. . .baggage remained there 'till 8 A.M. took it to the [UNCLEAR POSSIBLY MALIELOV] Docks to the ship Manchester which had been chartered to New York. The Captain's name was Mr. Trask, a gentleman from New York about 30 years of age. He behaved and conducted himself gentlemanly towards our company all the way. Left the ship at noon, and went to town (Liverpool). At 1 p.m. Elder [Charles] C. Rich married Sister Hannah Salmon to Brother Bolly Stride [Barry Wride]. Returned to the ship at 4 p.m. and remained there overnight.

14th April, Sunday. Ab. [About] 2 p.m., a meeting was held on shipboard. The company were addressed by Elders Amasa Lyman, Charles E. Rich, and George Q. Cannon. The emigrants on board were organized into 5 wards with a President Claudius V. Spencer, two counselors, Edward Hemam [Hanham], and William Jefferes [Jeffries], and with five Bishops; Benjamin [P.] Evans. David John, and Barry Wide from Wales. Job Pingree from Ogden, Utah, and William Bayliss from Manchester, England. Went to Liverpool at 6 p.m. and returned to the ship at 9 p.m.

15th. The doctor and government officers came on board at 9 a.m. for inspection. The ship had her clearance in the evening.

16th. Sailed from the river at 9:30 a.m. we were taken out by a steam packet, the distance of 20 miles. It left us at 1:30 p.m. We sailed at the rate of about 4 or 5 miles an hour during the evening, and had a very fine weather. At night we passed the beautiful sites of the Carnarvon Line Mountains, North Wales and the point of Anglesey. Had fine weather during night.

17th. At 6 a.m. we were within sight of Ireland, had a fair wind. Sailed at the rate of 6 or 7 miles an hour. At sunset we passed Truska's lighthouse. (A small island near Ireland.) The majority of the emigrants were sick in the evening, had a fair wind all night, and day. [p.243]

April 18th. The most of the passengers were sick, my wife among the rest, I was sick for about 5 minutes which was all the sickness I endured during the whole voyage. Sailed at the rate of 6 miles an hour.

19th. At 6 a.m. we were 500 miles from Liverpool, cleared the Irish Channel in the evening. One of the ship crew, an Irishman born in America, fell from the mast and got drowned. The captain stopped the ship, and sailed forth the lifeboat in pursuit under the charge of the first mate, but could not get his body. His feet must have slipped off, for it was a very fine, calm day. The first mate expressed his sympathy to me, after him particularly for the sake of his mother, who lived close neighbor to him in New York. He spoke highly of the character of the drowned young man, and concluded by saying, that he must have been very careless in falling on such a fine day, and continued he'd__m him if he were to return I would kill him for being drowned so carelessly. The ship sailed at the rate of 7 miles during the day, at night at the rate of 10 1/2 miles an hour. Passengers were nearly all sick.

20th. Being a fine day-sickness unmoving. Sailed 7 or 8 miles an hour. Administered by the laying on of hands to many of the sick. Sailed at the rate of 5 miles an hour during the night. We sailed from 6 p.m. of the 19th to 6 p.m. of the 20th, 176 miles, make an average of 8 1/3 miles in the last 24 hours. At 3 p.m. we found that we had sailed 800 miles from Liverpool, but in a direct line 576 miles distance
.

21st, Sunday. Held a meeting on board in the morning. We sailed at the rate of 5 miles per hour, at noon 3 miles an hour, in the evening 6 miles, and during night 4 miles an hour. The meeting was addressed by Elders [p.244] Edward Hemam, William. Jefferes and [George P.] Ward. I laid hands on Sister Croper [Cooper] from the Manchester Conference and on Sister [Margaret] Roberts from Ezlingsfach, Caernarvon, North Wales. They were both sick.

22nd. I got up at 4 a.m. and swept and scrubbed the passenger's deck, being a fine and clear morning. Ship sailing at the rate of 4 1/2 miles an hour. At 6:30 p.m. I saw some fish hogs about 12 in number. They were following the ship in a straight line one after another, with their heads above the water. In the evening we had a dance on deck, and a few comic songs, attended prayers on deck at 8:30 p.m. Fair wind the most of the day.

