Isaac, John Rees
From Aberdulais to Utah,
1 September 1881
From his diary
Started by railroad from Aberdulais
at 8:15, arrived at Birkenhead 4:30 p.m. When
I got in Birkenhead I met with Shamrack, an agent on the Guion
Line, and I stayed at his house that night. Friday, September 1st,
left. I went on board the Wyoming at
5:00 o’clock. Saturday, at 3:00 a.m., September 2nd, she began her
way for New York
and it was a fine day from there to Queenstown and we had a fine journey. We
reached there at half past nine Sunday morning. After getting a few passengers
we started away again to New York
at 11:00 o’clock.
About 6:00 o’clock Sunday night the land was out of sight
and we had some rain and wind and she was tossed a bit that night. Monday
morning, I was up about half past six. I could hardly turn my head. It was
quite stiff. I washed and went on deck. It was a little windy. Today we had
some fun to look on. The porpoises jumping out of the water
and a fast sailing ship. In the evening a lot of them sat down on the
deck and there they began to sing comics until 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, up at 7, washed went on deck. It was very fine. The
water was quiet and the going just like on a canal. Evening,
the Germans playing in one place and the English playing kissiuring
in another place. After that was over, we had some singing songs and
choruses until 9:00 p.m., and it was a beautiful night.
Wednesday, it was very fine again this morning. We had a
whistle on board and some stepping with the Irish lads. Thursday morning, it was
windy at middle day. We had rain at 5:00 again. It cleared up and we had it
very fine that night. Friday morning, I went up on deck and it was very fine
but it was keen and we had it fine all day.
Saturday, very fine today again, and the water was quite
smooth and the sun were dazzling on it and it was a lovely morning. The first
amusement we had was to look on them reeling afterward. An English man brought
his whistle on board and the Irish fellows began to step and we had it very
fine all day. Sunday morning, here’s another fine morning. At 10:00 o’clock the
Latter-day Saints held a meeting. They opened their meeting by singing a hymn
and prayed and they gave a lecture in English and Danish. At 11:00 they held a
Church service. It was very fine until 7:30 then we had rain and fog.
Monday morning, September 12, the passengers were increased
by one. Mrs. Robert Hall gave birth in the steerage to a daughter who will be
known as Wyoming Hall. At 10:00 the pilot came on board and it was foggy. At
8:30 we could see light on Coney Island. At
11:30 Monday night they dropped the anchor about a mile or two from the landing
stage and there we stopped until the doctor came on board to examine the ship
and the passengers that was on it. At 6:00 then they
raised the anchor and off we went to New
York. As we were going in it was quite a sight to
see. The tugboats crossing back and forth in the harbour of all kinds. We came off the ship at about
9:30. Then we had our locker out and the custom officer looked at them.
Then we had to take another boat to go to Castle Gardens.
There we had to change our money and after that I went out to see the city and
there we had to stop all night. We were like pigs living on the ground. We took
the train at 3:00 o’clock Wednesday, September 14. As we were waiting for the
train I saw the American Volunteers.
We were at Philadelphia
11:30, at Pittsburg
8:30 Thursday, September 15. At Chicago
8:30, September 16. At Council Bluffs, Saturday, September 17. At Ogden,
September 21 and I saw two nannygoats in a car and
some Indians, arrived at Salt Lake City, Wednesday evening, 6:30 p.m.,
September 21, 1881.
