1886-09-20-Millennial Star-Detention in New York of Some of Our Emigrants

Detention in New York of Some of Our Emigrants

Millennial Star, v48 n38, 20 September 1886, p. 601-2

By letter from Elder James H. Hart, Church Emigration Agent at New York, we learn that the fourth company arrived there on the 31st ult. The Commissioners of Emigration had given them considerable trouble by detaining forty-five of the Company, threatening to send them back to Liverpool. The main portion of the company left New York on the 1st inst. by the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. and would go through on the Denver and Rio Grande, excepting those booked to Almy and Montpelier, who would travel with the main company as far as Kansas City and then ultimately go through, via the Union Pacific Railway. Elder Woods remained to look after that portion of the company detained in New York. As might be expected, Commissioner Stephenson was the prime mover in the detention. Those detained are Wm. B. Craig, Wilhimina Eriksen, Hilda M. M. Sodenberg, Christina Falkner and five children, Caroline Lindgreen, Johanna M. Nielsen and one child, Erika J. Carlsen and three children, Eliza Weber and two children, Ernest and Leni Eggli, Mary Rundlebacker and one child, Ann Manson and five children, Maggie Scott, Sarah A. Morgan, Hannah Sorensen and two children, Lucy B. Tuck and two children, Henry Prout and wife, Ann Jensen and two children, Henry Beard, Mary Thomas and Kate F. Hall. They were being well cared for on Ward's Island, and Elder Hart was doing all in his power to get them released and forwarded to their destination.

The detention was a most unwarranted outrage. That these persons were not paupers, and that there was not the most remote probability of their ever becoming a public charge is evident from the facts elicited by a reporter of the Mail and Express, and which we republish. Of the many thousands of Latter-day Saints who have emigrated to Utah can Commissioner Stephenson, or any other man, give the names of any who were paupers and became a public charge to the government? Mr. Stephenson says he has no proof that these persons will not become public paupers. This is false. The history and experience of more than thirty years of our emigration is before him and the world to teach the positive truth that “Mormon” emigrants are not paupers. But when did experience ever make a fool wise, the old adage to the contrary notwithstanding? Under the caption of "A Mormon Test Case" the New York Mail and Express, of September 1st, says:

Fifty-one Mormons were sent from Castle Garden to Ward's Island to-day, preparatory to their return to Europe as paupers. Of these, nineteen were adults. Three of them were 70 years of age. A reporter of the Mail and Express spoke to a few adults. Mary Thomas, aged 70, said she had friends in Salt Lake City, but no relatives. She had an income of $500 a year, which amount was well secured in England. Henry Prout and wife, each aged 70, said they were going to their daughter and her husband, who were doing well in Utah. The old man said he could work at farming if necessary, William B. Craig, aged 26, said he had no money, but was a blacksmith and was promised work as soon as he arrived in the Territory. His passage was paid through to Utah. Christina Falkner had with her five children, varying from 12 years to 9 months. She said her husband was doing well in this country and had sent for her. Her tickets for their passage through to Utah were in the hands of the Mormon elders, who also held forty marks of her money. Ann C. Jensen has with her four children. She said the fare for herself and children had been paid by an uncle in Utah, where there were two of her sons, aged 17 and 16 years. A number of similar statements were made by others who were sent to Ward's Island.

Mr. Hart, agent here for the Mormon Church, said:

“You do not think I shall tamely submit to this injustice. I hold the receipts for the passage of the majority of these people to Utah. There is also about $400 in my hands to pay expenses and provide food for those who were booked only to New York. I endeavored to explain those facts to Commissioner Stephenson yesterday, but he would not listen to me. Now I shall employ a lawyer and carry the matter into the courts."

Mr. Stephenson could not be found this morning, and Superintendent Jackson declined to say anything about the law in the matter.

G. O.