Transcript

We left our native village in Febuary 1855 and traveled in coaches from La Tour to Pignerol; from this city to Turin the capital of Piedmont, to the town of Suze by rail way: then up the steep Mount Cenis in a large coach placed on sleds drawn by sixteen government mules the way being covered with perpetual snow and ice. When we arrived at the top we left the coach for abt an hour and entered the hotel and were robd of our monney. When we reentered the coach mother sang toungue; which dispeled the awful gloom caused by the incident at such a time and place—abt midnight, in a blizard

Arriving at Landsburg, on the Savoy side; the coaches were taken off the sleds and we continued in coaches to Lyons France[.] From that city we traveled by rail to Paris, hence to Calais, then on board a steamer to London, then again by railway to Liverpool; remaining there sometime waiting for the ship Juventa which sailed abt the first of April with 573 saints, in charge of Wm Glover, and landed at Philadelphia Pa. May 5th. from there to Pitsburg by rail, then by steam boat down the Ohio river to Saint Louis, then up the Missoury [Missouri] river landing at Atchison, Kansas, five miles from Mormon Grove, the temporary place for organizing the saints into companies, and providing all equipment for the journey to the valleys of the rocky mountains

While at this place many were stricken with c[h]olera. The writer has heard Elder Joseph Hall, who was the appointed commissary at the grove state that out of over three hundred victims, only three of that number survived, of whom my twin was one, who was attacked as severely as any, but was saved by faith. "While we were at Liverpool, pres F D Richard promissed my mother that should see all her family safe in zion"

As there had already been three <out> of our number, ten, that had died, and my sister was also stricken with that dreaded maladie, mother wondered whar [what] she had done to forfiet her blessing, but sent for elders to administer to her, after the ordinance, apostle John Taylor "who was one of the elders" told mother that thru' her faith she should recover and none of the rest of the family should be stricken, which promises were realized in spite of the many incidents that happened on the way to try her faith

On account of such conditions we did not leave Mormon Grove to cross the plains 'till the 25 of July. When going thru' the indians territories, bands of them would terrorize the company by their sudden appearance & demand hostage for trespassing on their domains. Then the captain would propitiate with, flour, sugar and various other gifts thus to procure & preserve peace with them

Another cause of allarm was the herds of Buffalos, as when on transition never deviated from their <course> heeded no obstacle liable to go right through camp or train as the case might be; so that with the savage indians and the invincible buffalos we were at any time in danger of our lives

I shall not attempt to discribe the hardships, tryals and difficulties incidental of our journey, but one incident, because it so clearly shows the efficacy of faith[.] One day we had a longer distance to walk than usual and were very tired so father said, we are nearing camp, but get in; we had but just got in on the back end of the wagon when we heard mother exclaim "O God give me the strength of a lion," when suddenly it completely capsized

"As our goods had been left at Philadelphia, the wagon was laden with freight for the company" On the front wheels was there was a large box <packed with> glass and china and ware on which mother and two little ones were sitting, she was thot' to be crushed to death, We were nearly smothered to death under the stack of sacks of flour belonging to the company.

When mother was rescued from her terrible position she went about her domestic affairs as usual, the little ones were not hurt.

Arrived at Salt Lake City the 28th of Oct. so we were about nine months on our journey. Looking down into the valley from the brow of the bench on emigration St, we failed to percieve the city, as from that distance the little log cabins & adobie [adobe] dwellings appeared like bolders scattered on the surface of the ground.