Voyage of Ship “Brooklyn.” I

VOYAGE OF THE SHIP "BROOKLYN." BY HON. JOHN M. HORNER. [When Elder A. Milton Musser, at whose request this account is written, acknowledged that he had received the letter containing these incidents in the voyage of the ship Brooklyn, the author, a veteran not unfamiliar to readers of the Era, wrote to Elder Musser, May 21, as follows. His words will serve as an introduction to the narrative: ' 'Before finishing this letter, yours in answer to mine of March and April was put in my hand, and I am pleased with, even grateful for, its contents. It fully answers, the questions requested. I feel to thank you sincerely for your worthy thought of urging me to write up the incidents of the ship Brooklyn voyage, etc., etc. The importance of that voyage to the world was growing in my mind all the time, and I was honestly of the opinion that it had been carefully and ably written until receiving your letter. There were certainly able penmen on board. I was a youngster, more accustomed to handling farm tools than the pen, and never dreamed of trying to write it up until receiving your letter. You certainly are responsible for it. The incidents written are as bright in my mind now, as though they had happened last week. I am pleased to know you are satisfied with it. It is to be regretted that the important subject has not been treated by an abler pen."—Editors.] I. I am requested to name the moving cause that sent the ship Brooklyn, loaded with "Mormons," from New York to California, by way of Cape Horn, in 1846; what were the incidents by the way, and what has been the result. In answer: The ''Mormons" had been persecuted for their religion before their Church was organized in 1830; and after that date, they were persecuted unto death by the sword and by affliction and suffering, brought upon them by being forced from their comfortable homes, into the frost and snow, without shelter and other comforts and protection. Men, women and children, the old and the afflicted, were all driven out.

VOYAGE OF THE SHIP "BROOKLYN." 795 Their prophet, Joseph Smith, had told them they would be driven west and would' 'become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains." After the prophet was massacred, and his mantle of leadership fell on the twelve apostles, with Brigham Young at their head, the outlook for peace being gloomy, the people decided to emigrate and seek peace in the West. With that idea in view, the Twelve counseled the eastern Saints to charter a ship, get on board, and go around Cape Horn to upper California, find a place to settle, farm and raise crops, so that when the Church pioneers should arrive there the following year they would find sustenance. This counsel was obeyed by the few eastern Saints taking the voyage, to the best of their ability. They chartered the ship Brooklyn, and 235 Saints—men, women and children,—and two other passengers—educated gentlemen—the captain, mates, sailors, stewards and cooks, altogether 252 souls, got on board, and in due time arrived in California. The Saints did the work assigned them before they left New York. The following year, 1847, the company sowed and harvested forty acres of wheat, and, in another place, sowed small lots of wheat, barley, peas etc., and started a garden with several classes of garden seeds; but, being late in the season, and the grasshoppers numerous, we got only experience from this venture. During the later part of the year, the company had made a selection for a permanent settlement, and commenced work upon it, on the low, rich land near the river, intending to farm and build extensively upon it the coming year, 1848. Unfortunately, the rains and melting snows from the mountains during the following winter and early spring sent a flood of water over tne land and obliterated all their labor. 'The gold mines being discovered about this time, by the "Mormon" battalion boys, threw the ship Brooklyn company into confusion. It was disorganized, the settlement was abandoned, and every member thereafter followed the counsel of his own will. We left New York, as above stated, with the promise of a prosperous voyage and the blessing of God to attend us. We received both with thanks. Our captain proved himself an able navigator. He hit every

796 'IMPROVEMENT ERA. thing he aimed at. and nothing which he did not want to hit. He was a Baptist in religious profession; held religious services on deck weekly, which the Saints attended. His mates and sailors, in morals appeared above the average. Unbecoming language was seldom heard on board. For the character of our company we copy from the Friend, the report of Captain Richardson to that paper, after his five months' acquaintance with us, during our long voyage from New York to this place, which report we copy and endorse. The Friend announced our arrival at Honolulu on June 20 1846, one hundred and thirty-six days from New York, which city we left on February 4, 1846. The paper further contains a sixcolumn editorial on the history and doctrine of the Latter-day Saints, and continues: Before closing our remarks, we feel ourselves in duty bound to give publicity to the testimony of Captain Richardson, master of the ship Brooklyn, in regard to the general character of the emigrants, as it has been developed during a long voyage around Cape Horn. Of their general behavior and character he speaks in the most favorable manner. He says: "They have lived in peace together and uniformly appeared to be quiet and orderly. They are going with a full determination of making a settlement, and have brought plows, carts, scythes, and all kinds of husbandry implements and tools for ship and house building. Many of the emigrants coming from New England and the Middle States are inclined to transplant some of the noble institutions of their native region. During most of the passage, they have maintained orderly and well conducted daily religious exercises which still continue while lying in port." During the passage there occurred ten deaths, four adults and six children, and two births; a male child born before doubling Cape Horn was called "Atlantic," and a female born this side was called "Pacific." Our religious exercises were kept up until we anchored in front of Yerba Buena, —now San Francisco. There has been no time since then when a "Mormon" Church did not exist in San Francisco. Now, active "Mormon" Churches are scattered over the state. Several of our company were elders. We were working men and working women, school teachers, preachers, carpenters, blacksmiths, masons, printers, etc. The first paper ever published in San Francisco—The Alta California, was printed by the ship Brooklyn company. War was raging in California when we arrived there, between Mexico and the United States, and some of our company enlisted and wevjt down to the lower part of the