23rd. Had unfavorable wind, sailed at the rate of 3 miles an hour during the day, in the evening had a dance, singing, and prayers, in the open air.

24th. Being damp light showers of rain in the morning, sailed at the rate of 4 miles an hour during the day, and at the rate of 7 miles during night. I was on watch from 9 p.m., till 1 o'clock midnight.

25th. Being fine weather, strong breeze from the most favorable quarter, sailed at the rate of 9 miles an hour, several encountered seasickness.

26th. Had the most favorable wind all day, the majority of the passengers were sick, the ship rocked worst then we had experienced before, sailed during night at the rate of 10-1/2 miles an hour. During the night the sea was so boisterous that it was quite a task for the passengers to keep in their berths.

27th. Had rough weather, the water dashing on deck, many sick, small rain from 12 o'clock at noon yesterday till 12 noon today, we sailed 235 miles in 24 hours; being 5 miles lacking of covering 10 miles an hour during the 24 hours. At 12 o'clock noon we were 2 hours 13 minutes behind (later) the Liverpool time. During the afternoon and evening we sailed averaging 7 miles an hour. The sea was rather boisterous all night. [p.245]

28th Sunday. Being dark and foggy, we were entering the banks of Newfoundland. I saw strange 2 birds called "Bosons", with a red feather, and a long tail, about one foot in length, sailed about 4 miles per hour. The wind increased at noon, the weather being too rough to hold meeting on deck, which was published to be held at 1 p.m. in the afternoon. We sailed at the rate of 10 miles an hour. At 4 p.m. we were surrounded by a very thick foggy mist, we could not see over 200 yards distance. It was cold with a small thick rain night and day. The Captain informed me that it was raining the year round on the Banks of "Newfoundland". The bell of the ship was ringing day and night. They also blew the horn, to give an alarm, if other ships might be near us, lest we should become in contact with each other in the dark. We averaged during the night 10 miles an hour.

29th. Surrounded by the same cold stormy dark, and rainy weather. The wind blew extremely cold, it was nearly impossible to remain long on deck, all nature seemed dreary and gloomy. The sun, moon, and stars, as far as we discovered never visited those banks; it seemed to us as though when the Creator separated "light from darkness" and called one "day and one night" that the Banks of "Newfoundland" were left to exist in their primeval state, without an organization, for Mr. Trask, our kind captain, told me, it was always the same kind of weather there. All except 2 of the emigrants enjoyed good health, the atmosphere too cold for the visitation of any fever to prey upon us. Still severe cold possessed many, among others my babe, Annie Jane, Born Dec 15/1860 in Nottingham, England (being my firstborn) being at this time 4 months and 14 days old. A young lady by the name of Mary Ann Thomas took her in her arms, up on deck, when I found her, her face and forehead were turned blue with the [p.246] cold, water running freely from her eyes and nose. The cold settled on her lungs, which never left her. She died from the effect of this cold on the plains by Devil's Gate on the 20th of Aug. 1861 and buried there. For more particulars see Aug. 20th and 21st 1861 this book. Sailed during night at the rate of 10 miles an hour.

30th. The same kind of weather as the last 2 days. Sailed about 5 miles an hour in the morning. At noon the darkness disappeared. It became clear and fine for a few hours. We thought we were leaving the "banks." At 2 p.m. we saw a buoy of a ship, on the water, which proved that we were still on the banks, and that a fishing ship was near. At 3 p.m. the weather became dark and cloudy as before, and it continued so 'till 11 p.m. Then it became fine and clear. At this time we left the banks, and found ourselves on what is termed by many the "American Coast." We sailed at the rate of 5 miles an hour during the night.

May 1st. Clear and fine morning. Sailed at the rate of 1-1/2 miles an hour, enjoyed good and healthy atmosphere. The Saints seemed thankful that we sailed so slow and easy after having endured such rough weather on the "Banks." Discovered a ship sailing north to south. Sailed at the rate of 5 miles an hour in the afternoon, and 6 miles during the night.

May 2nd. Being very foggy and dark, we could not see beyond about 200 yards distance. Sailed at the rate of 1 mile an hour in the morning, at the ratio of 5 miles an hour in the afternoon, evening and night.

