A Journey to a New Land

During the voyage, the Saints had nothing but contrary winds all the way across the Atlantic. Charles reports one unusual storm. “One night in particular, there was a stormy sea. We lost some of our sail the wind was so strong. I was on guard that night, when the sail came down.

together we had a good and safe journey.”

The saints arrived in the New York harbor July 18th and stayed at a large building called Castle Garden. This immigrant depot served a large number of Mormon converts who disembarked here from ships that brought them from Europe. Caroline West Larrabee in her story tells us that, “Castle Garden had been built for an opera house. It has been said that the great singer Jenny Lind sang there.” (From Caroline West Larrabee's story found in the D. U. P. files, p. 197, December 1968,

The next day the family started their travel from New York by railroad car and steamboat to Florence, Nebraska. Because of the Civil War, which was in progress in the United States at the time (1863), this family and other Saints had many difficulties. Part of the time traveling was done in crowded sheep cars, with children crying for lack of food. The steamer that took them up the Missouri River was so crowded that Charles reported, “We were thankful when we got to Florence and met the brethren there.”

There were sixty wagons ready for the emigrants. These had been brought from Salt Lake loaded with Dixie cotton. After the driver had disposed of the cotton, the wagons were then fixed up for the Saints. Of the two and one-half months journey across the plains, a number of incidents were outstanding. “One day toward evening,” wrote Charles, “our Captain told us to prepare for a big windstorm. All the fires were put out, and the wagons placed in a circle, the wheels of each wagon fastened together with heavy log chains. The cattle were all inside the enclosure. We had barely got ready when the storm came, such a piercing and stormy

wind, that it seemed to almost take our breath away. We had to hold onto the wagons less we be blown away. After the storm was over, I don't think there was one wagon cover left. All had been blown to pieces.”

“Our little daughter, Mary Ann Young West, was sick, more or less, while crossing the plains. Her appetite failing her, I thought I would go to the riverside (being near one) and get a fish. I knew it would do her good. The river being very low and leaving small puddles of water, I would try and chase the fish by my hands into shallow water, and so catch one. I did not succeed in getting any. I then and there prayed to God that I might get some if it was only one. I was about to leave to catch up with the wagon train when a man came along with a string of fish and offered me one. My prayer being answered, I went along rejoicing.”

Grandfather refers to an accident that happened to his young son Jabez William, a small lad of five years, while crossing the plains. “Our son Jabez William was badly hurt through being run over by one of the wagons. I did not know whether his leg was broken or not. It swelled up to a great size. It was recommended by one of the teamsters to catch the drippings of the oxen and apply this as a poultice. I did so several times, the swelling went down and he soon got the use of his leg again.”

The days and weeks went by, ten strenuous weeks of walking over prairie and mountain behind the slow heavy gait of oxen pulling heavy wagons. Sometimes these gallant souls waded through rivers up to their armpits. In the evening these pioneers would make camp by forming a circle with the wagons. “Before going to bed,” relates Charles, “a few would gather together in the dance, but we always had prayers each evening.”

In regard to their food, Charles made this remark. “Sometimes we would come across some greens that were good for food. My wife would make many a good meal so we fared very well. We had made up our minds to enjoy this trip without grumbling and found it the best way.”

After the long journey on the plains, the company arrived in Salt Lake City on the camping grounds in the Eighth Ward square, October 4, 1863. Brother W. Grimsdell of the Tenth Ward, being an old acquaintance of the Charles West family in London and related to Charles on his brother John's side, got a wagon and took the family and their belongings to his home. The family stayed with the Grimsdells for a few days and while there attended their first conference in Salt Lake City. Of course, the mother and father were eager to go to Provo to see their young daughters, Caroline and Annie, who were staying at the home of Brother Miller. Charles left Samuel Bezzant at his grandfather's home at Battle Creek (Pleasant Grove). The grandfather was killing a sheep so he made Charles a gift of a shoulder of mutton, also some pluck (heart and liver of the animal).

Charles carried his gift eight miles before he caught up with the wagon. It is interesting to note that the teamster's name was Barney, the new husband of Mary Powell who had accompanied the West family across the plains. They were on their way to Dixie.

One can imagine the joyful reunion between parents and children when they found their two little girls well and happy at Brother Miller's home.

-- The sailors had everything they could do to get it out of the way. I had to hold on to the sails of the companion way.” Even though grandfather realized the seriousness of the situation, his keen sense of humor helped him see the funny side. For he said, “It was quite laughable to see the tin ware thrown around because the ship was tossed about so.” Of course many passengers were seasick, Grandmother Eliza in particular. Grandfather became cook for the family at that time. But of the forty-two days on the ocean, Charles said, “Some days the sea was calm and when it was we had a good time.” And in his optimistic way of seeing the bright side of life, he added, “Take it allThe Unpublished Story). Charles, Eliza and children stayed in this building over night. They had to sleep on the stairs and “make the best of it.”