VO YAGE OF THE SHIP "BROOKL YN." 797 territory with Colonol J. C. Fremont and helped finish up the war there. We left New York as above stated. Let me mention an incident. As we approached the Gulf Stream, a severe storm burst upon us. It was so severe that the sails were all taken in, except a small one fhat rested against the shrouds of the main mast; no. one was safe on deck. The hatches were fastened down, except the one opening at the top of the steps leading down from the captain's cabin. The captain fearing his cabin would be swept off by the waves came down with a troubled countenance and announced to the passengers: "I have done all I can to save the ship. If any of you have not made your peace with God, you would better do it now, as the ship may go down any minute.'' Through faith in their promise of a ''prosperous voyage," or through ignorance of their danger, none seemed alarmed but the captain. The storm passed without danger. Fortunately, it drove us on our journey. The captain, who was an old seafarer, was heard to say after the storm ceased, that it was the worst he had ever encountered. We had a school on board for the children; and an ex-soldier, a brother who had spent years in the army, was required to drill the men of our company in the art of war during the fair weather, more for the benefit received from the exercise, than from any good we expected from learning the arts of war. It was fine weather when we doubled Cape Horn. The women were making bread, pies, cakes, frying doushnuts, etc., and the children were playing and romping about the deck. We were too far south to see the cape when we passed around it, in fact, we saw no land after leaving New York until we sighted the island of Juan Fernandez, where we stopped a few days replenishing our wood and water, catching, eating and salting fish. While coming up the coast of South America, a hint was given that the captain did not know where he was. The captain, hearing of this, immediately pointed his ship toward the mainland and stated: "If I am right, I will show you the highest points of the Andes, if this wind keeps up." Sure enough, we soon saw a small, black cloud arising out of the eastern horizon, which rapidly increased in height and length, and which, to us landsmen, looked like a thun-

793 IMPROVEMENT ERA. dercloud. By gazing through strong glasses, we saw the captain was right. He then again pointed his ship for the Hawaiian Islands, where we arrived as above stated. Soon after leaving Honolulu, on the 4th of July we had a spirited celebration of that day. Flags were hoisted, guns fired, patriotic songs were sung, etc. We encountered another storm coming up from the Horn, but it was not as severe as the one we had in the Atlantic- We had a three-days' calm as we approached California—one hundred miles or so out. Then a strong trade wind struck us and wafted us speedily and safely through the "Golden Gate," without a pilot, or halting, with all sails set, until we dropped anchor in front of Yerba Buena—now San Francisco—in the bay of San Francisco. We were all well, thankful and happy. We had truly a prosperous voyage, as we were promised before leaving New York. WThen I look back and contemplate the voyage of the ship Brooklyn Saints, the distance traveled, time consumed, and purpose of the journey, and the incidents thereof, I now feel to rank it creditably with that of the Jaredites and Nephites in their voyage across the Pacific to America, and with the voyage of the Mayflower pilgrims crossing the Atlantic from Europe to America. I am impressed further with the thought, that we were sent and protected by the Great Father, as were the pilgrims above mentioned, and to help forward a great work as did they. We performed the mission assigned,as we then understood it, not comprehending its importance, as it now more clearly appears. We had no prophets with us to guide and direct us, as did the Jaredites and Nephites, but we felt thankful upon being able to congratulate ourselves that we were blessed with a more complete and continued unity in our company during the entire voyage than the Nephite emigrants enjoyed. Neither were we chastised by the Great Father, as was the Brother of Jared because he had ceased calling upon him. Although some of the Brooklyn Saints may have departed from the faith, yet I feel that the purpose for which they were sent was accomplished. Pauilo, Hawaii. (TO BE CONCLUDED IN SEPTEMBER NUMBER.-)