1863-07-19-Cynosure

Autobiography of David M. Stuart

Stuart, David M. Autobiography (Ms 8254), pp. 106-114. (A)

... We finally arrived in New York Harbor, with great joy. William C. Stains [Staines] came out on the pilot boat to meet us, and welcome us home. We had been tossed about on the waters from June first till the nineteenth of July, but my responsibility was not ended. We had two thousand miles yet to travel by land. Though the responsibilities had changed, as it does all through our lives, from the cradle to the grave, we think in every case, our condition will be made better, so we hope on, presently to find rest from our labors, and are told that the rest we seek is only found by the righteous who die in the Lord.

When we landed near the ship, "Amazon," which left sometime after us, from London, with a thousand Saints on board and had entered the harbor two days ahead of us, yet we had never seen each other on the way, there was a band to play "Home, Sweet Home" in greeting. They had [p.111] supposed we were lost, but no, through all our perils God preserved us, and we landed safely as I was shown in my dream the night before we left Liverpool. The tears streamed from my eyes, and I had to retire to hide my emotion, and thank God, who had brought us safely over the sea.

Now new troubles were to be met, and overcome. We had to travel two thousand five hundred miles by land to Utah, by rail, by water, and by wagons from the Missouri River. The terminus of the railroad was at Quincy, Illinois. There we had to take a steamboat up the Missouri to Omaha, or to Florence, six miles above Omaha.

New York City was all upset upon our arrival. Ten thousand soldiers were there from the front to enforce the draft. The citizens had been unwilling to comply with the draft for the army, and soldiers had to be sent from the field to enforce it. Castle Garden was in a state of turmoil when we landed, and we were hustled like so many sheep into a pen. The Saints had all their money to change into American money. I had to go among them to get their money, and give them credit for what we got from a shilling upwards, and get it changed into greenbacks. [p.112]

All the money then in circulation was fifty percent below par; a dollar greenback was only worth fifty cents. Thus we had to go to the bank, get greenbacks for our English money, and hand it over to the Saints in exchange for their English money. I handled about three hundred pounds. Bill Parks, the clerk, was a great help to me in this matter, for he was a good accountant, and all was satisfactorily done in a short time.

Elders Eldrige [Eldridge] and Stains tended to the emigration. They arranged to go up the river to Albany, instead of through New York state. We went on light freighters behind a steam tug, where we took the railroad from Albany to Chicago and on to Quincy. ...

Journal of William H. Perkes

Perkes, William Henry, 1833-1908. Journal 1856-1890, Collection of William Evans Perkes set. 1914.

...

Sunday, July 19th,

At 5 a.m. we weighed anchor and proceeded up North River with a light head wind. The morning was beautiful and fine and the beauty of the scenery on each side of the river was appreciated. At 9 a.m. a steam tug took us in tow; all the Saints were mustered on deck and at 10 a.m. we were off Quarantine, where we took on the doctor, before whom all were passed; he examined their features to see if all were in good health. He having got through by 11 o'clock, left the ship and we proceeded on our way, and at 12 noon cast anchor off the Battery in New York Harbor, where much to our surprise [p.52] we found the ship Amazon with somewhere about 900 Saints on board, she having left London on June 4th and arrived here last evening. Our passage has been one of 49 days, 28 of which there has been a constant succession of fogs and calms. The Amazon, having on board a brass band from Cardiff, gave us a musical reception, which gladden hearts of all on board. This afternoon Elder W. C. Haines and John Smoot came on board, and the former gave the Saints a few instructions relative to their landing in Castle Gardens. I engaged in this afternoon taking names of those in our company who had not the means to pay their fares to Florence [p.53] & others of Bro. Eldredge might furnish tickets and charge them with the same, that none may be left in New York.

Monday, July 20th,

About 8 a.m. we went ashore with Bro. Stuart and Mr. Adam and went to Tapscott's office to see Captain Williams in reference to the burial of a child which died yesterday of measles, who informed us that the commissioners of immigration would take charge of it on our landing at Castle Gardens, after which Bro. Stewart and myself went to Bro. Eldredge's office, 13 Broadway, when I handed him ₤419 1-2 for exchange into American money, which was done and I received $2478.43 for the same. I spent [p.54] the remainder of the day until about 5 p.m. in waiting for Bro. Eldredge; I dined with him at Stevens House Broadway. At 5 p.m. I went on board of the Cynosure again with Bros. Stuart and Steward and immediately commenced working each person's amount, which they had deposited for exchange in American money at the rate of exchange I had received for them, and finished about 10 p.m. & retired to rest.

Tuesday, July 21st, At 6 a.m. cont. [POSSIBLY continued] our paying money to Saints, but, not having enough small change, had to cease. At 8 went ashore and accompanied Bro. Eldredge around town and got $1,000 in small change. Dined with him at an eating house and went on board at 5 p.m., found the Saints were barking; went to [p.55] Castle Gardens, paid out money & slept on floor.

Wednesday, July 22nd, At 6 p.m. went on barge & was towed up to 32nd St, landing. Loaded baggage and went up to station � mile from landing. 2 children died here. An inquest was held; result, measles and they were buried. On account of a squall of wind damaging a bridge across the Hudson River yesterday, we had to remain in the station until the traffic was again opened and cars came from Albany for us.

Thursday, July 23rd, At 2 a.m. the cars arrived and we started for Albany, which we reached about 3 [p.56] p.m. ...

Letter from David M. Stuart - July 20, 1863

Stuart, David M. [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star. 25:35 (August 29, 1863), pp. 557-558. (CHL)

New York, July 20, 1863.

President Cannon.

Dear Brother,--We take great pleasure in reporting to you our safe arrival here on the 19th instant, after a passage of forty-nine days, which, on the whole, although rather long, has been a very pleasant one, we having had but few days' hard blowing. ...

... Quincy, July 28, 1863.

We are sorry to say that, owing to press of business, we were not able to finish this letter in New York. We landed at Castle Garden on the afternoon of the 21st instant, and left there on the following morning for the railway station in Thirty-second-Street, where we had to remain until 2 a.m. on the morning of the 23rd, on account of a bridge on the Hudson River line having been damaged by a squall of wind which arose on the morning of the 22nd. We reached Albany about 3 p.m. on the 23rd, ...

Reminiscences of Elizabeth Bullock Bissenger

Bissengger, Elizabeth Bullock, [Reminiscences], Treasure of Pioneer History, comp. by Kate B. Carter, vol. 3 (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1954), p.58. (CHL)

. . . I, Elizabeth Bullock Bissenger, was born on a sailing vessel, Cynosure four days out at sea on July 10, 1863. Mother was alone as Father had to attend to some business matters before he could sail. After the ship was out a few days, measles broke out in the company causing twenty-two deaths, among them my little brother, two years old. He was buried in the sea one hour before I was born. When we landed in New York we were met by Grandfather James Bullock and he helped my mother cross the plains to Salt Lake City. . . .