1862-06-07-Athenia

Reminiscences and diary of Martin Peterson Kuhre

Kuhre, Martin Petersen. Reminiscences and diary, (typescript), pp. 41-45,48. (CHL)

[June] 5th. My dear wife very sick. The ship rocked very much and is sailing with a good wind and all of us waiting to see land. I got a little chicken soup from the Captain's table to my beloved Trine. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon we got land in sight. Blessed feelings passed through my soul when I saw the land which is the object of my desires and future hopes. The land where I was to pass through sorrow and joy and whatever comes in life together with this beloved woman the Lord has given me. Oh my hope is for time and eternity in this land where thousands are flocking to prepare for the millennial morning. Oh, Lord, hear Thy humble servant's prayer and strengthen and raise my beloved wife.

6th. [-] and cast anchor at 8 o'clock. We heaved anchor again and sailed up a splendid river and enjoyed ourselves seeing the beautiful forests and landscapes. My beloved wife was up and rejoiced in union with me. We passed the doctor and got permission to go right up to New York. We arrived in the city at 5 in the afternoon. One child died. We soon got a little to eat and refreshed ourselves. In the evening a dance on deck.

7th. Two children died today; in all 39. We arrived at Castle Garden and was glad and rejoiced. We went up and had warm beef. It did us good after a long voyage. We went to a hotel and took a nights lodging there.

8th. Day of Pentecost. We went around and got us something to eat and looked around a little.

9th. We came to Castle Garden from the hotel. Two women had two births during the night in Castle Garden. We drove from Castle Garden at six in the afternoon to the station in wagons. We traveled from New York at half past eight in the evening and arrived at Albany at 6:30 in the morning.