Diary of Bernard Snow’s Mission to England
1.
MEMORANDA OF TRAVELBERNARD SNOW 1856
Wednesday Sept. 10, 1856
Left Salt Lake City agreeably to the appointment by W. C. Kimball at 2 P.M. in company with Geo. Gates, and Thomas Bullock. Took what is called KILLIANS cut-off, camped at the foot of the big mountain.
Thursday the 11th ------
Went over big mountain, camped at the sixth crossing of East Canyon Creek, about noon to wait the arrival of P. P. Pratt and the other missionaries. Bro. S. F. Neslin who belonged to our wagon was also in the rear.
We were kindly assisted over the mountains by C. A. HUNTINGTON with a span of Indian ponies, for which Bro. Gates traded a span of mares.
Bro. Bullock and myself slept by the animals about ¼ mile from camp while Bro. Gates guarded the wagon. Ice froze in our pail about ½ inch thick. We were here overtaken by D. Amey and two young men who were with pack animals, from the south, and whose presence we had not particularly desired.
Friday Sept. 12th ------
Started at about 8 o’clock in the morning and rove to within a short distance of Weaver bottom and camped at ½ past 11 A.M. waited the rest of the day for Neslin and the company in rear.
Saturday 13th------
None of the company has arrived this morning. While Bro. Gates was on guard this morning about 4 o’clock there was a stampede of our animals, when he aroused the camp we soon recovered them again.
Started about 7:30 A.M. arrived at the mouth of EchoCanyon at 10:30 A.M. where we waited the arrival of the company, which came at about 12 noon. Started at 3 P.M. went about 8 miles up the canyon.
Sunday 14th------
Went about 2 miles west of CacheCave to noon. Met Capt. N. BOWLEY with 13 wagons, Benj. Clapp with 14 wagons and J. Y. Green with 24 wagons of merchandise for Gilbert & Gerrish. We camped about ½ mile east of the “Needle,” where we had some hail with thunder and lightning.
Monday 15th----
Camped at the muddy.
Tuesday 16th----
Nooned at Robinsons fort where we were kindly received by Bro. Lewis Robinson. Camped for the night at Black’s fort where we were visited by Bros. Bullock and Pulsipher from fortSupply and treated us to some potatoes, turnips, butter and cheese, for which we felt thankful.
Wednesday 17th----
Passed a vote of thanks to our brethren before mentioned, then bade them goodbye. Nooned at Ham’s fork, we camped at Black’s fork 15 miles from Green River.
Thursday 18th----
About 10:30 A.M. met Capt. Edmund Ellsworth with 57 Hand Carts & 230 souls. We met them as we were descending from the ridge to Green River. We stopped our teams and waited their approach. The sight was one of the most impressive I have ever beheld. We formed a line, having alighted from our wagons, and as they approached we all joined in the shout “Hosannah! Hosannah! To God and the Lamb forever and ever. Amen Amen and Amen.”
Had a short conversation with Capt. Ellsworth who informed me that they had got along very well and without much grumbling. They make from 20 to 25 miles per day. They all appear hale and harty, though very much sunburned. They are in excellent spirits. After about 10 minutes talk we bid them welcome to the vallies of the mountains and was on our separate ways.
Nooned at Green River Crossing at the lower ford and taking a cut-off from there to Big Sandy about 10 miles from its mouth. Poor feed as it had been fed down till our animals had a poor chance.
Friday Sept. 19th----
Nooned at the crossing of Big Sandy—poor feed. Camped at the Little Sandy on the cut-off to the south of the main road. Poor feed and no water except what is obtained by sinking holes in the sand, found in some places in the bed of the stream.
Saturday 20th----
Nooned at Pacific Creek on the same cut-off. Camped about 2 ½ miles below Pacific Springs in company with Capt. Bunkers Hand Cart company mostly of Welch Saints. Bro. Bullock and myself went to one part of the camp where we were richly entertained by their singing. They feel first rate.
Sunday 21st----
Nooned at the junction of main road and the cut-off, and camped about ½ mile from one of its branches.
Monday 22nd----
Camped with Capt. Crofts’ co. from the Cherokee nation. Held a meeting with them in the evening, preaching by P. P. Pratt. We got a bottle or two of milk for our wagon.
Tuesday 23rd----
Camped about 1 ½ miles east of Bitter Cottonwood. Got some antelope meat which Bro. Ridout and others killed.
Wednesday Sept. 24th----
Nooned near the crossing of Sweet Water. Camped at Independence Rock in company with F. D. Richards, C. H. Wheelock, J. Furgerson, W. C. Dunbar, Geo. D. Grant, Wm. H. Kimball, J. T. D. McAllister, D. Spencer Vancott, Joseph A. Young and others, returning missionaries. Oh how our hearts leaped for joy to meet those faithful and tried ones, and to have an opportunity of congratulating them on their near approach to their loved homes, where anxious and fond hearts were ready to hail them with a holy and hearty welcome. This night is one long to be remembered by all present. How earnest and solemn were our invocations to the Lord, God of Israel, how sweet was the melody which floated on that mild evening air, and rose from beneath the great dome of natures temple to our Father.
