1868-08-05-Constitution
Autobiography of Harvey Harris Cluff
Cluff, Harvey Harris, Autobiography and Journals (Ms 1687, vol. 1, pp.100-5,108-13.
… It was on the 3rd day of August when the pilot from New York came on board 12:30 o'clock p.m. We were delighted in the fact that we were near land yet we could not see it. The pilot reported that the Emerald Isle [arrived], which sailed four days before the Constitution in which we are sailing. The 4th day of August was a joyful day for it was on that day that the land of America was sighted, a sight long desired by all on the Constitution. We all felt that no regrets would occur with any of the passengers in removing from the Constitution to land, and for land transportation as a change from the sea voyage.
How can we feel grateful enough to our Heavenly Father for the blessings which he has so graciously bestowed upon the passengers of the Constitution. Considering the kind of ship, the crowded passengers into a corral as it were, and the leakage of the old tub, makes our preservation still more to be thankful for. While it is true we had some sickness, yet the perseverance of the elders in watching their wards and looking after health of the people, administering to the afflicted and giving comfort to the despondent and cheering up the downcast. Thus we arrived in the port of New York without losing a single passenger and without any contagion, and four days ahead of the ship Emerald Isle which was considered a good seaworthy vessel. I think Dr. Johnson was the most feeble man on board the Constitution. He remained on his bed [p.108] most of the time, under the influence of opium. He will not crave in the future permission to be a doctor on a ship with Mormon emigrants.
Sunday Aug. 5 late in the evening the Constitution cast anchor off from Castle Garden, New York. I went ashore with the captain hoping to meet H. B. Clawson, the church shipping agent, but failing to find him, I put up at a hotel near where the captain stayed with a friend. I felt disappointed in not meeting with Elder Clawson and in the morning, I hastened to the ship. From the shore I reached the ship by canoe for which I paid fifty cents. The tugboat was there taking on the luggage of the passengers to transport to the Castle Garden, for inspection by the government revenue officers. Here is the first trial that emigrants encounter on land. Every box, trunk, and grip is torn open and their contents hauled out to find if possible contraband goods. Usually Mormon emigrants are not possessed of goods liable to confiscation, if however an emigrant suspects he is liable and he may if he is up to the "tip" business, induce the office to look at his trunk with one eye shut, if he opens it at all. When the officers were through their investigation, the luggage and emigrants were reshipped on the tugboat and taken up the Hudson to the railroad station. Here the luggage and emigrants were booked for the west.
Aug. 7th 2 o'clock p.m., the train pulled out following up the Hudson River. I remained at the Church shipping office to finish up some business with the agent Clawson. Business finished, I jumped aboard the express train and stopped at the first station after passing our emigrant train and waited until our train came up and I joined my company joyfully. The following morning we researched Albany, capital of the State of New York where we remained until noon. As I held the ticket for the entire company, the railroad agent called me to his office and said he wanted to count the company and would go through the train just [as] it was ready to pull out and he desired me to go through with him. This gave me an opportunity of saying to the friend I could depend upon to remain outside and especially see that all the emigrants were inside. Agent Clawson gave me [to] remember that it was possible that some poor person might join us while we were passing through [p.109] the states. Such had occurred with other trains carrying our people and if you have any board the train and join the company you might get along with railroad officials the best you can. I passed through the cars with the agent and counted every person and when finished, we had the exact number as I had tickets call for and yet there were six men outside showing evidently that six persons had joined us since leaving New York.
In order to have order in the cars during our journey we appointed one elder to each car as we had done on shipboard. The duty of these brethren was to keep track of their number of passengers, keep things tidy in the cars and have prayer night and morning and avoid contention. …
Autobiography of Joseph Smith Horne
Horne, Joseph Smith, Autobiography, Utah Pioneer Biographies, vol. 2, pp.60-61.
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On Aug. 1st I collected money from the Swiss passengers who wanted to have American money instead, so the business could be soon attended to in New York. In New York Harbor officers examined us as to our health. Thus, Aug. 6th we were welcomed to Castle Garden by our agent, William C. Staines and aids. On the 7th at 2 p.m. we started west on cars. …
Journal of George Wilcox Burridge
Burridge, George Wilcox. Diaries (Typescript) (Ms 8667), vol. 1, pp. 46-51.
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6 Aug. Weighed anchor and set sails to go up to New York. Was taken inland by a steam tug and brought up the river and passed the fort where we were branded by the health officers, and after passing inspection went up near Castle Garden and anchored for the last time, and retired for the night.
7 A fine morning. Got up luggage. Brother Staines came on board and gave instructions relation to our going ashore. Landed at Castle Garden at half past 8 o'clock a.m. After passing through the offices we went on up the river to the railway station and weighed our luggage and took a stroll in the city. At 12 o'clock the train arrived and having got on board we started at 2 o'clock on the Hudson River Line Railroad. …
