1863-07-18-Amazon

Autobiography of Naomi Debenham Dowden

Dowden, Naomi Debenham, [Autobiography], Our Pioneer Heritage, Comp. By Kate B. Carter, vol. 7 (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1964) pp. 48-49. (CHL)

A riot in New York and dispute over wages had caused much trouble and the immigrants considered it providential that they were delayed in their journey until after the riot had subsided. Six weeks were spent on the ocean. The immigrants arrived at Castle Garden, then followed up the Hudson River to Albany, New York.

Diary of Elijah Larkin

Larkin, Elijah. Diaries, pp. 454-76, 506-07. Typescript (Ms 1884) (CHL)

17th. A stream troop ship passed us at 8 a.m. My wife better, found 36 fathoms at 6 a.m. End of Long Island in sight at 8:30. Fog had cleared off & nine sails were in sight. A breeze sprung up from the north at 9:30. Our studding sails were set & we were going along joyfully. Brother Sloan was very sick. We were packing & clearing up all day. Found 26 fathoms at 12 noon. Sighted Fire Island at 6 p.m. A pilot came on board at 6:30. The New York Papers were read on board informing us of the riots that were going on there, which caused great excitement on board. Port Hudson was taken by federal. We were going 7 knots an hour, & were 42 miles from Sandy Hook this evening. I lent my perpetual calendar pencil case to William Reed & he dropped it overboard, for which he was very sorry as it was the gift of a Brother Policeman. I purchased Brother Saint's Enfield Rifle Sord Bayonet 95, round of cartridges & all the screws & fixing belonging there to for 4.14.0. I put 12 men on guard tonight from the 1st & 15th Wards.

18th. My wife was still improving, but my son George W. was taken down with diarrhea. Several pilot boats were in sight pulling toward vessels [p.466] that were making for the harbor. We had a northwest wind. Passed Sandy Hook at 12 p.m., A tug steamed up to us & the captain made arrangements with the captain of the same to tow us into harbor for $100. Splendid scenery both sides of the river. A transport loaded with troops for the city passed us, & we were informed there was 4500 troops already there to quell the riot. We anchored in the harbor about p.m. Our band played the Star Spangled Banner, & we gave several hearty [cheers]. The government doctor came on board examined & passed us all right. The officers of the customs came on board this evening & our cabin passengers landed. A perfect forest of ships were in sight. Six New York runners came on board, but finding they were watched by our guard, four left the ship & the other two were arrested by the guard. Brother Pinnack [Pinnock] fetched me & I questioned them. One told me he kept a boarding house & had come on board to see if any of us wanted to stay in New York. The other said he came to engage seamen. I told them we were not a prey for land sharks & ordered them to be kept under guard behind the poop deck, & the first boat that came alongside sent them ashore. They threatened to lay in wait for me in New York, but I told them I was well acquainted with blacklegs and thieves in the old country & knew how to treat them in the new. I then placed a guard of 12 men on & relieved them every four hours, so that no more such characters could come aboard & no one was allowed to board us with a reference to the captain or first mate, or Brothers Bramall & Sloan. Also assisted Brother Morgan to administer to Sister Hannah Braithwaite who was very sick at 11p.m.