3rd. At 2 a.m. a heavy gale rose, the passengers tumbling to and fro all over the ship. The wind blew us five points out of our course. The ship was steering direct to the North point, which made the atmosphere quite cold. Out of every 12 miles we sailed, we gained 4 miles toward the west. [p.247] The ship was rocked like a cradle on the ocean, the water dashing over the deck, the people tumbling on board on each other. Tins and cooking utensils moving to and fro and found no resting place. Down below I noticed a Scotchman on his knees, holding fast to the contents of a dish of soup of oatmeal and peas, determining not to lose it in the storm, when an Englishman passed by with the contents of a chamber, fell down, the contents of the chamber emptying into the soup. The Scotchman got up and attempted to strike him, but a Welshman came tumbling up and down and he was thrown down between the both. As he was getting up, he was vomiting, and dispatched a mouthful of peas to the Scotchman's face. This relieved the Englishman, and the Scotchman threatened to have the Welshman tried for his standing in the Church for his abuse. The majority of the emigrants were sick, I waited on them all day.

4th. Fine weather, sailed slow, sickness removed, had a dance in the evening.

5th. Sunday. Had a stormy day like the 3rd instant. As the ship was rolling I had a bad fall, got my left shoulder hurt, so that I was unable to get up alone, one of the sailors picked me up. The wind was favorable, sailed at the rate of 10 miles an hour during the day and night.

6th. Fine like unto the 4th instant. At 6 p.m. a heavy gale rose, and the sea was boisterous all night. All the passengers were deprived of a night's rest.

7th. Being the roughest day since we left Liverpool. At noon we were on George's banks. Emigrants sick. The captain feared George's rocks on the right point, he turned the ship and sailed southwest to evade them. The sea surrounded us like high towering mountains. At times we sailed as in a low valley, with mountainous waves on the right, left, before, and in the rear, it seemed [p.248] as if one thousand part of the water that formed itself above us in the shape of perpendicular mountains would but empty itself on the ship. That it would drive us forever into the forgotten depths of the ocean, but before the mind thought inspired with velocity divine could give birth to a new thought, the valley beneath and the mountains above had disappeared, and we found the ship on the very summit or pinnacle of a mountainous ocean, with an eternal abyss below us the next moment we found the ship hanging as it were a bird to a crag on the side of a perpendicular mountain. This was a scene that no artist could type, no tongue can describe, but the heart may imagine with feelings of horror, delight and thankfulness combined. The passengers were tranquil, and calm, and all hushed into silence, no talking, no shouting, no public prayers, were heard among the Saints, but the crew of the ship was alarmed. The captain and first mate rushed down below to us. As they came the mate spoke in a trembling heart rendering voice, "We will be all drowned in a few minutes." "I have been on sea 20 years, and never experienced such an awful storm before." The sailors could do no good. It took them all their physical strength to save themselves from tumbling over. The captain in a tremulous tone addressed himself to me, saying "I wish if you Bishops would unite yourselves together with the saints, and pray the Lord to save us, and have mercy on us, for I have heard that your people can perform miracles, and if you can now is the time one is needed. I replied that we did not profess to perform miracles, but we believed that God is no respecter of persons, and that he was just as willing and ready and able to save us as he was to save his disciples on the sea of Galilee, and saved Paul [p.249] when it became shipwrecked. The Captain replied for Heaven's sake do not preach now, there is no time for preaching, go and pray the Lord to save us. I replied that we had made our prayers before hand, like Daniel the Prophet before he was thrown into the den of wild Lions, he was calm then, and we are calm now; and I assure captain the Lord will not suffer us, 400 Saints to perish in the deep, so do not be alarmed, God will preserve us. He replied "If you do not need to pray for yourselves, pray for our sakes." We gathered the Saints together and offered up a petition to our Heavenly Father to quiet the storms and the waves, that it might become calm. In one half an hour or less, it became perfectly calm. The captain told me that he knew now that the Saints could perform miracles. I assured him that they did not profess to be performers of miracles, but that they believed that God would listen to their cry when they call upon him in faith.

8th: Fine day, the health of the emigrants gaining, were driven southwest 5 miles out of our course.

9th: Fine, sailed slow in the afternoon. In the morning, we were within 276 miles to New York.

10th: Fine day, sailed at the rate of one mile an hour. All day were driven a few points southward out of our direct course.

