. . . When I was about to leave home I went to bid my folks goodbye. I said goodbye to all except my mother. She was not in the room with the rest of the family. I went into the next room where I found my mother weeping. I said, "Mother don't you wish me to go to Zion?" She said, "Yes Isaac, but it seems like I can't get along without you." I said, "Mother I [p.1] have worked hard to get the money to go with and I feel like it is my duty to go." She flung her arms around my neck and wept bitterly. I tried to console her and said, "Mother if you will let me go I promise in the name of God of Israel you shall be in Zion." With these words I unclasped her hands from around my neck and started to leave. As I did so she gave a terrible scream and fell prostrate on the floor. I knew if I stayed to console her any longer I would be all the worse for her, so I left her lying on the floor, and started for the ship. That was the last time I ever seen my mother.

When I got to the ship I took passage as a steerage passenger. My wife to be was on the same ship but she was a cabin passenger.

The vessel which we sailed on was the Golconda commanded by Captain Jacob Gates. We left England in Jan. 1853.

It was a sailing vessel which we came in and were 3 months on the way. When we got out a little way a storm arose and the mast of our ship was broken. We drifted along at the mercy of the wind and waves for many weeks. During this time I became very seasick and wasn't able to keep anything down on my stomach. One day while standing by the rope which separated the cabin passenger from the steerage passengers my sweetheart came and asked what was the matter. I told her, she told me to wait and she would bring me something to eat. She brought me coffee and cake, part of which I was able to keep down.

Each day she would do this until I got over my sickness. It was on this voyage that I decided she would be my future wife.

We were at last picked up by a tugboat and towed into New Orleans. We were delayed about 7 weeks. [p.2]

I went up the Mississippi River and got a chance to work on a steamer at Keokuk. From here I went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and got a chance to drive a team to Salt Lake Valley.

We used to write love letters on boards and the bones from the heads off the buffaloes for our sweethearts who were in the company following and used charcoal for a pencil.

We arrived in Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1852. I was married to the girl that gave me the cake and coffee while crossing the ocean, March 27, 1854. . . . [p.3]

BIB: Hunt, Isaac. Sketch. (Ms 8620, reel #10, item #3), pp.1-3; Acc. #35069. (CHL)
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