1887-06-01-Nevada
Letter from Edward Davis - June 1, 1887
Davis, Edward [Letter] Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 49:25 (June 20, 1887) pp. 397- 99.
New York, June 1, 1887
President George Teasdale:
Dear Brother,--
…
Wednesday, June 1st. Went on deck at 3 a.m. to find the cause of the engines being stopped; wind from east, and heavy rain, very dark. I learned from one of the officers that we were in shallow water, and being so dark it was not safe to proceed until daylight.
5:30 p.m. We have made out the land, Long Island is on our starboard bow, but, like a low cloud bank, scarcely visible through the teeming rain. We are now steaming full speed for Sandy Hook light ship, it is still raining fast.
We have had kind treatment and polite attention from all the officers and servants of the Nevada, and our efforts to enlighten their minds concerning our religious principles have had the effect of awakening greater interest towards us, and, added to the kind sociable disposition manifested to us from the captain, purser, and other officers, also from the saloon passengers, several of the latter have exchanged [p.398] cards with me, and expressed a desire to visit Salt Lake City.
We have now reached the place where the quarantine officers board the vessel, the engines are stopped and the vessel is allowed to drift about while the examination takes place. Notwithstanding the pouring rain, the steerage passengers are ordered on deck, and men, women and children are compelled to stand in the drenching rain. I applied to the doctor to know if they could not go below until the rain moderated or ceased. He replied they could not. After waiting some time and seeing nothing being done, and some weakly looking and poorly protected from the rain among the sisters, I again asked the doctor if he did not think that some of them could go below for awhile; he replied, rather sharply, that I could go below. I rejoined I did not wish for myself, but there were some women with infants and I did not think this severe wetting would conduce to good health. After waiting some little time, the passengers were allowed to go below, and the doctor examined them there. I presume they, the doctor, could not stand the rain on deck. He is not very popular. It is his first trip, and unless he cultivates more sympathy for persons in a feeble condition, it will be to the interest of the Guion Company to have a more kindly disposed man for that position.
We are now steaming past the great Bartholdi Statue of Liberty. It has an imposing appearance, but like most all monuments, it is a momento of that which is dead.
We are now landed at the Guion wharf, and the pleasant, genial face of Elder J. [James] E. Hart has shone upon us. After a few hours of patient searching, and hurrying from pale to place, we have transferred the passengers and luggage from the Nevada to the river boat. We steam up to Castle Gardens, get the passengers all registered without much trouble, and from thence back to the Old Dominion wharf. Change again on to the S. S. "Roanke," and after getting them some food sent aboard, which Elders Lowe and Thompson kindly undertook to distribute among them.
I seek a quiet spot to write you these particulars. Thus far our journey has been a prosperous one and although we have passed through many trials and a few hardships incident to a rough sea passage, the trials are now past, and we can smile when looking back upon them, and offer thanks and praises to God for bringing us through safe and well. Tomorrow at 3 p.m. we sail from here to Norfolk.
The elders and Saints join with me in good wishes and kind greetings to you and all at "42." [42 ISLINGTON IS THE ADDRESS FOR THE ENGLISH MISSION] Praying for the blessing of God to rest upon you all, I remain your brother in the gospel of the Kingdom of God,
Edward Davis.