11th. Fine morning sailing at the rate of 2-1/2 miles an hour, all the Saints got on deck, to recruit health.

12th, Sunday: Fine day sailed at the rate of 3-1/2 miles an hour. Held a meeting at 2:30 p.m. and administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper at 7 p.m. Good feelings prevailing among the Saints.

13th. Fine, sailed at the rate of 5 miles an hour. At 7:30 a.m. a pilot came on board to pilot us in. At 10 a.m. we discovered Long Island in the State of [p.250] New York on the right, and the State of New Jersey on the left. In the afternoon we passed Sandy Hook (?) and at 7 p.m. we cast anchor at quarantine within 9 miles of New York. The sight was beautiful to behold. One glance at land, houses, green trees bearing foliage, on the right and left of us, within one mile to us, created happy sensations within us after being on the ocean deprived of our present surroundings about one month. Held meeting at 6 p.m. when a vote of thanks was presented to our kind captain and his officers for their kind treatment towards the emigrants. We gave three cheers to the land of our adoption.

14th. At 7:30 a.m. a doctor came on board and examined the health of the passengers. All passed as being healthy. We were taken in by a steamer within one mile to Castle Garden where we remained all day.

15th. At 9 a.m. the custom house officers came on board and examined our luggage. We presented them with a few pounds sterling, and had no difficulty. Proceeded, landed, and went to Castle Gardens, and got our names registered according to law. Went to one of the docks and got our luggage weighed, and crossed the river by a steamer, over to New Jersey. At 1 p.m. I took a walk through the city and examined the surrounding scenes for a few hours. Met a man and his wife from within 2 miles to my father's house, by the name of Thomas Evans, a member of the Church, who had gone so far towards Utah, but had given way to drinking, and remained there, seemingly contented with his situation in the midst of wickedness. As a token of his great regards to me he offered me some brandy to drink. I told him that I had left my native land for the sake of my religion, and hoped that he would quit his evil habits, save his means, and gather up to Zion, he promised to do so. [p.251]

15th: Elders Erastus Snow (one of the twelve), N. V. Jones, and Thomas Williams, (emigration agents) spent the day with us, and afforded us much joy. At 9:30 p.m. took the Railway cars and started at 10 p.m. Myself and wife, with a few others, rode in the 1st Class carriage all the way to St. Joseph, Missouri. On our route we passed the following stations.
New Jersey (city) Monroe Bergen Oxford
Hackensack Junction Boiling Spring Chester
Passaic Spring Goshen Huyler's Hampton
Pasterson Middletown Godwinville Howells
Hohokus Otisville Allendale Port Jerris
Ramsey's Shoholo Suffen's Lackemicen
Ramapo Mast Hope Hoatsburg Narrawsburg
Southhills Coehuton Greenwood Calicoon
Teirneirs Homkins Lordville Pattboneville
Stockport Cameron Hancock Crosbyville
Haley's Eddy Canirsteo Deposit Hornesville
Susquehanna Almon Great Band Alfred
Andover Binghamton Genesee Union
Scio Campville Phillipsville Owego
Belvidere Tioga Friendship Smithboro
Cuba Barton Hindsdale Stevenly
Cheming Great Valley Wellsburg Little Valley
Elmira
Catteraugus Big Flats Dayton
Corning Perresburg Mills Painted Post Smiths
Addison Forestville Chicago Dunkirk
St. Joseph (last) Cleveland [p.252]

We sailed on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers for about 48 hours when we landed in Florence. On the Missouri River my only child Annie Jane was taken sick with the lung fever, but became better before we landed in Florence. We arrived at Florence on the 24th May 1861, and tarried there till June 23rd. I rented a part of a house and lived there for one month. While there I bought 2 oxen, 2 cows and a wagon and the remainder of our outfit for to cross the wilderness. While having this rest my child, Annie Jane, gained on her health.

On June 23rd 1861 we moved 1 mile west of Florence and there camped. In the evening a meeting was called when Elders Milo Andrus, Jacob Gales and John McAllister addressed us. Elder [Ansel P.] Harmon was appointed our Captain. . . . [p.253]

BIB: John, David, Journal (Special Collections & Manuscripts, MSS 21, vol. l), pp. 243-53 (Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.)
(source abbreviations)