1886-09-27-Millennial Star-Arrival of the Fourth Company

Arrival of the Fourth Company

Millennial Star, v48 n39, 27 September 1886, p. 619.

We learn from the Deseret News of September 8th, that our fourth company of emigrants arrived in Salt Lake City on the 7th, excepting, of course, those who were detained in New York. Returning missionaries thus report to the News some of the circumstances attending the detention in New York:

“On reaching New York harbor, and before any of the passengers had disembarked, an official appeared on the steamer and ordered the 'Mormons' to remain upon it until all other passengers had left it. This order was obeyed and after all non-Mormon' passengers had been removed the Saints were conveyed in a special boat to Castle Garden. Here they were individually questioned closely. Among the questions put were: "Where are you going? Were you assisted to emigrate by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Has any Mormon missionary assisted you?" All who admitted having been assisted, and all whose answers were not satisfactory, were separated from the balance of the company and shut up in a 'sort of pen. On the first examination of the company seventy-five of its members were thus separated, but these were all again examined, and all but forty-four were released, the latter number being detained with the intention of sending them back to Europe. But as our readers are apprised, the latter intention was not carried out. In the telegram referred to in yesterday's News, the impression is conveyed that fifty-one persons had been detained by official action. The Elders state that only forty-four had been held officially, and that the detention of the other seven was due to other causes. One woman, who had several children, fainted on the dock, and was, with her children, taken to a hospital. Elder J. T. Woods remained in New York, and is conducting the detained immigrants to Utah.”