1868-07-12-Minnesota

Albert Robison Lyman

Lyman, Albert Robison. An appreciation and a biographical sketch of Benjamin Perkins, 1936 (Ms 4543 3), pp. 4-5, 7.

"When we landed at Castle Garden the officer searched our luggage and gave us American coin for our foreign money. We were delayed there a day or two before we took the train."

In their company which boarded the train for the West at Williamsburg, New York, there were 270 souls, and they seem to have traveled by train to Laramie City, …

Letter from John Parry - July 12, 1868

Parry, John. [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star. 30:31 (August, 1, 1868) p. 491-92.

Steamship Minnesota, near New York, July 12, 1868.

President F. [Franklin] D. Richards.

Dear Brother,--According to your request, we write to you from on the face of the great deep, after an unusually pleasant voyage of 11 days. …

I am now at Brother Clawson's office, all well. Two of the passengers were unwell, but all passed the doctor this morning. We land tomorrow morning, and proceed as soon as we can. I am now hurrying to return to the steamer.

Praying the Lord to prosper the remainder of the emigration as he did us I remain your humble brother in the gospel,

John Parry

Reminiscences and Diary of Zebulon Jacobs

Jacobs, Zebulon. Reminiscences and diaries, fd. 3. pp. 114-34,144.

… On the 11th came in sight of land. It was the famous Sandy Hook. Came into the channel and the quarantine officers came on board. Passed inspection. The shores of my native land looked pleasant and I am pleased only a strip of land interferes between me [p. 119] and the home of the loved ones. The day was very hot and we all felt the effects of the change of climate. After inspection we started up the river.

12th (Sunday). Steamed up to New York and dropped anchor at 8 a.m. Owing to its being Sunday we cannot land so remained on board all day. The sun has been very hot and has been all day. During the day Brother David Calder, H.B. Clawson, William C. Stanes, & H.J. Richards came alongside but could not come on board. Visited from the deck. Our company numbered 631 persons in the forward steerage. In the other part were a mixture of all nationalities (with enough Irish to keep them lively) to the number of 649 persons. In the cabin were 19 persons. The crew numbered 103 all told.

July 13. Mon. Last night was a fearful night. It was impossible to sleep. The decks in every direction were strewn with people trying to sleep but sleep was in vain. The heat below decks was intolerable. Isaac Kimball, myself, and several others of the brethren kept watch through the night as the sailors were anxious to have opportunity to take advantage of any of the sisters they could but Captain Price is a very good man and done all he could for our protection. Owing to my weak condition & loss of sleep do not feel well, in fact, miserable. The sight of New York and surroundings was beautiful. Last night the sight was picturesque as the moon shown down on the sleepers scattered over the deck, mingled with the shrouds & ropes. Breakfast over. Everything packed up & on deck. The tug came alongside and we were taken over to Castle Garden. The building is a large, round building made expressly to accommodate emigrants. It has exchanges (money), eating stalls, &c. It is divided [p. 120] into different apartments or sections by means of ropes to accommodate the different ships' companies as they land providing there is more than one at a time. Here we pass in a line through a narrow alleyway in front of the registering clerk where the form a of registering is gone through with. Several of the brethren went and looked after the transferring of the baggage. They have had a hard time as the heat was very oppressive. While I kept with and looked after the Saints from the Gardens, we got on board a tug steamer up the Hudson River to the Hudson River Depot. Here we found some of the baggage but through some awkwardness of the tug agents the baggage had to be handed over twice more than there was any need for as the baggage was no small affair to be handled. Arrangements was made with the customs house officers not to have it examined which saved time, trouble, and lots of shillings. Very good as there was a large quantity of baggage to handle in the boiling sun. It was hard work and but few to do the lifting. It was late in the evening when we got through and all on board the train. I worked until I staggered through sheer exhaustion. The perspiration dropped off me like rain. At the same time I felt chilled as though it was midwinter. By the time the baggage was claimed and weighed the night was pretty well gone and all our strength. I have made an erasure above which will not do justice to most of the brethren. Those who did work, (about 2/3), worked like men. When all was ready to start, daylight was breaking in the east. The night was sultry and oppressive and the Saints felt it very forcibly. [p. 121]

July 14. All ready got on the train and started up the Hudson River and gladly bid adieu to New York. As we passed up the river scenery was beautiful. Many places were perfectly enchanting. Passed by West Point where youth are taught the art of war and science in case their country needs them for the service providing they graduate properly. …

Reminiscences of Emily Pickering Andersen

Anderson, Emily Pickering [Reminiscences] In Denmark to Manti: The History of William Anderson and Family. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Compiled and published by James L. Anderson, n.d.) pp. 66-69.

…

"Sunday, July 14, 1867, at [-] o'clock, we anchored on U.S. shores, but we were held all day Sunday on the ship, as the doctors didn't arrive until Monday morning to give [-] examinations. At the next stop, Castle Garden, we changed [-] our money at the depot.

"At last we started on [-] long trip westward, riding miles in cattle cars, standing all the way. …