Sleep had no power to woo us till a late hour at night, and cheating dabliance set us far beyond our usual hour for starting in the morning. Here we got news of the death of A. W. Babbitt, Sutherland, Margetss, Cowdey and others by the Cheyenne Indians and of their feelings of hostility.
Thursday 25th----
Nooned at Grease Wood Creek, rather poor feed—Camped at Willow Springs with scarcely any feed.
Friday 26th----
Drove without nooning to ford of the PlatteRiver where we camped with very poor feed.
Saturday 27th----
Crove to Crooked Muddy, where we camped at about 1 o’clock for the rest of the day—good feed.
Sunday 28th----
Started about 10 A.M. and nooned at Deer Creek—good feed.
Camped at the A. La Parelle where we got good feed by driving our animals about 1 ½ miles from camp to the mouth of this stream on the Platte. Here we discovered a coal bed and also iron ore.
Monday 29th----
Nooned at the second ford of the Platte—tolerable feed. In the forenoon we met Bro. Smoot with the church train. Also P. Rockwell with six wagons, 4 of which were A. W. Babbitt’s (deceased). Camped about 15 mi. from ford on the north side.
Tuesday 30th----
Nooned on the north of Platte about 12 miles from our camp found good feed—Here we crossed the river and camped at what we supposed to be Horse Shoe Creek, about 10 miles from our place of nooning. Here we were overtaken by J. Gamsell and others.
Wednesday Oct. 1 1856----
Drove about 21 miles to the junction of the Pioneer road on the river. This 21 miles the road does not touch the river we found water in only two places, and no feed or any account. Camped about a mile below this point on the river with plenty of feed.
Thursday 2nd----
Passed Laramie about noon and camped about 12 miles below. Went 2 miles to shoot a Buffaloe, and found them oxen from a government wagon.
Friday 3rd----
Camped at Horse Creek in fine grass.
Saturday 4th----
Took the cut-off from that place to the south of Scotch Bluffs and reached the river in time to camp. Here we discovered that the last Hand Cart Co. had passed up the river road. We camped about 10 miles above Chimney Rock. I was here appointed Capt. of the Guard, in place of Bro. Chas. Hubbard resigned.
Sunday 5th----
About 2 o’clock A.M. we passed the last Co. of imigration. Capt. Hunt with a company of wagons and saints, mostly English among who was Bro. James Sinforth. They were not yet moving, but were digging a grave for a child. We camped some 10 miles below Chimney Rock with good feed.
Monday Oct. 6th----
Drove about 20 miles and camped about ½ mi. below a creek the name of which I did not know. From this time I kept no account of the route as we were not on the road corresponding with the guide, but we followed the river most of the time, the road may be considered feasible though from what I can learn from those who have traveled the north side of the river I think that road would be the most desirable, especially as that is the course marked by the guide (Clayton) Crossed the river to the north side of Ft. Kerney at the head of Grand Island. Bros. Gates, Bullock, Neslin, Taylor, Ross Kelley and myself arrived in Florence, Oct 27th having left the balance behind on the afternoon of the 25th near the leberty pole. They arrived about noon on the 28th. After a delay or two or three days 17 of us took passage on the Steamboat A6. Gooding for St. Louis, the balance of our company going across Iowa. We were obliged to pay 12 dollars deck passage, and were about 11 days getting down. We were very kindly treated by the brethern in Florence, and Bros. James and Alex Peiper in particular we feel under obligation to.
I spent some time (8 days) in St. Louis during which time, at the suggestion of Bro. Geo. A. the Saints under the presidency of James Hart made a social and intellectual feast in the church, on which occasion I by request read a portion of the Tragedy of Virginius. By this means I obtained money to pay my passage to New York, many of the brethern who had the means, having gone on before me. I left St. Louis Nov. 20th and had the means, having gone on before me. I left St. Louis Nov. 20th and after three days and three nights ride arrived in New York Sun. morning the 23rd at 3:30 A.M. Being entirely a stranger there I put up at the Girord House, where I sleft till about 8 o’clock when I sallied forth in search of Bro. John Taylor when I by chance met Bros. Geo. Gates, A. P. Slumway and others. Found the place of meeting in Broome St. and attended in the afternoon and evening. Having consent from Bro. Taylor to visit my relatives in Vermont and Mass, I left N. Y. on Wed. morning Nov. 26th for Vt. stopped over night in HolyokeMass. with my cousin Gustavus Snow, and arrived next day it being Thanksgiving day at my Fathers. I took them quite by surprise, as they had not heard a word of my coming. I obtained consent to preach in the old meeting house (the onely one in the place) on the following Sunday, and I improved it to the best of my ability, preachin in 3 descourses about 5 hours, which was as much as my lungs would endure, as I was laboring under the effect of a severe cold at that time. The people here are a great part of them confirmed Spiritualists, and it seems almost impossible to reach them with the truth. The devil has persuaded them that they have the genuine faith and the same powers and gifts that were anciently possessed by the primitive Saints. I was however kindly treated by all the kindred in those parts. I left Vt. for Boston on the 13th of Decembre accompanied by my brother Gerry, who kindly paid my fare to Boston (about $5). My Father gave me a pair of new pants, and about $8 in money. I arrived in Boston the same evening and went to Cambridge and put up with my brother Eben and found there Bro. Herman also.
