1861-05-21-Underwriter

Arrivals of Saints at New York

"Arrival of Saints at New York [Letter Excerpt]," Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 23:23 (June 22, 1861) p. 394. (CHL)

... The voyage of the Underwriter is described as being a happy one, and characterized by a good spirit and feeling among the Saints. They landed on the 22nd of May, having been one day longer on the passage than the "Manchester." Both, however, made the trip in much quicker than average time. Respecting the Saints upon the Underwriter, Brother N. V. Jones writes from New York under date of May 24th:--

"This company were landed at Castle Garden on the 22nd instant, and proceeded for the West last evening. I have succeeded in forwarding, besides the missionaries, about thirty-five adult passengers who were deficient of means to proceed further than New York, which gave much joy to them and their fellow-travellers. I was enabled to do so by donations received. Brothers Orson Pratt, Erastus Snow, and Hooper were here on the arrival of the Saints, which has proved a great blessing to the Saints."

We sincerely trust that the remainder of the journey to Zion may prove as prosperous and speedy as the passage between this port and New York has been safe and pleasant. [p.394] ...

Diary of F. W. Blake

Blake, F.W. Diary, 1861 Apr-Dec. pp.14-60,89. (CHL)

May 21st Tuesday. The ship moving on at a good rate in a northwesterly course. Many at the front part of her noticing distant steamers from which the smoke issued. It was amusing to hear them pronounce the smoke as land, mountains &c. Their speculations only ended in smoke. While looking out a pilot boat came darting smartly over water. The pilot came on board. He looked a regular "Yankee" began to give his orders about the rigging as soon as he came on board. The people look smart & joyful at the prospect of soon landing. One of the sailor fell from a topsail & was evidently much shook--no bones broken. The doctor stripped the man. Very little wind but the prospect of a speedy release from ship life pleases all of us. [p. 41]

Wednesday 22nd May. At 5 o'clock & before reports of trees fine [-] were shouted out. All berths soon emptied & their late occupants on deck noting with admiring eyes the forts, gardens, shipping, fine prospects all round. One of the most magnificent sights I ever beheld. The great "Eastern" in view. She seems to surpass in size the largest vessel on the river yet many are leviathan structures on & far exceed in size the general English steamers. Batteries of stone mounted with cannon are in view. Some are in course of erection. Saw a horse & chaise from our ship this morning. Quite a new sight to our optics. All seems life & bustle again. The dull monotony of the past fades away into scenes of active life, nature looks gay & grand and all the appearances around are welcomely hailed by the Saints. The doctor came on board this morning & all passed his inspection. He praised our general appearance & management & added that he never saw a company bearing such signs of good health. Captain, lady and the ship doctor with his son started away by steamboat. Castle Garden are in view with its round house. All are anxious to go off board but are busy packing up &c.

The hour arrived for the crowd of Saints & stock of luggage to be removed from the ship & it became my unfortunate lot to stay on board while the large vessel [p. 42] was drawn towards shore. Handkerchiefs & hats were waving & loud hurrahs were heard sounding over the waters competing with those engaged in the national cause. (They were frequently making the air echo with the power of their voices). Cook, I, & an unlucky chap who came up on deck too late to jump off had to had them to retire to the stories below. I stayed at the wish of Brother [Milo] Andrus & had I merely done as he expected & as I thought, it would have been very agreeable but alas man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. I worked hard with the fore said two men until about 9 o'clock at night. Then I felt completely used up, tired & [-]. About this time a boat came up alongside. We bartered with him for fare across to shore. After a short ride & the payment of 75 cents we landed. I felt lively & gave a run cheerily shouted & walked to the Castle or round house for emigrants - where seated in every direction & laying out in full length were the late company of the Underwriter. Many were evidently absent among their friends & at good lodging houses. I went out again & took some bread & butter & wine. [p. 43] Returned & slept 2 hours. Then wrote to Annie. Felt very tired at 5 o'clock.

