L.D.S. Voyage (1851)
Below is a letter (from the Millenial Star, a British L.D.S. publication of the time) describing the voyage of the passengers of the Ellen in 1851 from Liverpool, Lancashire, U.K. to St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. It was quoted in Bert Nelson's
Mormon Pioneer Search website.
We include a letter from Elder James W. Cummings:
St. Louis, Missouri, U. S. A., March 29th, 1851.
Dear brother F. D. Richards,ÑI embrace the present opportunity of writing to you, and I will endeavour to give in fewwords a history of our voyage to this place. I should have written ere this, but circumstances and the press of business would not admit of my doing so.
I have no other apology to offer for not writing sooner, and I believe the above will be sufficient, for you are well aware of the labor and anxiety attending the presidency of 470 people in crossing the sea. No one can realize the responsibility until he has tried itÑbut to the history.
We weighed anchor in the river opposite Liverpool on the 8th of January, about eleven o'clock, a.m., the wind was fair, and we were soon under way; we ran at the rate of seven miles an hour till about eleven o'clock at night, when we struck a schooner, broke our jib-boom and main and fore yards. The captain the next day, put into Cardigan bay, North Wales, to repair; the ship, however, was ready in a few days for sea again, but the wind changed the day we put into port, to an unfavorable quarter, and remained there for three weeks. Therefore we considered our accident a blessing to us, for we were comfortable in port while hundreds were being knocked about, many vessels wrecked, and hundreds of human beings consigned to a watery grave. While many were experiencing the awful horrors of shipwreck, we had great cause to thank our Heavenly Father that we were safe and comfortable, and every Saint on board the Ellen felt that the invisible hand of God was over them for good, and they did not forget to thank him for the same.
The captain however became rather impatient, and although the wind continued unfavorable, on the 23rd we again weighed anchor and put to sea, but the wind blew a strong gale from the direction we wanted to sail, so we made but little progress for several days; however on the 1st of Feb. the wind changed in our favor, and we soon lost sight of the Irish coast, and from that time we had pleasant weather, and for the most part fair winds, and on the night of the 14th of
March we anchored in the river off New Orleans, making the passage from Cardigan bay, (which is 12 hours sail from Liverpool,) in seven weeks.ÑWe did not encounter a storm on the passage, and after we left the channel it was more like a pleasure trip than a sea voyage, so far as weather was concerned.
We had ten deaths on the voyage, two adults, namely, James Wright, of Skellow, and the wife of brother Wm. Allen, from the Birmingham conference, and the remainder were children. Brother Wright and sister Allen died of fever; four of the children died of measles; three of consumption; one of inflammation of the chest. I do not at this time recollect the names of any except the daughter of S. J. and Abigail Lees, of Sheffield, and the child of brother Wm. Allen. The measles broke out among us the day we left the dock, and nearly every child on board had them, besides several adults; I should judge there were more than seventy cases. Many of the children were afflicted with another disease in the tropical clime, that I named the tropical cough, it was similar to the whooping cough, but not exactly like it, many of the small children suffered much from it.
Immediately after leaving port we divided the company into twelve divisions or wards, allotting ten berths to each division, and appointed a president over each, then those twelve companies we divided into two, and appointed a president for each six, so that in the steerage there were twelve companies, with a president to each, and two to preside over the whole; the second cabin we organized in like manner. We found the above organization to be of great utility in preserving peace, good order, and the health and comfort of the Saints while on board of the vessel, and we would recommend the same or a similar organization to all companies of Saints that may hereafter cross the sea. We also organized the priesthood, and appointed presidents over them, to see that each attended to his duties. My two counsellors and myself often met with them in council, we could there learn the condition of every Saint on board, if any were sick, or in want, or in transgression, we were made acquainted with it, and immediately adopted measures to relieve the wants of the needy, and to prevent iniquity from creeping into our midst. We had men appointed to visit every family twice a day, and to administer to the sick; and but few days passed but what myself, in connection with brother Dunn or Moss, visited each family. I would say here that brothers Dunn and Moss acted in concert with me in all things, and we were united in all our counsellings. They did not spare labour nor pains to make the Saints comfortable and happy so far as it lay in their power.
At New Orleans we chartered the steamer Alex. Scott, to take the company to St. Louis, we paid 10s. 5d. per head for adults, all our luggage included, children half price. We left New Orleans on the morning of the 19th of March, and landed in St. Louis on the 26th. We had a good passage up the river, and I would recommend the Alex. Scott as a good, commodious, and safe boat, commanded by a good captain of the name of Swan. I am persuaded there is no better nor safer boat on the river. There were two deaths coming up the river, both children. On the voyage we had ten deaths, one birth, and six marriages, and one birth coming up the river. Everything in this country is working together for the building up of the kingdom of God. I have had an interview with Dr. Bernhisel, he requested me to give his kind love to elder Richards, and to say to him that "Mormonism" is at par in this country.
He has received some very liberal donations for the Library for the Valley, from the literary and scientific institutions, and from editors and publishers of books and papers in the States. I can plainly see that the tide of public feeling is fast changing in our favor, there are calls on every hand for preaching. The emigration to the Valley this season will be pretty extensive.
Elder Gibson and company arrived here to-day, generally in good health and spirits. I must now close praying for your prosperity, and for the prosperity of Zion's cause in England, and in all the world.
There was always a feeling of thanksgiving among the passengers as they arrived safely on the shores of America. This is aptly expressed in this report from the Millennial Star: May 1, 1851.By letter from Elder William Gibson, dated New Orleans, March 22nd, we are informed that the George W. Bourne arrived at that port on the 20th of the same month, after a passage of eight weeks from the time she left the Mersey. He says, "I feel to offer my heartfelt gratitude to God
our Father for His great goodness to us, for I do not believe that ever a ship crossed the ocean with less sickness than we have had; there were one marriage, three births, and one death, on board; the latter, a boy, belonging to sister Baker (Jean Rio Griffiths Baker), of Poplar Branch of London Conference; he was about five years of age, and was far gone in a consumption before we sailed. The births were, by sister Hughes, a son; sister Gall, a son; and sister Clark, a son; all doing well.... We go up the river this afternoon by the steamer Concordia, for 10s. 5d. each adult; children under twelve and over two years old, half price; infants and baggage, free; distance twelve hundred miles to St. Louis. I am informed that two of the crew wish to be baptized, and several of them speak of accompanying us to the Valley."