1877-09-30-Wisconsin

Journal of Samuel Peckett Horsley

Horsley, Samuel Peckett. Journal, pp. 2-17.

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Saturday, 29 - On this day all was expecting to see land again. Old beds of straw was thrown overboard and all was ready to leave the good old ship. All was almost breathless and everything was still and quiet. We heard that joyful sound, "Land, oh, land, oh." All eyes were fixed to catch a sight of America. This was a grand sight, to behold land again. The pilot came on board to steer us into harbor. I cannot describe the beautiful shore of New York with houses dotted here and there surrounded with trees and the lovely walks and picturesque views. As the doctor is coming aboard and we all begin to pack up our things and leave the ship. The custom house officers are ready to search our boxes. We are all past the doctor and off we go to Castle Garden to be counted for the cars. This done, we sat down and tasted the first Yankee food and obtained our first American money. As I was acquainted with Brother William C. Staines, I got him to change some English money for American and was quite puzzled when I found two kinds of five cent pieces, twenty cents, twenty five cents, fifty cents, and one hundred cents. [p.11] However, we soon found the way to spend it. We drank good luck to the beautiful ship that brought us safe over the Atlantic Ocean with many sounding cheers. We next filled our boxes with good things to eat on our journey from the Castle Garden. We marched on with our hand luggage. 482 men, women, and children like a flock of sheep to the cars in waiting at the Pennsylvania Railway. I thought this was something like the children of Israel traveling to the promised land. Having seated ourselves, a whistle sounded and off we go. Just at dusk all feeling well for a change. Having no beds, we fixed ourselves on the seats and the boys on the floor. Thus we spent the Saturday and night.

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