Thursday May 23rd. Went at this hour with several others out of this den & took breakfast, returned & greeted a number of old friends. Towards 9 p.m. we all got on the luggage car which was attended with the tug. Started to New Jersey & had our luggage weighed. Some paid heavily for extra weight. After this process had been gone through & another of a saving nature also namely the selection of 31 & hands who had short & some no means at all, to go to Florence. Started away to the Railway Station. Here my task was a puzzling one--the reckoning of cash [exchange of American & English amounts]. I labored at a list until I finished it but the fatigue of this day seemed to send the very essence of my life from me. About the hour of 10 a.m. - train started from New York. I previously received the [p. 44] packet of railway tickets, still remaining the clerk of the company. I had the favor of staying in the caboose & the tickets were constantly exposed and punched with a steel punch. I felt tired this night but too tired to sleep.

Diary of F.[Frederick] W. Blake

Blake, F. W. Diary. (CHL)

Tuesday, May 21 - The ship making on at a good rate on in a northwesterly course, many at the front part of her noticing distant steamers from which the smoke issued. It was amusing to hear them pronounce the smoke as land, mountains, etc. Their speculations only ended in smoke. While looking out a pilot boat came darting smartly over water, the pilot came on board. He looked a regular Y and Pee. Began to issue orders about the [-] as soon as he came on board. The people look smart and joyful at the prospect of soon landing. One of the sailors fell from a top sail and was evidently much shook. No bones broken. The docker stripped the man and...very little wind but a prospect of a speedy relief from ship life pleases all of us.

Wednesday, May 22 - At five o'clock before report of trees fine rains were shrouded out. All below soon emptied and [-] on deck noting with admiring eyes the fields, gardens, shipping, fine prospects all around. One of the most magnificent sights I ever beheld. The great Eastern in view. She seemed to surpass in size the largest vessel on the river yet many are leviathan structures and far exceed in size the general English steamers. Base is of stone mounted with cannon are in view. Some are in course of [-]. Saw a horse and chaise from our ship this morning, quite a new sight to our optics. All seems life and bustle again. The dull monotony of the past fades away into scenes of active life. Nature looks gay and grand and all the appearances around are welcomely hailed by the saints.

The doctor came on board this morning and all passed inspection. He praised our general appearance and management and added that he never saw a company bearing such signs of good health. Captain and lady and doctor with his son started out by steamboat. Castle Gardens are in view with the round house. All anxious to go off board but are busy packing up. The [-] arrive for the crowd of saints and shock of luggage to be removed from the ship and it became my unfortunate lot to stay on board while the large vessel was drawn toward shore. Handkerchiefs were waving and loud hurrahs were heard [-] over the [-] comprehend. Wish those engaged in the [-] cause they were apparently making the air echo with the power of their voices.

Cook I an unhealthy chap who came up on deck to [-] to jump off had to be [-] at the wish of Brother Andrus had I merely done as he expected and as I thought it would have been very agreeable but alas, "Man is born to trouble as the sparks that fly upward." I worked hard with the aforesaid man until about nine o'clock at night. Then I felt completely [-] up, tired, and dainty. About this time a boat came up alongside. We bartered with him for fare across to shore. After a short ride, the payment of seventy five cents, we landed. I felt lively and gave a [-] cheerily shouted and walked to the castle, or round house, for the emigrants were seated in every direction and laying out in full were the company of the Underwriter. Many were evidently absent among their friends at a good lodging house. I went out again, took some bread and butter and wine and returned and slept two hours, then wrote to Amie. Felt very tired at five o'clock.

Thursday, May 23 - Went at this hour with several others out of that den and took breakfast. Returned and greeted a number of old friends. Towards nine a.m. we all got on the luggage car which was attended with the tug. Started for New Jersey and had our luggage weighed. Some paid heavily for extra weight. After this proceeds had been gone through and another of a saving [-] also namely the selection of thirty one and a half hands who had short and some no means at all to go to Florence started away to the railway station. Here my task was a puzzling one, the reckoning of cash, exchange of American and English accounts...

