 4 rainy and light winds. In the afternoon clear and we had meeting on the quarter deck when I spoke to dome length instructing the Saints in regard to their duties and encouraged them.

Monday the 5 rather more wind and a little boy by the name of Benjamin Vincent Williams died from a fall that he had the Thursday before down the hatch. [p. 97] He was buried the same evening.

Tuesday the 6 still more wind and the people felt well.

Wednesday the 7 stiff breeze and for the first time was able to head on our course.

Thursday the 8 light winds. Saints felt well and the most of them came on deck and at night I preached to them between decks and they seemed to feel first rate.

Friday the 9 calm and mild weather. Sighted two sails one on the right and the other on the left. Also saw 2 whales close by the ship. Saints generally well and in good spirits. My health was better than it had been before and I wrote up my journal to the above date.

Saturday the 10 all well as could be expected. Calm [p. 98] or light headwinds and from this date my health was so poor that with the sailing of the ship and the increased attention to the interest of the Saints I omitted the writing up of my journal with the dates as before and from the above dates up to

June the 1 suffice it to say that light winds and calm prevailed and generally ahead, so that we made slow headway. All things passing off about after the usual style for such companies. Sometimes they felt first rate and then at other times rather dull. On the 31 May in the evening we sited Sandy Hook.

And June the 8 we cast anchor in the Bay of New York having had the measles and Whooping cough and 7 deaths on the passage; out of 700 sails [p. 99] in a short time after I received a letter from H.S. Eldreg [Eldredge] Church Emigration Agent instructing me to collect the railroad fare from the company, from New York to Florence, Nebraska Territory. This [-] I received an invitation from W. H. [UNCLEAR POSSIBLY, Hooper] for all the Utah elders and myself to put up at the Ater house at his expense.

I think there was all of asked myself of that favor. Next day the emigrants was landed at Castle Gardens and soon of via the Niagra Falls along the Lakes, to Detroit, and to Chicago via Quincy, Hannibal, to Saint Joseph from there to Florence, Nebraska, by steamboat, there I turned my charge away to Joseph W. Young who I had charge at that time. The most of the company came up with the church teams after resting a few days.

Then I was called to take charge of [p. 100] what was called an Independent Company who had their own outfit, that co-consisted of two-hundred sailor, fifty wagons and teams. I was duly appointed and accepted captain and guide to that company.

I think it was the latter part of June that we left Florence and arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah 29 of September. Nothing out of the ordinary happening. . . . [p. 101]

BIB: Brown, James Stephens. Reminiscences and journals. (Ms 8444) pp.88-101. (CHL)
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