Sunday, July 19th 1863. I got up at 4 a.m. & served out water from the captain's tank to all that thought proper to have it & any quantity they [p.467] chose. Afterwards got up the guard from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The "Cynosure" that started with a load of Saints from Liverpool five days before we sailed from London, arrived at 10 a.m. & anchored alongside us. Our band played some lively tunes & both ships company's cheered each other in right good style, for we were heartily glad to see her, as we had made every inquiry & could not hear anything of her. Brother Stairs came on board at 11-addressed us from the poop deck & gave us some good instructions relative to our journey through the states, across the plains, & exhorted us to be patient & forbear one with another. I wrote a letter to our relatives in England & received one from my wife's brother & family informing us they were all well, &c. The whole company prepared to leave the ship & I had some difficulty in getting up the guard from 8 p.m. tonight to 8 in the morning. The weather was exceedingly fine & warm. Ruth was somewhat better this evening than she had been during the day. A Brother Watson from crew Lancashire who was in our ward & had been very interfering at times with my family during the voyage, & once tried to persuade my son, George, that I did not treat him as I ought, & the boy told me of it. This evening caused quite a disturbance in my family. My wife siding with him against me. When I found by his words that he had been watching me for iniquity during the voyage, & had surmised evil in many instances where good was intended which made me feel very angry & it was with difficulty [that] I restrained myself from ringing his nose. Brother Sloan came & advised me to take no notice to it & said if there was anything to settle he, with Brother Bramall, would settle it in the morning & requested Watson to be quiet & hold his tongue, but he refused. Sister S. [Sara] A. Redmill came [p.468] & fetched Ruth to her berth for the night & I slept on the boxes I had been packing, feeling very sorry for what had occurred as it was the last night we had to spend on the good ship Amazon. R. [Rowland] Braithwaite refused to stand guard on the fo'c's'le from 4 to 8 p.m. & I sent him down & put another man on in his stead. Today Thomas Porcher & wife & his sister, M. A. came on board to see their friends & were very pleased to hear of their relatives in Cambridge, & informed me of their plans to get Brother Porcher & family out to New York as soon as possible. They were well & doing well. [Written at the top of the page is:] No 7; [also in pencil is the following:] (July 20 1863 left the ship at 6 p.m. arrived at Castle Garden at 8 p.m.)

Monday July 20th 1863. I got up at 4 a.m. & served out the water from the captain's tank. I then finished packing my baggage. My son, George W., William Reed, with twenty-eight others were appointed under Brother Pinnack [Pinnock] to superintend the baggage department through the states. Today we cooked one of the chops we had brought with us, which was very good. At 6 p.m. orders were given to clear the ship in one hour, which was done & at 7 all were on board the barge sent to fetch us & we were soon streaming across the river to Castle Garden. As we left we gave three hearty cheers for the good old ship & three more for the captain & officers & crew, which was heartily responded to by three times three for us. At 8 we landed at the Garden. The westside was already occupied by Irish, Dutch, & German emigrants, & we occupied the other & I put on a good guard by the advice of the officer in charge to prevent any of the other emigrants from coming over to our side of the establishment. Brother Pinnack [Pinnock] also put a good guard over the luggage which remained on [p.469] the barge. It was here I received the first paper money.

21st. At 6 a.m. we left the Garden, & were soon streaming up the river. We took the train at 9. The luggage was soon removed from the barge to the cars & off we started by the Hudson River Railroad.

Diary of John Watts Berrett

Berrett, John Watts, Diary (Ms 6579), fd. 2, vol. 4, pp.28-40. (CHL)

Friday 17. It was a very fine day. The fog cleared off, then we could see the American Island. About seven o'clock p.m. [p. 38] the pilot came on board. We saw 11 or 12 ships that day. In the evening it was very wet; the sea was calm.

Saturday 18th. It was a very fine day. We had the pleasure to see the land of America -- I mean the American Island. About five o'clock p.m. we got in all safe. We cast anchor some distance from the great city of New York. The blessing of God was with us from the time we left London until we arrived to New York. Saturday night we stayed on board.

Sunday 19th. We spent the day on board. Elder [William] C. Staines came on board in the morning [p. 39] to give the Saints some counsel what course they should take while traveling to the Valley.

Monday 20th. We spent the morning on the ship Amazon packing up all our luggage. In the afternoon went. . . [p. 40] [ABRUPT END TO JOURNAL]

James W. Watson Account

Watson, James William, 1848-1939, Autobiography, pp.8-11. (HDA)

... After more than seven weeks voyage over the bounding sea, we arrived at New York Harbor, where we were delayed for a while until proper arrangements were made for our admittance into "Castle Garden." Officers and doctors made their appearance to pass upon our physical condition. The gangplank was placed from the ship to shore. Before leaving the faithful ship and captain, the captain said he hoped in other voyages in crossing [p.9] the Atlantic he would be favored to bring more Mormon immigrants. "Now goodbye, and good luck attend you in your hazardous undertaking." Orders were given for us to pass the inspection. So like busy bees we passed by the doctor and officials with the words hurriedly given "ok pass on, ok pass on." Thus the ship was unloaded and we passed on to "Castle Garden," the place for us to rest until preparation was made for our onward journey. As I remember, we stopped there some three days. It was wartime and everybody and everything seemed to indicate a high tension of dark cloud of the Civil War now raging over the country. We boarded the train for St. Joseph, Missouri. ...