Journal of Mary Ann Savill Tame

Tame, Mary Ann Savill, [Journal], in Florence C. Youngberg, Saville Heritage (privately printed, 1985) p. 496. (CHL)

Tuesday 21--very calm. Pilot came on board and land just in sight. We were permitted to stay on deck as long as we wished. Went down about 12.

Wednesday 22--very fine. Were all called on deck between 3 and 4 to pass the doctor . Land in sight. We were very glad to see it not having seen anything but sky and water for a month. Then went ashore in a steamboat for Castle Garden. Slept that one night.

23--started early. A little way up the river so the station had our luggage weighed and started about 10 o'clock for Dunkirk reached there. --(25)--then changed car for Cleveland. Reached there on 26th.

Journal of William Yates [Yeates]

Yates, William. Journals, 1848-1891, pp. 184-89, 92. (Ms 8479 Acc. #34358). (CHL)

We left Liverpool 23rd of April and landed in New York on the 22nd of May, (Wednesday,) where I meet Brother Simon Hiblud, William Bowdin, George Davis, & Brother Dudman, who were my old acquaintances. They were glad to see me & treated me very kind. I spent the evening and stayed all night at Brother George Stone's at Williamsburg.

Next day got our luggage to the railway station and about ten o'clock on Friday evening, the 24th, we started by special train for Dunkirk, 474 miles, where we changed for Cleveland

Letter by Milo Andrus - May 21, 1861

Andrus, Milo, [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 23:23 (June 22, 1861) pp. 396-97. (CHL)

... May 23rd.--We arrived on the 22nd, and the majority of the company are about to start to Florence. We found Brothers Pratt, Snow, Jones, and Hooper all well. ...

Milo Andrus Emigrating Company, Log Book 1861

Milo Andrus Emigrating Company. pp.1-60. Journal (Ms 260). (CHL)

May 21st, Tuesday. The ship moving along at a good rate in a northwest course. Many standing at the front part of her noticing distant steamers from which the smoke issued. It was amusing to hear them pronounce the smoke as land, mountains, &c. Their speculations only ended in smoke. While looking out a pilot boat came darting over the water. The pilot came on board & began to give his orders about the rigging &c. The people look smart & joyful as the prospect [p. 53] of soon landing. One of the sailors fell from a topsail & was evidently much shook, no bones broken.

Wednesday, 22nd May. Before 5 o'clock reports of trees, fine view &c. All berths soon emptied & their late occupants on deck noting with admiring eyes the forts, gardens, shipping &c. Fine prospects all round & acknowledged to be one of the most magnificent sights ever seen by all on board. The "Great Eastern" in view. She seemed to surpass in size the largest vessels in the river, yet many are leviathan structures & surpass in size the general English steamers. Batteries of stone mounted with [p. 54] cannon are in view, some are in course of erection. All seems full of life and bustle, the dull monotony of the past fades away into scenes of active life. The doctor came on board this morning and all passed his inspection. He praised our general appearance & management and added that he never saw a company bearing such signs of good health. Captain & lady with doctor & son started away by steamboat without any sign of praise from us. The hour arrived for the Saints & their luggage to be removed from the ship. While the conveyance was drawn to shore handkerchiefs & hats were waving [p. 55] & loud hurrahs were heard sounding over the waters, competing with those engaged in the National War cause who were conducted on steamboats down the river. The Saints landed at Castle Garden. [p. 56]

Thursday, May 23rd. About 9 a.m. we all got on the luggage car which was attended with a tug. Traveled to New Jersey & had our luggage weighted. Some paid heavily for extra weight. After this process had been gone through & another of a similar nature also, namely, the selection of 31 persons who had short & some no means at all to go to Florence; started away to the railway station, about the hour of 10 p.m. Train started from New York. The majority of the Saints who came on the Underwriter booked to Florence.