1870-09-21-Idaho
Diary of William Whitehead Taylor
Taylor, William Whitehead. Diary (Ms 1544), pp. 151-60.
…
Wednesday 21st - Lovely morning, not a cloud to be seen. Went on deck about 7:15 a.m. Long Island in sight, lighthouse, fishing boat, etc. What feelings stir my soul as we draw near the land of promise, [p. 156] Zion of our God. About 2:00 p.m. we stopped at quarantine in sight of New York. The green trees fine; buildings, etc. at each side. The bay was a sight to cheer and gladden the heart after our stormy passage. About 5 p.m. started forward and soon reached New York. We hired a conveyance and were driven to the Stephen house and took rooms for the night. After seeing our baggage safe we visited the theater, a very fine building. Miss Lotta was playing. The piece was (Heart's ease.)
Thursday Sept. 22- (Fine and pleasant.) Early in the morning George Romney & myself rode out on the street cars to Central Park. Made a short visit, found it a most beautiful place. Returned again to the cars, got breakfast, helped the saints get their luggage alright, and Sister Collier of Ashton had lost a large box containing her and her boys clothing. We hunted through the luggage of our own company and got permission to look through the luggage of another company of emigrants laying at Castle Garden at the same time but could not find them. I thought of the ship and got one of the brethren to go back with her to see there. The box had been left on board and they brought it along on the street cars. George and I then visited Dr. [--]. We had but time to glance at things as we slowly walked through, but it is a place where a lesson could be learned that would last a lifetime. I could not write upon the place with any satisfaction, but bought a catalog that gives a person an idea of what may be seen. 5:30 p.m. we crossed the river and got in the cars. About 7 p.m. the train started. Cars dirty and uncomfortable travel all night.
Journal of W. J. Wright
Wright, W. J. Journal (Ms 9888), pp.1-12.
…
20 - Morning 4 a.m. opened fine. The finest morning we have had since we came on board. At half past eight the pilot came on board. We started with a pleasant weather. Afternoon we saw a large sailing ship and lots of small vessels. The weather [p.7] yet continued fine and rather warm. The evening was one of the finest we have seen since we have been on the water with one of the loveliest sunsets that ever I beheld. The stars shown out brightly through the night and the sea calm as could be.
21st - Morning bright and pleasant. The afternoon was rather warm. Everybody out on deck enjoying themselves and getting the morning breeze. Saw what we took to be the first sight of land from the time that we first saw land sights that were new to us kept springing before us all the time. And some of the picturesque scenery I ever saw. The first glimpse of America pleased me in the extreme as we drew near the land the view was more pleasing. The old boat rode [p.8] slowly up the river and dropped her anchor at half past three. In the afternoon we passed the doctor and the cabin passengers and some of the others left the ship, but we stayed on overnight. As it grew late, before our baggage could be hauled upon deck, we had to spend the night as best we could. Most of the folks had thrown their beds. We got little or no sleep. Part of the night we spent on deck watching the steamers plying on the river. This was a real pretty sight with the gas lights of the city. I think the river steamer surpass all I ever saw in England.
22nd - All up and stirring early to have things in readiness to go on shore. The baggage was all got up by six o'clock. Then we had breakfast and went on deck. At seven [p.9] the tug came along side and the customs officers opened the boxes, & c. After this we left the Idaho for Castle Garden. This is a nice place for the emigrants to land as there is every convenience for the passengers. There is no comfort at Liverpool compared with the place. The folks are safe so long as they keep in here. I was well pleased with the arrangements here. [--] here all day after getting the baggage ready for the cars. We got some of the best eatables here that we had tasted for some time. We got a good breakfast on bread and milk. I think the [best] I ever tasted. After our refreshments we went out in the city of New York to find a post office. There is some of the finest building I have seen anywhere. I like the general appearance of the city very much. [p.10] The streets are lively and the vehicles are constructed better for both man and animal. The teamsters looked like gentlemen and have a very different appearance than in England. Their horses have a fine appearance, but they are not so large and heavy as English cart horses. The stores are different from those in England. I could scarcely tell where to find anything that I wanted. The difference in the money was rather awkward to me at first, but I soon got used to it. There is plenty of fruit: apples, peaches, c. But [-] we got tea in Castle Garden and then started for the railroad at five o'clock we got on board the river steamer "Trenton" and was on the cars of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad at 6 o'clock. Thus far the arrangements, proved satisfactory. [p. 11]
The train got in motion at half past 7 o'clock and we began to leave the city of New York behind us. I would have liked to pass through it by daylight and have seen the sights. As we ran through the streets, it seemed funny to ride through the open streets in the railroad cars. After we left the lights of the city, we saw nothing, save a few buildings by the side of the road, but could not tell what they were. We all felt sleepy after getting seated in the cars we cared a little for anything else. All well so far on our journey. [p.12] [END OF JOURNAL]
Letter of W. C. Staines - September 23, 1870
Staines W. C. [Letter] Latter-day Saints Millennial Star 32:41 (October 11, 870) p.650.
New York, Sept. 23, 1870
President Horace S. Eldredge.
Dear Brother--The steamer Idaho arrived on the 21st, after a very rough passage. Passengers all well. The luggage of the company was so terribly mixed up that I was all day straightening it out, and the passengers did not start till evening. I leave tomorrow night for home on business.
Kind regards to all at 42.
Yours faithfully,
W. [William] C. Staines
