Transcript
Transcript for "Capt. Murdock's Company," Deseret News, 1 October 1862, 109
EDITOR DESERET NEWS:
I beg to forward you a brief statement of our journey form Florence to this point, believing that it will be interesting to you and your numerous readers.
Second Church train, Capt. John R. Murdock, left Florence on the 24th of July, and reached this place on the 23d of Sept., making a short and most pleasant trip in fifty-nine days.
First day out our camp was organized. Charles H. Odphant [Oliphant] was appointed chaplain; John Clerk, sergeant of the guard, and Wm. Reid, secretary.
Our train consisted of sixty-five wagons and about seven hundred souls, of these, three hundred and eighty-four were Danes, Swedes and Norwegians; the balance were English and American.
We have had fourteen deaths, two marriages and six births. The deaths were chiefly from fever and diarrhea.
I am glad to say that peace and harmony existed with us during the entire journey, and the arrangements made by the authorities gave general satisfaction.
That the honest ungathered may soon have the privilege of being blessed, as we are, is my earnest desire. With kind regards, I am, yours sincerely.