Elder George Goddard, writing from Salt Lake City, Nov. 20th, favors us with the following:

"It affords me pleasure and thankfulness to my Heavenly Father, to inform you that the company of Saints and elders who left Liverpool on the 1st of November by the S.S. Arizona, arrived in Salt Lake City yesterday, about 10 o'clock a.m., all safe and sound, except one sister somewhat feeble, but improving. No deaths occurred in the company, but a Sister Williams, from Swansea, gave birth to a son immediately after passing the first station in Utah Territory at Echo. We therefore suggested that his middle name be 'Echo,' to which the mother cheerfully consented, which has the significant title of the place of his birth. President Smith telegraphed to Bishop R. J. Taylor of Ogden, to make arrangements for her comfort on arrival in Ogden. The sisters were ready to afford all necessary help, and she was comfortably conveyed to a Utah Central car, and on reaching Salt Lake City, her husband was ready to receive her in a spring conveyance and take her to comfortable quarters.

Sister Hunter, from Glasgow, had the heaviest siege of sickness of any of our company, but by the blessing of God in the administration of the elders, she has been perfectly restored to health, as evinced during the last two or three days of our journey by the sweet and melodious songs she would sing. Her earnest tones would fill the car, and not only be listened to by all present, but were indicative of the depth of gratitude she felt for her restoration.

On the morning of our arrival in New York, we were much annoyed by the Irish clamor of some of the intermediate passengers who had induced a girl from Stockport, by the name of Lavinia Coop, to change her mind and say she did not want to go to Utah. Some of the Irish were bitter in their imprecations towards the elders for attempting to force an innocent girl to go to Utah against her will. President Smith, who asked the girl in the presence of a host of hot-headed Irishmen, if she wished to go on with the company to her mother in Ogden, or not, she answered by saying she did not wish to go. 'Then,' said Brother Smith, 'you are at perfect liberty to stay.' Some of them acted more like demons than anything else, and rendered it unsafe for the elders to pass by them. On arrival at the Guion Pier, Brother Hart spoke to an officer, and instructed him to take the girl from her betrayers, and place her under the control of the Commissioners, which he did in my presence. The first morning after our arrival in New York, "the Sun" contained a savage and untruthful account of the affair, and charging the elders with living like nabobs, drinking champagne, playing cards and gambling with anyone on board. Brother Hart told me he would reply to it in the next issue, and also an interviewer from "the Sun" came expressly to learn our side of the story, for he felt satisfied there was another version of the affair. Whether he published it or not I do not know.

Nothing worthy of remark occurred during our railway passage across the continent, only that we were sometimes in the dark in our cars for want of oil, and sometimes short of water, subject to many stoppages, and sudden jerks that made it difficult to retain an erect position. We left Jersey City on the evening of the 12th, and arrived in Salt Lake [p.797] City on the morning of the 19th. Two elders were appointed to take charge of the Saints in each car, to meet with them morning and evening for singing and prayers, and to see that a proper watch was kept up in each car to prevent tramps or others from trespassing. During our journey three of four of those character were detected and put off the cars. You will therefore perceive that we arrived with the same number of passengers as left Liverpool. In lieu of the girl we left in New York, who was unwilling to follow the counsel of her friends and mother, we have a boy direct from the spirit world, who sticks close to his mother for succor and support. We all rejoiced in the exchange.

I believe everyone got their own boxes and baggage. We arrived in Ogden after dark, and remained in the cars until morning. All the children in the company stood the journey well. We found Presidents Taylor and Cannon, and a host of warm hearts and cheerful faces, to welcome us as we met them in the street or visited them in their offices.

We feel to bless and praise God our Heavenly Father for his kind and constant watch care over us across the ocean and continent, and bringing us safely to the home of the Saints.

Kind remembrance to the elders at '42,' and all others I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with during my six months' travel in the country of my birth." [p.798]

BIB: Goddard, George, [Letter], Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, 46:50 (December 15, 1884) pp.797-98. (CHL)
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