Sunday Items: Started the sixteenth of January from Liverpool 1843 destined for New Orleans. I had charge of a company of two hundred and fifty many of whom were my intimate friends who had come in the covenant under my administration. The situation I now occupied in rendering the ocean surrounded by friends was a very enviable one in comparison [p.65] to the lonely one I stood in two years and a half before in the ship "Rosco." Tho more than a hundred passengers yet not a solitary one of them had I ever seen previous to coming among them . Most of them were Irish and of the Roman Catholic persuasion. Swearing and fighting were not at all uncommon added to a total negligence to cleanliness made altogether a disagreeable association. In taking charge of the Saints in the Swanton I was quite aware of the many difficulties to be encountered. Scarcely an instance has occurred of a company passing the ocean without trouble and difficulty and often with the officer and crew and not infrequently among themselves. These together with other consideration operated effectually with me in being convinced that the business of my office would not always be so pleasant or could be wicked. [p.67] It was therefore with fear and trembling acknowledging my dependence upon the Lord imploring his assistance that I entered upon the discharge of those duties.

We were detained upwards of ten days in Liverpool Docks through fear of storms, and in fact before we set sail, a storm took place upon the ocean which sunk a number of vessels. Several came into the docks after the storm which I saw that had lost all [p. 68] their rigging, their masts broken down and otherwise shattered. It was said to be the most severe storm known for many years. Our company were perfectly satisfied in having been detained in the harbor and acknowledged the prudence of Captain Davenport in not putting out to sea in consequence of indication of the approaching storm. As soon as the storm had subsided we left Liverpool with animated spirits and grateful hearts to the Lord for the prospects now before us. [p.69] On my part I certainly felt I had reasons to be thankful for the agreeable and successful termination of a long and arduous mission and pleasing prospects of once again enjoying my friends in my native land. I never in the least doubted that my life would be preserved and should have the privilege of returning home in safety. President Joseph Smith told me expressly when I started on this mission that [p.70] I should return safe which I believed firmly.

In passing through the harbor I saw the wreck of vessels that had been destroyed in the storm; saw the masts of one that had been sunk with several persons aboard. Elder A [Amos] Fielding and several other friends accompanied us some 20 miles and returned by steam boat. We had been only a few hours among the waves before scarcely a man or woman aboard that was not seasick. [p.71] It generally lasted about two days; some got over it sooner, and with others it continued longer .

As soon as the health of the company would admit I called them together and by mutual consent formed them into divisions and subdivisions appointing proper officers to each, and established regulations for the government of the company. I found there were several high priests and some thirty elders among [p.72] us and knowing the natural itching that many elders have to do even a little something by which they may be a little distinguished and if that can not be done in one way it must in another; therefore I concluded it safer to fix their way of acting myself; accordingly I appointed as many as I possibly could to some one office of business or another and made them all responsible. The whole company assembled each evening in the week to attend prayers. [p.73] We had preaching twice a week; Meetings on Sundays and partaking of the sacrament.

Our captain with whom I wished to cultivate a friendly acquaintance appeared very distant and reserved, which argued nothing favorably to my wishes. I could easily perceive that his mind had been prejudiced against us. - We had been out to sea about two weeks during which nothing very material occurred more than what usually happens at sea, when the [p.74] following occurrence transpired: The captain's steward, a young German, met with an accident which threatened his life. Being a very moral, sober, and steady young man, having been with the Captain several voyages, he had succeed greatly in winning affections of the Captain, officers and crew; The Saints also had become much attached to him. Hence the prospects of his death so undercreated a great sensation of sorrow and grief throughout the whole ship. [p.75] He would bleed at his mouth attended with severe cramping and fits. At last, after having tried various remedies to no purpose all hopes of his life were given up. The sailors before retiring to their beds were requested by the captain to go into the cabin one by one to bid him farewell; which accordingly was done without the least expectation of seeing him alive the next morning. Many eyes were wet with tears as they [-] [p.76] returned from the cabin. Sister [Ann] Martin from Bedford while sitting alone by his bedside expressed to him her wish that I might be called on and administer to him and perhaps he might yet be restored. To this he gave a cheerful consent. I was asleep in my berth when the message came it being about twelve o'clock of the night. I arose immediately and proceeded to the cabin, on the way met the first mate who had just been to see him [p.77] as soon as he passed me he met Brother Staines and observed to him that Mr. Snow was going in to lay hands on the steward but says he (in a sorrowful strain) it is all of no use, it is all over with the poor fellow now. "Oh," says Elder Staines, "the Lord can restore him through the laying on of hands." "Good God!! do you think so?" returns the sailor in the simplicity of his heart.

