Fri. 15 [July 1870] Settled with Morris & Company for the emigrants paying over 1600 Rdlr. Ballin showed some of the native nastiness of his character by demanding pay to Liverpool for our returning missionaries after having agreed that they should go free. Went on board the steamer "Milo," Captain Elsom of Hull with my wife and eight returning elders and 348 souls of the Saints. Brother Cluff and others saw us off. Peter Brown gave me a small breech loading pocket pistol. The brethren left us and we sailed at 8 p.m.

Mon. 18. Reached Hull at 4 p.m. after the finest passage I ever made across the North Sea. The captain and crew were very kind to us. Heard that France declared war against Prussia three days before on the 15th. A Mr. Maples on behalf of the forwarding company furnished a meal for the emigrants and sent all forward the same evening to Liverpool. Crossed over to the railroad station at Holland where we took the cars. While on the tug boat, Brother Outzen's little girl Ida aged 7 years was taken violently sick. She died on the cars before reaching Liverpool.

Tues. 19- Arrived at 8 p.m. Made arrangements for the burial of the child. Put up at the little hotel called the Pelican. Reported myself and the returning missionaries at the office to President Eldredge. Took a bath. Wrote to Brother Cluff.

Wed. 20- Went on board the steamer Minnesota of the Guion Line. Captain Whineray, Brother C. L. [Lauritz] joined us with Sister Madsen and her little boy. Also Brothers George Barber, J.Q. Knowlton and Charles Mosley and [- -] in the cabin and Brother and Sister Joseph Bean in the steerage. Paid 15.00 for cabin passage for self and wife. As conductor of the company I would have been entitled to a free passage and about half fare for the returning Elders, but President Eldredge proposed that the conductor should pay pro rata with the others to which I consented.

Thurs. 21- Touched at Queenstown, wrote to Brother Cluff. The first few days I was very sick with bloody flux and seasickness and Augusta [p. 259] was sick during the whole voyage not taking her meals regularly at all. The weather was favorable in the main, a little head wind. The Saints were generally well. I talked on religions with the captain and some of the passengers. One of whom, a Mr. Hill, had been identified with the Confederates in their struggle for independence.

Sun 31- A pilot came on board, he reported exceeding hot weather. He brought a file of papers which showed that France and Prussia had begun the war without much progress yet on either side.

Mon. Aug. 1- Reached New York and landed about 10 a.m. Brother W. [William] C. Staines the passenger agent came down. I handed him the list of passengers, and accompanied him to Wall Street where we negotiated the drafts for gold. Sister Bengta Peterson [Pehrsson] from Skåne whom I assisted thus far on her road, failed to get her money here according to promise, so she had to go to her brother in St. Paul, Minnesota and I had to go without the means I had advanced for her. I could not help about passing through the custom house but the brethren got the luggage through to pretty good advantage. Put up at the Stephen's House.

Tues 2- Bought a Winchester rifle, a revolver and a brace of Derringer pistols. Settled up with Brother Staines for the railroad fares. My drafts were for gold which had advanced in price since I left Denmark making a profit on the transaction. Brother Staines asked me on behalf of the emigration to share the profits with him, which I did, he receiving about $400. Left Jersey City with the emigrants bout 4 p.m. Did not reach Philadelphia Station until the morning of Wed.

Wed 3- From whence to Pittsburgh. The cars were overcrowded, where at 11 p.m. with the missionaries at a poor boarding house. Augusta was very sick and the weather oppressively hot. I was compelled to pilot the emigrants across a number of tracks upon which trains and engines were moving to their lodging place for the night. It was very dark and I feared that some accident would occur, but at last all were safely housed. It was by this time nearly 12 o'clock midnight when I sought an apothecary to get some medicine for Augusta who was very sick. The night clerk at the apothecary had lain down and when I knocked at the door he jumped up pistol in hand, thinking I was a burglar, and intending to shoot me through the door. Hearing some one inside I called out explaining my errand. When he at length opened the door he was so much exerted he could not wait upon for some time for thinking how [p. 260] near he came to committing a homicide.

Thurs. 4- Changed cars. The new ones more filthy and crowded then the others. A brutal station master started the train before our passengers were on board. I represented the matter at the railway office, and with those who were left behind I overtook our emigrants about noon, we taking the express. At Crestline some Irish roughs were turned in on us for the night ride to Fort Wayne. Our police regulations were however quite complete for each car. We reached Chicago at 8 a.m. of Fri. 5. I telegraphed the Superintendent of the Chicago and Northwestern and obtained a greater number of cars as we were sadly crowded and the weather was very warm and showery. Crossed the Mississippi at Clinton on a substantial bridge. Upon getting out of town we passed the wreck of a freight train, smashed there through the settling of the track a short time before caused by the continuous rains of the last few days.

Sat. 6- While crossing the state of Iowa a man came to me and earnestly pleaded for myself or some other elder of our Church to go with him and attend a religious revival, or camp meeting then going on near the line of the railroad. I could not leave the emigrants, and none of the elders volunteered, so the man went away alone. Reached the Missouri River in the afternoon, crossed to Omaha by steam ferry. I proceeded to the railroad office where my request from President Young for a pass on the Union Pacific Railroad was duly honored. With the missionaries passed the night with the emigrants in some empty baggage cars that were placed at our disposal by the railroad officials. Very rainy, Augusta sick.

Sun 7- No moving of trains out of pious Omaha. The camp was thronged all day with apostates and backsliders from Utah who preached and declaimed diligently to induce some to stop with them but all seemed determined to go on and see for themselves. Brother L. W. Shurtliff joined us here. Off at 11 a.m. A woman and two children came too late and were left. I had purchased provisions for the missionaries, Brother Fjeldster was commissary.

Wed. 10- Reached Ogden after a prosperous journey. Telegraphed home announcing my arrival. Josiah Rogerson the operator [p. 261] would not accept any pay for sending the message. Arrangements were made to send our passenger and baggage right on to Salt Lake City. The Utah Central hitches their engine on to our train and Brothers D. O. Calder, S. Heill [Hill] and John Leavitt took charge. At Kaysville we were met by the First Presidency of the Church and some others, my mother being one of the party. The brethren passed through the cars shaking hands with the passengers. At Woods Cross we were met by Bishop Hunter. The immigrants were quartered in the tithing buildings. I stayed at President George Smiths. Met many friends. Our train was the largest that had ever come to the City there being in all eleven passenger and five baggage cars. . . . [p. 262]

BIB: Smith, Jesse N. Autobiography and journal (Ms 1489), pp. 259-62. (CHL)
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