Tahiti February 17th 1856Dear Brothers & Sisters

I now take the present opportunity of writing you a few lines hoping they will find you all well as it leaves us at present. Since we left Australia we have passed through dangers, difficulties, hardships, and trials. We set sail as you are aware on the 7th September. All went on pretty went on pretty well until the 3rd October. That evening about half past eight o'clock when the winds was blowing free and the Julia Ann was going about 12 or 13 knots per hour, when she suddenly struck on a coral reef off Scilly Island about 300 to 400 miles west of Tahiti and became a total wreck.

When she first struck some of us was singing on the top of the midship house, we soon got down and went into the house, but finding that not very safe we went into the cabin, the sea breaking over us every moment, it was a thing impossible to stand, a rope was soon conveyed to the rocks and made fast upon which some event on shore that [p. 56] proving a very poor asylum, as not one dry spot could be found for the sea broke over the rocks every instant. Father, mother, Stephen and most of the men went on shore by the rope while I was down in the cabin lending assistance to the women and children that was still below and to help them up on the poop. Sister Humphries and Sister Harris and infant was drowned in the cabin, little Mary Humphries and Marian Anderson was washed off the poop and was drowned, they are all that was lost. After I had helped to get them all out of the cabin and came up I found the vessel all broken up into fragments except the cabin, and into that the water was rushing at a furious rate, sweeping out all the partitions, it great many of us was still clinging to the poop, after a while I made my escape to the rocks upon the broken fragments of the vessel, and the men soon succeeded in receiving the remainder, we passed a dreadful night sitting on some of the broken masts up to our middle in water, at daylight we were all very busily engaged picking up such provisions as could be found. A very small island or two was seen [p. 57] about 6 miles distant, having one boat, with a little repairing some were soon able to go and view the land while others stopped to pick up such things as was [-]. The islands was small and three in number without inhabitants barren, and desolate, a few coconuts were the only things growing that was fit to eat, with [-] & some turtles and birds, with the little we picked up from the wreck we managed to live.

On the 20th November our boat being repaired started for Tahiti with the captain and crew and on the 2nd of December to our great joy a vessel for our deliverance. We embarked on the 3rd and got to the island of [-] on the 4 where we saw the grave of Sister Allan who was buried on that island. We stopped there three days, we then went onto Tahiti where we was landed on the 19th when we got here the consuls would do nothing for us.

The American Consul said he had nothing to do with us because we were English subjects and the English Consul said he had nothing to do with us because we were in an American ship. So we were in [p. 58] a very peculiar situation without friends, without [-], without home, without clothes, without food, and in a strange land under the French government.

By the charity of the Free Masons Lodge we were [-] in food until the 19th of Jan., when they could feed us no longer we then went to the English Consul again and he has [-] us in food ever since but he says he shall take that off at the end of this months stay or when we shall get away from this place I know not. We have three orphans children stopping with us Eliza and Francis Humphries and Maria Harris who wish to be remembered to their friends if you should have the chance to see any of them.

There is but very little work for a man to get in this place and the people are very mean all Roman Catholics which makes it a very poor chance for a Mormon, where the devil reigns so strong. Mother and father and we all are in good health and [-] sets though we have lost all our worldly goods and all that we had yet we have faith in God, and trust he will deliver us soon from this wicked place, do not forget to come along the first opportunity, though [p. 59] we were shipwrecked that is no reason you will [-] I hope to see you all before long in the land of free surrounded by the Saints of the Most High God. Mother, father, and Stephen joins me in sending our love to you all, likewise remember us to all friends.

Please to let Brother Farnham know of the wreck also of our situation, do not grieve yourself because of our [-] for the loss is our infinite [-].

I remain Your affectionate

Peter PenfoldP.S. I hope Thomas is married before this if not I hope he will not let the girls stop him a second time. [p. 60]

BIB: Penfold, Peter. [Letter] IN Diary of Augustus Farnham, (Ms 7392c, folder 2), pp. 56-60. (CHL)
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