. . . 8th. At Victory Station I bid a farewell adieu to a large number of friends amid shouts, sighs and tears and stepped on the car en route to Liverpool. As the train started to move the Saints commenced [to] swing their hats and handkerchief and shouting, goodbye, goodbye. On arriving at Liverpool I spent the balance of the day assisting [p.164] the emigrating Saints from various stations to the docks on the banks of the River Mersey and thence on to the steamship Minnesota.

I lingered on the vessel last night and this morning at 9 a.m. I went ashore and returned to the vessel at 11:30 a.m. At 2 p.m. the anchor was raised and the vessel began to move slowly down the river.

Aug. 10. The vessel called at Queenstown, Ireland, and took aboard passengers.

Aug. 11. I had a splendid night's sleep and eat a hearty breakfast, and that without company except the doctor and one lady. The sea was very rough and the billows ran high.

August 21. First sighted land this morning and arrived in quarantine waters at 11 a.m. Passed inspection and all hand landed in Castle Garden before 4 p.m. where we met Brother William Stanes [Staines], the Mormon emigration agent and Elder G. M. Groo, a returned Elder from England.

August 22. Crossed the river on a steam tug and took seats in the car and at 5 p.m. were swiftly gliding on Pennsylvania Central Railroad. [p.165]

August 23. Arrived in Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. where we remained all night in the station.

August 24. We continued the journey at 7 a.m. and arrived in Chicago the 25th at 7:30 a.m. and at 11 a.m. started west on the Chicago Northwestern Railroad.

August 26. Arrived at Council Bluffs at 3:40 p.m. and was transferred to the Union Pacific Railroad on the west side of the Missouri River.

August 30. Echo City, Utah. Here I bid my associates goodbye and alighted from the car and in a few moments joined hands with quite a number of my home neighbors who were there awaiting my arrival.

News of various kind was conveyed to me from different sources, all of which my ears were eager to catch. But alas, the information that my youngest child, a son who never seen his father, departed this life on the 17th of this month. This information cast a gloom over my soul, and intervened with the bright hopes and fond anticipations of home affairs, which I have had for many days past. However, I mustered courage, and accompanied by friends we soon reached home. The team drove up [p.166] in front of the house and when I stepped down off of the wagon, I met Mrs. Eldredge on the sidewalk, and we certainly recognized each other, and in a few moments passed into the house. My wife and olds child was well, the other child dangerously ill. For the first time in my life I realized how great rejoicing and deep sorrow operated simultaneously on the human mind. . . . [p.167]

BIB: Eldredge, Alma. Journal (Ms 5125), pp. 165-167. (CHL).
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