Transcript

Transcript for Blair, Seth M., "Correspondence," St. Louis Luminary, 7 July 1855, 130

WE have received the following letter from Elder Seth M. Blair, per favor of Elder Milo Andrus. We deeply sympathise with Brother Blair, his company, and friends of the deceased, in this visitation from the messenger of death. We feel it hard to part with those we love, although we may be confident that they are ushered into more glorious scenes, and that we shall meet them again in happier circumstances. Death is at all times distressing; but when its ravages are dealt with such destructive hand as in this case, among our own beloved friends, we feel it more particularly severe; but in this as all the dispensations of life or death, we bow in humble adoration before the Almighty, and say, "it is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good.

LITTLE NEMEHAW, N. T. June 24, 1855.
Dear Brothers and Presidents Andrus and Ballantyne—I thank the Lord God of Israel that life was spared me, and that I was blessed with the blessing of your kind epistle, borne by my worthy and beloved brother Elder Edward Stevenson, whom I will receive and my company as our presiding officer and leader, and with all the faith in us will we sustain him; for Oh! truly brethren the time had come to relieve your friend and brother that again in the flesh we may meet. In the last six days I have buried some twenty-five, and just such a scene of death you never witnessed on earth, and I pray that you never may. On the 17th night I found that public prayer was not to be offered up, when I called the family of brother East into his tent and prayed with them, when I learned what was then pending over our heads, and in one hour the cholera made its appearance, and in the first thirty-six hours we buried one every three hours or more; abating gradually until the 5th day when Col. N. H. [Nathaniel Hunt] Greer died. The scene, dear brethren, can neither be portrayed by the eloquence of man, neither by the pen of the ready writer. The cry of the dying and shrieks of the living presented nothing but the true scene, even all the horrors of death imaginable. The grave diggers were employed both night and day under the ever diligent eye of Serjt. J. [James] M. Barlow, assisted by brethren never to be forgotten, Elders S. H. [Sylvester Henry] Earl, Geo. C. Riser, Oscar Tyler, Col. Greer, and other faithful brethren and sisters; and in my feeble health night and day reports of the dead and dying, and calls for help on every hand, truly placed me in a situation by no means ever again to be aspired unto. In short, I must close with the heartfelt gratitude ever due unto my heavenly Father, that you responded to my call, in sending to my relief brother [Edward] Stevenson and those accompanying him, that my life may be prolonged and Israel gathered, and the Priesthood of our God honored on the earth. We have lost eleven of our Texian friends—three men—Col. [Nathaniel M.] Green, Jones, and Lankford [Jeremiah Euchlet Langford], and one sister Lankford [Mary Jane Langford]; and seven children, with the wife of brother [Edward] Middlemass, his aunt, sister [Abigail] Priestly, sister [Jo] Fisher and Bagly [possibly Julia], Eliza Jost, sister York [Mary or Nancy], (of Texas,) and some other English sisters; a full report of which I will make at the "Deseret News" office. Thus brethren, in brief, I detail a scene that I feel that the siege of Sabastopol is as child's play unto. With the full feeling and faith that the Lord doeth all things well—avoid a camp on Twelve Mile creek. Remember me in your prayer, and our little company. My love to brother Snow, yourselves, McGaw, and all the saints of God. I am, as ever, your devoted brother in Christ. S. M. [Seth M.] BLAIR.

P. S. Serjeant reports sick list 24. We have had but two new cases in thirty-six hours.