Elder James Thompson, who had charge of the small company of Saints who came by the above ship lately to this port, had handed us an account of the voyage. He speaks of "the captain as a gentleman and sailor, attentive to his duties and kind to all; but he gives a terrible picture of gentile life on board." Elder T. faced Anti-Mormonism like a man, and had the support and approbation of the right-thinking portions of the passengers on board, for his exposure of the wickedness and prostitution that abounded during the voyage. He says:

"Before we were long on board we were found to be the most clean in our habits. We kept our berths clean, washing them frequently. The Gentiles were annoyed, as the officers only gave them half allowance of water till they went and did likewise. Towards the end of the voyage the officers seldom visited us, as they considered it unnecessary.

I now come to what I consider the greatest of all evils on board; the system of berthing the passengers without respect to age or sex: so you form a good idea of the results in many cases. Picture the annoyance to any respectable young female to find herself berthed next to one, if not between two young men, with perhaps not the shadow of a screen of the means to make one. The Saints are seldom obliged to witness what fell to our share of observation, but to all, I would say appreciate the counsel of the authorities of the Church at Liverpool, and come by no ship without their direction, or your eyes may see what your tongues would refuse to utter."

Brother Thompson, with his family, left this city today for Pittsburgh. His youngest child had been very sick, but was looking better before they left. . . . [p.623]

BIB: Thompson, James [Report], Latter-day Saints Millennial Star
18:39 (September 27, 1856) p. 623. (CHL)
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