1857-01-01-Columbia

A Compilation of General Voyage Notes

Source: Millennial Star, Vol. XVIII, pages 779; XVIX, pages 75, 106, 479; Deseret News, Vol. VI, page 37.

The Columbia arrived safely in New York, after a voyage of forty-five days, and toward evening of January 1, 1857, the passengers were landed at Castle Garden. The next morning they were visited by brethren from the 'Mormon' office and others. Apostles Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, George A. Smith and Erastus Snow also visited the newcomers at Castle Garden and gave them good counsel and advice. Soon afterwards most of the Saints continued the journey to St. Louis, Missouri, with a design to go ultimately to Utah.

Letter from John Williams - January 5, 1857

Source: Williams, John, et. al. [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 19:7 (February 14, 1857) p. 106.

New York, January 5, 1857.

President John Taylor.

Dear Sir--That you may have a report of our voyage, and that our friends at home may learn of our arrival in safety, we forward you the following for publication in the Mormon--

We landed at New York towards evening of the 1st January, 1857, after a voyage of forty-five days. Two of the crew have gone on to St. Louis with the Saints that have gone there, with a design to go ultimately to Great Salt Lake City.

The majority of the Saints enjoyed good health crossing the Atlantic. The morning after our arrival, we were visited by brethren from the Mormon office, and other brethren. President John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, George A. Smith, and Erastus Snow, paid us a visit at Castle Garden likewise, and gave us every necessary instruction for our future comfort, for which the Saints feel to tender their grateful acknowledgments, and, at the same time, thank the branch of New York, with its president, for sending them a goodly portion of the good things from the festival.