Steamship Manhatten, off Queenstown, 8 p.m. September 23, 1869.President [Albert] Carrinton.
Dear Brother,--As the tug will be alongside in a few minutes, I hasten to "report progress."
Up to the present we have had a strong head wind, though the sea is moderately smooth. About nine-tenths of our passengers are seasick, and the other tenth are singing the songs of Zion. Brothers Dye and King have been "discharging cargo" pretty freely all the morning, and Brother Lawson has just ascertained that he and his dinner cannot agree, and they are now going through with the ceremony of separation. Up to the present I remain "compos mentis," and my appetite is ferocious.
We organized the company into four wards last night, and appointed a good many over each ward, to look after the sick, see that order and cleanliness are maintained, &c. The officers of the ship are very gentlemanly and obliging, and grant us many little indulgences, which tend greatly to promote the comfort of the passengers, all of whom seem perfectly satisfied with the arrangements which have been made, and, with the exception of seasickness, are in excellent spirits; in fact, we have yet to find the first cause for complaint.
With kind love to yourself and the Saints, in which the brethren and all the Saints on board join me,
I remain,
Your brother in the gospel,
A.E. Hyde [p.648]
BIB: Hyde, A.E. [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star 31:40 (September 29, 1869) p. 648. (CHL)
(source abbreviations)