1885-08-11-Wyoming
Autobiography of Alma Ash
Ash, Alma. Autobiography (Ms 10192), pp. 27-31.
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A kind and considerate friend on board gave us a dollar and another two schillings. The journey, though only about ten days, seemed ten months for we scarcely knew what to do with the time and no one ever hailed the sight of land with more joy than we two young men did. Arriving in New York, we went to Castle Garden and waited there until the coming of Brother Hart, the Church agent in New York. Brother [George F.] Hunter who had charge of our company came with Brother Hart and shook hands with us and treated us kindly. Of course, we wondered what Brother Hart would do, for President Wells had instructed Brother Hunter to tell Brother Hart to be sure and send us along if he could, and Brother Hunter was as interested in us as a man could be.
The sight of New York and the hurry and bustle of that modern Babylon, together with the indifference to anybody's welfare except their own had already took a good deal of nerve out of us and we ask ourselves the question, "What shall we do if left in Chicago?," for our ticket only took us that far. Instinctively we said "God help us" and then collapsed, sat motionless and awaited the verdict. We heard Brother Hunter tell Brother Hart the message of Brother Wells, but he quickly shook his head and said to us, "Boys, I should be pleased to do it if I could." He turned away and left us alone in our glory. I said to myself, "Ah, it's the same old ghost which has followed me and my father's house all our lives, namely disappointment." I bit my lips to keep back the gush of tears which were ready to [p.28] ready to [SIC] come. But no, for once the specter "disappointment" was driven away by the kindly angel of "hope" which came to our rescue. Brother Hart stepped but a few paces and then as if he had received a revelation, he turned suddenly around and said, "Boys, I believe I will help you along. Come over to my office on Battle Square in two hours and we will make arrangements to send you along." These words I shall never forget and the impression made upon us at that time will endure to all eternity, for God was surely over us and had favored all we had done so far.
After this we strolled around New York but did not go far away. We went up Broadway as far as the City Hall and saw the decoration all over the city in memory of General Grant who had been buried, I think, the day before. We saw the post office and some of the buildings of the great papers like "The World" and "The Herald." After this we went to try to find Brother Hart's office. I remember that we asked a big Irish policeman to point us the way and on discovering we were Mormons he uttered a foul oath and walked off. Arriving at the office we soon signed a note for each of our fares from Chicago to Salt Lake City. Brother Hart was more generous than we ever expected him to be for he insisted upon us taking a few dollars to provide food for nearly a week's travel on the way which we also gave a note for. And thus far on the journey we saw clearly the hand of God in our behalf. How is it that one can ever doubt God? Surely all men have been the recipients of great and wonderful favors.
In the evening of that same day we crossed the river in a boat to New Jersey and were soon flying along toward the gull of our hearts desires. �
Letter from George Hunter - August 10, 1885
Hunter, George F. [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 47:34, (Aug. 24, 1885) pp. 541-42.
On board the S. S. Wyoming, August 10, 1885.
President D. [Daniel] H. Wells.
Dear Brother,--
We are nearly across the Atlantic Ocean, being 206 miles from New York at noon today. �
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All well on board. Sighted land at daybreak, and at 6 a.m. got to quarantine, and all passed the doctor. It is a fine morning, and the sight of land is good to look upon. We arrived at the Guion Docks at 7:30 a.m, when the cabin and intermediate passengers got off with their luggage. I remained with the Saints and the steerage passengers, and got on board a barge and went to Castle Garden at 10 o'clock. I went to 5 Battery Place, and found Brother James E. Hart in the office, and made arrangements to proceed on our journey westward, which will be tonight at [p.541] 6 p.m, by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Your brother in the gospel,
George F. Hunter.
