New York, June 16, 1865.President Wells.

Dear Brother,--I take great pleasure in reporting to you the arrival of the ship B. S. Kimball which came into this port on Wednesday evening, June 14th, 35 days from Hamburg. The Saints had fine weather, and it would have been a very agreeable passage, only that the measles broke out before they had been to sea long, and resulted in the deaths of some thirty persons, three adults, and the rest children.

The ship was remarkably clean, and the brethren in charge had no complaints to make of anyone, or anything. The captain and first mate were very high in their praises of everybody, and the latter told me he had now crossed the seas with our people four times, and he hoped he should make out the dozen voyages; indeed, all who has anything to do with passengers, say, that we bring the best emigrants who come into the port of New York. [p.444]

Elders [Anders W.] Winberg, [John] Swenson and Hogstadt, seem to have had the confidence of all on board, and in fact every one looked cheerful and happy. When I went on board, many whom I had seen while on my short visit to Denmark readily recognized me, and I am sure I was equally pleased to see them, and give them welcome to "Zion's land."

After collecting railway fare, changing their money, etc., we got them all comfortably started for Wyoming on Thursday evening, that is, to the number of 420 souls. Those who had not means to go on further are here yet. I find there is not one of them who can speak English, and in consequence of the cessation of war and the large emigration, labor is not easily obtained, so I have told Brother Swenson (whom I kept back to assist me with them), to go to work and get them to throw away their large heavy boxes and all unnecessary luggage, and sell all they possible can of this kind, together with watches, jewelry &c., to assist themselves all they possibly can, and I would make out the balance to get them to Wyoming, all of which they readily agreed to. Indeed let me here say, that I have not to my knowledge made a request of one person, either in this company, or the Belle Wood, nor of the Saints who were in the States before, of Elder W. H. Miles, or any of the elders who have come, but what they have agreed to, and we have so far got along without one unkind word. I say, God bless such people.

The most of the English people who remained here have obtained employment, only a few cases who have not. I sent off a small company of Saints on Tuesday last, gathered from different parts of the States. They were in charge of brother Joseph Hanmer, of Pennsylvania, a very promising young man. I requested each president of company to telegraph back to me if any difficulty arose, but as yet have heard nothing from them, so I conclude all must be right.

I am in hopes we shall now soon have the "David Hoadly" and "Mexicana" in, and then I am off for the west.

The last news from home was up to the 23rd of May, all well then. The report is that there is trouble with the Indians, but nothing authentic has appeared. I saw a letter from Omaha, dated 9th of June, and up to that date there had been no trouble reported there. I trust all will be overruled, so that our emigration may pass on safely. With kind love, I am your brother,

Thomas Taylor. [p.445]

June 20, 1865.

In great haste I sit down to pen you a few lines. Yesterday the "David Hoadly" and "Mexicana" arrived, they both had prosperous voyages. The "Mexicana" had lost, one a Brother Kershaw, he was a poor man. We have forwarded the family on to Wyoming. The brethren and sisters all appeared very cheerful and happy, and seemed to have the utmost confidence in Brother Atwood, who is a very good man. We have now got all our passengers started off by train, making together some 825 adults we have forwarded to Wyoming. In a few days I shall be off West myself.

The people have a tremendous lot of overweight luggage some 41,000 pounds., but I don't know what it is worth while to trouble you about it. I am trying to do the best I can with everything. We sold our gold at 137 the best we could at the time.

I pray the Lord to continue his blessings to you and brother Young and all my Liverpool friends, yours very truly,

Thomas Taylor [p.445]

BIB: Taylor, Thomas, [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 27:28 (July 15, 1865) (June 20, 1865), pp. 444-45. (CHL)
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