At five o'clock p.m., July 12th, the company of Saints which left Liverpool in the steamship Wisconsin, of the Guion Line, on June 22nd, arrived in this city all in good health. They were in charge of Elder John W. F. Volker, of Ogden, who returned home from his second mission to Holland. The ocean voyage was greatly enjoyed by the immigrants. The weather was extremely favorable throughout the trip, and comparatively little seasickness prevailed. The journey occupied rather longer than had been anticipated, however, in consequence of two unforeseen circumstances. Owing to the strike which recently occurred at Liverpool among the employee of the steamship companies, a "scratch" crew had to be obtained for this particular trip of the Wisconsin; but all went well, and the passengers were treated with characteristic courtesy and kindness by the Guion officials.

The steamer reached New York on the afternoon of July 3rd, just one hour too late for the passengers to get through Castle Garden; and inasmuch as the Fourth was a holiday, the immigrants were obliged to remain in dock during the whole of the following day and night.

They were met upon arrival at New York by Mr. Gibson, of the Guion Line, by whom all the necessary arrangements for transferring the company westward were made.

On Friday, the 5th, the Saints proceeded on their journey, taking the Old Dominion steamer to Norfolk, Virginia, at which place they boarded the cars of the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railway system. Thus they traveled as far as Kansas City, and thence over the Rock Island route to Pueblo, the remainder of the journey to Salt Lake City being accomplished via the D. & R. G. About fifty miles this side of Norfolk the engine unfortunately broke down, and occasioned the Saints a delay of twenty-four hours in reaching their destination.

We are informed that from Knoxville to Memphis, Tennessee, (on the East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railway), the company did not meet with that consideration which might have been expected. In addition to the inconvenience of their cars being attached to a freight train, they were without ice and water for a considerable time, and when the conductor was appealed to, the only response to the complaint was that he "had nothing to do with passengers, only with the freight portion of the train." During the balance of the long railroad journey the immigrants were treated well by the companies' officials.

Four cases of measles broke out among children - two on the vessel and two on the railroad, but neither was of a serious character.

Nine missionaries on their return to Utah were among the Company. [p.526]

Deseret News

BIB: "The Immigrants," Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 51:33 (Aug. 19, 1889) p. 526. (CHL)
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