As I passed along I met [p.78] the captain at the cabin door who appeared to have been weeping. "I am glad you have come Mr. Snow," said he, "tho it is of no use for it must soon be over with the "Steward." I stepped into his room and sat down by his bed. His breathing was very short and seemed as one dying. He could not speak loud, but signified his wish I should administer to him. It appeared he had a wife and two children in Hamburg, Germany who were dependent [p.79] upon him for their support. He seemed much troubled about them.

I laid my hands upon his head, and had no sooner got through the administration than he arose up into a sitting posture spotted his hands together shouting praises to the Lord for being healed; very soon after he arose from his bed went out of the cabin and walked the deck. The next morning everybody was astonished to see [p.80] the steward alive, and amazed to see him able to go about his business as usual. The sailors one and all swore that it was a miracle. The Saints know it to be so, rejoiced and praised the Lord. The captain believed it firmly and felt deeply grateful, and his heart became knit with ours from that time forward. He granted us every favor and indulgence that was in his power to bestow, and constantly studied our convenience; attended all of our meetings, [p.81] bought and read our books. The mates also done the same, and when I left them at New Orleans made me a promise that they would be baptized. I received a letter about a year afterwards from the chief mate who informed me they had both fulfilled their promise. The captain also declared his intention of receiving the gospel at some future time and live with the Saints.

The steward was baptized [p.82] when we reached New Orleans, and on parting with him made me a present of a bible which I now keep. Our voyage was remarkably pleasant and agreeable; no storms of any consequence nor disturbance in our company. We took a vote of the company after we got out to sea in reference to using tea and coffee. Most all covenanted not to use it but use barely in its room which was done accordingly. [p.83] We were blessed with fine pleasant weather almost constantly. It was frequently remarked by the company that our voyage seemed to be an excursion of pleasure rather than business of emigration. Our lecturing meetings and prayer meetings by the officers respectively in their turns served to pass those hours, which otherwise would have proved dull and monotonous, in a very amusing and profitable manner. I think the [p.84] unusual peace and harmony which prevailed in our midst constantly might in some measure be attributed to our general observance of the "word of wisdom." I made use of no tea or coffee myself and realized no disadvantage but on the other hand enjoyed more faith and confidence and it was so with others who pursued the same course.

We crossed the Bay of Biscay and so continued [p.85] in a southern direction passing no great distance from the Coast of Barbary and so crossing the Tropic of Cancer we passed as far south as latitude thirteen, when we got into the Trade Winds, which then wafted us in our proper direction for nearly two weeks during which we scarcely had to change a single sail. While in the southern part of our voyage we witnessed a very singular phenomenon. It was in the evening. The sea and the waves all began all of a sudden to emit sparkling and flashing light which filled the surrounding atmosphere in a little time the ocean as far as the eye could contend become perfectly illuminated, the ship was so illuminated that a person could see to read very clearly. I do not know that I ever saw a more beautiful, splendid, and majestic [p.87] scenery. The captain informed us that he had never seen anything like it but once or twice before, that Philosophers had never been able to agree upon its cause. Some supposed however that it was produced in some way by the spawn of fishes; that could not have been however in this case for we had not seen any fish for several days nor did we see any for several days after. [p.88] A few days before reaching the West India Islands, we saw one evening what at first we took to be a water spout but after a little it turned out to be a comet's tail. In a few evenings after we could see the star quite plain for several hours a number of evenings in succession. While among the West Indies Islands, although in the winter, we found the heat very oppressive, especially in the middle of the day. [p.89] Before we arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi we were met by a steam boat with whose captain arrangements were made to tow us up the river to New Orleans. As we arrived at the mouth we struck a sand bank in consequence of the negligence of the pilot and could not get off for twenty four hours.

We were extremely delighted with the beautiful prospects of the country [p.90] which lay along the river as we passed up that magnificent stream.

When we arrived at New Orleans I enjoyned the steamer "Goddess of Liberty" to take our company to Nauvoo at the price of two dollars and a half each person; those under the age of fourteen being half price.

Several of the sailors wept when we took final leave of the Swanton; in fact all of us had very solemn feelings. [p.91] As I was the head of the Company the captain kindly proffered me a free passage in his cabin through to Nauvoo which I did not think proper to accept lest it might create jealousy and uneasiness among the company; it being an instance among many others where I have denied myself enjoyments to gratify the people's feelings and preserve peace and friendship. Perhaps I have done it too much; every line of conduct has its medium and extremes. [p.92]

BIB: Snow, Lorenzo. Journal and Letterbook, 1836-1845 [LDS Church Archives], (Ms 1330 1,) pp. 65-92. (CHL)
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