Letter of William Bramall - July 19, 1863

Bramall, W. [Letter], Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star 25:34 (August 22, 1863) pp. 541-43. (CHL)

Ship Amazon, off Castle Garden, New York, July 19, 1863.

President [George Q.] Cannon,

Dear Brother,--Through the kind dispensations of an overruling providence, we are in a situation to communicate with you and apprize you of our welfare and the condition of the company on board the Amazon. ...

This morning the "Cynosure" was brought up by the tug, and anchored close alongside of us. Brother [William C.] Staines came on board of us a little later in the day, as we anchored too late yesterday afternoon for holding much communication with the city. This evening we went on board the "Cynosure" and found them feeling first rate, though they had several deaths, among the children, from measles. Tomorrow we pass to Castle Garden, and thence, per rail, tomorrow evening for Albany, all being well.

We need not say anything about the rioting in this city, the public prints will give you full information.

That the Lord may bless and be with you, and those laboring with you to extend the cause of truth; and that you may be instrumental in furthering the gathering of Israel, is the prayer of those who compose this company, and of your brethren in the truth,

W. [William] Bramall, E. [Edward] L. Sloan, Richard Palmer.

Reminiscences and Journals of William McLachlan

McLachlan, William. Reminiscences and journals, vol. 1, pp. 77-117, 120,139. (Ms 1514) (CHL)

Friday 17th July. Foggy up till 7 a.m. when it began to clear away gradually and in a short time we could see quite a [-] of vessels around us. In the afternoon we served out meat, flour, & sugar to assist the Saints; especially the poor on their journey through the states to Florence. At 7 p.m. the pilot came on board and was hailed with joy. About 8 p.m. we had quite [p.105] a heavy shower of rain, and a calm sea ensued. Very close and warm on the second and third decks.

Saturday 18th July. Very warm. About 10 a.m. anchor was cast and in a few minutes a steam tug came along side of the vessel to drag her into port. Anchor was drawn up and we moved along steadily to our destined haven at least within one mile of Castle Garden, where anchor was again cast at 2:30 p.m. We had considerable difficulty in keeping some men that called themselves boarding house keepers from coming on deck. Custom house officers came on board this afternoon. Sister Jones gave birth to a child about 6 p.m., lived only a few minutes. [p.106]

Sunday 19th July 1863. About 12 a.m. the "Cynosure" anchored near to us. She sailed from Liverpool on Saturday 29th May with 700 souls of the Saints on board. As soon as the anchor was dropped we gave them a hearty "hurrah" which was responded to by them without delay. They had 12 deaths on board. Brother William C. Staines paid us a visit this morning and gave us some few instructions relative to our journey from New York to Florence.

Monday 20th July. Busy packing up to go ashore. Weather very warm. At 6 p.m. we commenced to pass our luggage from the Amazon on to a barge that came along side of her. And at 7:30 p.m. all the passengers with their [p.107] baggage were on the barge. 25 reliable men were chosen to watch and guard the luggage from this time until we should arrive in Florence. Got to Castle Garden at 8 p.m., and after having a little to eat, we made up our bed on the floor. Although it was hard we had a good night's rest which was appreciated. The Tuesday previous to our landing New York was visited with riots and a great many lives were lost. Little William G. not any better but weaker.

Tuesday 21st July. Wake up about 4 a.m. had a little to eat and at 5:50 a.m. we were all stowed on the barge again. No disgusting expressions were made use of as we left the Gardens by those who are opposed to the truth. The crushing and crowding [p.108] we experience in getting water, passing on to the barge, and so forth, caused some to use expressions altogether distant from our profession and leads others to say, even of our brothers and sisters, we are more like brute beasts then anything else. After sailing up the river a little distance we got ashore unloaded the barge of our luggage and stowed it into the railway cars. At 9:45 a.m. we started for Albany.