Sunday December 14, 1856----
Visited brother Seymour who also lives in Cambridge and whose wife I had never seen before. The next morning the 15th six of fathers ten children met together we passed a very pleasant evening. Herman, Gerry, Eben, Bernard, Edna, and Seymour, besides we had Seymour’s wife, Herman’s and Eben’s wifes and Edna’s husband, making quite a party. I spent about two weeks here and preached in Boston twice, when I felt like proceeding on my ourney, but unfortunately I had an afflection come upon me in the shape of one of Job’s conforters under my right arm, which disabled me for some 10 days. I then bespoke a passage on the ship M. E. Balch for Liverpool, but when the day appointed for her to sail arrived she was frozen into about eighteen inches of ice and the harbor fairly closed up. I had collected enough to pay a stearage passage from the Saints and intended to go thus, though I had no one for a companion and there was only a few very dirty looking Irishmen and women in the stearage. My brother Eben learning how I was intending to go gave me $25 to make out a cabin passage and went to see me safely on board. He also gave me a good hat. My brother Seymour gave me an over garment called a Talma, now for which he paid $15 also a pair of shoes, besides about $2 in money amounting to about $20. I take pleasure in recording these things because such cases are few, and I pray God to bless them according to their acts and open the eyes of their understanding to the truth that they may share in the blessings of the new and everlasting covenant through obedience to the gospel.
The ice finally having been cleared from the harbor I sailed Feb. 5th [or 7th] from Boston at noon. Mrs. Marry Vose gave me $6 toward a passage.
We were taken by steam tug outside the lower light when with a good breeze from the southwest we made good way all day and night. We had not been out long when it appeared very evident that some of the sailors were rather the worst for liquor, and one big fellow had started to the crew that he had come on board for the purpose of hammering the chief mate. The mate gave an order, when this fellow returned a saucy answer. The mate sprang upon him, knocked him down over a spar and holding him there gave him an most unmerciful beating. Another sailor who assayed to take part of the first was seized by the second mate and treated worse than the first. They were then forced to their work with the blood streaming from their faces. This settled the matter, and they were all quiet during the rest of the voyage.
Sunday Feb. 8, 1857-----
Wind continued fair through the day, but it was cloudy.
Feb. 10th & 11th-----
Head winds most of the time.
Wednesday 11th----
Fair winds and making good time. Saw the sun for about 5 minutes. “God my sea legs fairly on” (as the sailors would say) though by the by, they come near getting knocked off just now. Having finished a comfortable supper I had just stepped out into the open air for a moment. All was dark as the ace of spades, and a heavy sea on, which caused the ship to roll very freely. She occasionally shipped considerable water, and as she rolled to and fro the water not having time to escape by the scuppers, would course from one side to the other with a rush. I stood upon the grating forward of the cabin, a little elevated from the deck leaning my back against the door, with one hand grasping the door knob by way of keeping myself right end up; silently watching with admiration the sparkling phosphoric diamonds it so lavishly spread upon the deck in its wild course hither and thither, sometimes almost yielding to the temptation to go pick up some of them. But suspecting Old Neptune meant to play me a trick I kept my post. “Firm footing better than floating with diamonds” thought I, and consoled myself with the supposed safe position and clenching “Ever tighter, tighter the knob.” Amen the ship gives a lurch, and over comes a good dash of sea – none of your small fry that – now she rights then rolls the other way and down comes the water like a perfect cataract swooping grating, door-mats and all, not forgetting my legs from their proper places. But fortunately I clung to that ever memorable door knob with tenacity of a party politition to his last hope, and lost no time in replacing my legs, and bouncing over the sill into the cabin porch, with no damage other than boots pretty well filled with water, and pants wet above the knees. From this position I watched the water as it dashed to and fro upon the deck apparently feeling for my legs while I inwardly murmured “Old Neptune, you are not half the gentleman I took you to be.” Snf in order to show proper resentment I rushed into the cabin and seated myself by the mizzen mast, which groaned as if it had a fit of the nervous tooth-ache and penned those few lines for spite.
Thursday Feb. 12th----
Still cloudy and cold wind from the northward, and snow flying, with an inch on deck, which the hands are busily endeavoring to clear off, but being wet with spray it is all slush. The rigging is covered with ice, and one of the sailors mutters with an oath “Who wouldn’t e a sailor.” Sure enough I though. It ceased snowing at about 8 o’clock A.M. though the decks were very slippery, insomuch that it was difficult working the ship. Today by way of passtime I made my way to the galley where the steerage passengers do their cooking, and entered for a few moments.