1888-09-25-Wisconsin
A Compilation of General Voyage Notes
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… The company arrived at New York Sept. 25th, where twenty of the emigrants were arbitrarily detained by the officers, on the pretense that they were paupers. The rest of the company arrived in Salt Lake City Oct. 2nd.
Journal of William G. Phillips
Phillips, William George, 1840-1911. Mission Journal April 1886-October 1888, pp. 241-250.
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25th, Arrived in New York at 11 A.M., met Mr. Gibson at the Guion Docks, who acted as agent for our people. We left the Wisconsin & loaded our luggage on the tug & went to Castle Gardens. The Saints went through a most rigid investigation which resulted in the detention of 22 of our people. I went to the superintendent and commissioners of the Gardens, to know upon what grounds they were held but could not get any satisfaction, only that the affidavits would be made before the collector tomorrow. And we had to leave them at the Castle Gardens and the main body returned to the tug & went to Old Dominion steamship. Our luggage was put onboard and were comfortably arranged for the night.
26th, Arranged for tickets for the company. Exchanged the people’s money; went to Castle Gardens, was refused admittance, could not see the people, went to the collectors. Misters Underhill & Gibson & myself but was told by the collector the emigrants could not land, that the affidavits had been made by the commissioners and he should not go back of them. After making the necessary arrangements to telegraph & write to John T. Caine, we left for Norfolk on the Old Dominion steamer at 3 o'clock P.M. Very comfortable through the night; everything went off pleasantly.
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We arrived in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Oct 2nd. All feeling well and glad to arrive at our destination in safety. The Lord blessed us with a splendid voyage across the water. And those that were detained at Castle Gardens all came along after a detention of three days, showing it was nothing but spite in the officers at Castle Gate in keeping our people. This was brought about by our telegraphing to John T. Caine, the Secretary of the Treasury; ordered the collector to investigate our case, which he did, and it resulted in liberating all of them. 6 days from New York.
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Letter from William G. Phillips and G. B. Wells - September 25, 1888
Phillips, William G. and Wells, G. B. [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 50:44, (Oct 29, 1888) pp. 700-02.
New York City, Sept. 25, 1888.
President George Teasdale.
Dear Brother,--
You, and the relatives and friends of the company of Saints who left Liverpool per S. S. Wisconsin on the 15th instant, will be anxious to know what kind of a voyage we made; so we take this opportunity of informing you.
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We arrived safely at New York this morning at eleven o'clock, and met Mr. Gibson, who stated that he feared some trouble at Castle Garden, a fear which proved to be only too well grounded.
On arriving at Castle Garden it soon became evident that the commissioners were determined to detain as many of our people as possible. The detention was seemingly as premeditated as it was malicious. The Saints all underwent a most rigid examination, the result being that 23 were detained. Subsequently, however, three of the number were released. Following is the list of those detained, with the reasons for their detention appended. Their destinations and to whom they were going is also given: -
Christine Patterson, [Christina Patherson] for having with her two of her daughter's children, the mother being in England; Sister Patterson [Patherson] was bound for Schofield, where she has a husband and son. Franz Holzer (or Lietz), [Frantz Lietz] for having no legal guardian; he was going to Brother P. F. Goss, in Salt Lake City. Hermine von Leenman [Hermina can Lawen] came without her husband, with three children, and was detained on the ground of liability to become a public charge; she was going to Ogden, to Brother Henry Krumpermann's. Ellen Tomlinson, for having no legal guardian; she has grandparents and several aunts in Ogden, whither she was going. George Cornford, for having no legal guardian; he was going to his sister in Brigham City. Nicolas [Nicholaus] Egli and family (wife [Anna] and four children [Fritz, Johan, Rosa, Sina]), for having two imbecile sons; he was bound for Montpelier, Idaho, where he has three sons, all doing well. Elizabeth Sillitoe, for having no legal guardian; she was going to Montpelier, Idaho, where her mother resides. Maria Dykstra was going to Brother Henry Krumpermann, in Ogden; this girl was counted as one of the Leenman children, and was held for not having a legal guardian. John [Johan] Reichman (his right name is Gustav), for having no legal guardian; he was going to Salt Lake to Sister Eva Wieland.
We cannot quote the words of the law, but understand its provisions to be that no person liable to become a public charge, no imbecile, no person bringing along illegitimate children, nor no child without a legal guardian shall be permitted to land. It appears a legal guardian is one duly appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, and is recognized as such only on production of the proper legal papers.
The officials at Castle Garden were very bitter, and would allow none of us to offer any explanations nor to say a single word. On their affidavits the collector ordered that the persons designated be detained. The collector would not go back of the affidavits, and refused either to see or hear Mr. Underhill, Mr. Gibson, or any of us. We were simply powerless to do anything.
September 27th - We could not possibly get off with the steamer on the 25th, so waited over a day. We deferred writing this letter till today, so as to give you full particulars of everything in relation to the company. [p.701]
We earnestly hope that all of them will soon be released, and allowed to proceed on their journey. -
With kind regards we remain your brethren in Christ,
William G. Phillips, President,
G. [Greshom] B. Wells, Secretary.
