Dear Brother,--I take the earliest opportunity of informing you of our safe arrival at New York at 3 o'clock, p.m. today. After we left Queenstown, we had a severe storm which lasted for three days, washing in the hatchway forward. All of our people on board were seasick, except Brothers [Daniel] Murphy, [Peter] Oldroyd and myself, which enabled us to be a blessing to the brethren and sisters, as our time was taken up in waiting upon them, and administering to their wants, in all of which I felt well, for I knew the Lord was with us. I was led to promise the Saints in the midst of their sickness, that the sea would become calm and they all would arrive at their destination enjoying good health. On the voyage we remembered the Lord, and after the storm, had a calm for four days, with beautiful weather until we reached this port, all feeling well and thankful to our Heavenly Father for his kindness towards us. Captain Beddoe is a good man and his kindness will be remembered by us, also the doctor, he has done his duty, was always on hand by day or night. In fact all the officers and crew have shown a desire to do all in their power to make our people comfortable. We met together for prayers morning and evening and had two meetings on Sundays, a number of the cabin passengers met with us; the good Spirit of the Lord was with us in our preaching, and the Saints bore their testimony to the truth of the gospel, and were thankful for their deliverance from Babylon. On our arrival we were met by Brother Staines, Bishop John Sharp, and Brother John W. Young. The excise officers came on board and after they examined our luggage we were landed at Castle Garden where we stay tonight, and leave at 2 o'clock p.m. tomorrow. Brother [William C.] Staines has added 15 persons from New York and vicinity to our company. Elders [Volney] King and [George P.] Taylor are well; Elder [James] Bywater has been quite sick but is doing all he can. There is good feeling in the company. I will write you when we get home.

With kind regards to self and the brethren in the office, I remain your brother in the gospel,

William N. Fife. [p.715]

BIB: Fife, William N., [Letter], Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 36:45, (Nov 10, 1874) p. 715. (CHL)
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