Young and other Church Authorities, with Samuel
Brannan as guardian for the 238 Saints going on Board. He said farming and gardening tools
and seeds of all kinds were loaded on the ship. He noted that each of the emigrants was
carrying the seeds of the Gospel to plant on the Western Shores, and they were endowed
with the Holy Ghost, which would germinate the seeds and make them grow in the hearts of
the people they may meet. Many of the Saints, Daniel said, loaded their household goods on
the ship, thinking Brigham Young would pioneer the main body overland to California, and
they would unload them there. Large hogsheads of fresh water from the Croton Lake were
placed in the bottom of the ship.
In his diary of January 25, 1846, Daniel said,
he and his wife and two children went aboard the ship, and because he had two children on
his arms he was released from deck services, or as the army would say KP.
Ship Brooklyn Starts For California
On Feb 4, 1846, Ship Brooklyn pulled up her
anchor and was towed out to sea by a steamboat at 2:00 PM. History tells us that it was on
the very day the Mormon Pioneers crossed the icy waters of Mississippi under the
leadership of President Brigham Young for their westward journey. Daniel said the Saints
lived together on the ship somewhat after the United Order style, all eating together in
the large room, excepting Sam Brannan and Captain Richardson, who had more enviable
quarters. The same large room was held for morning and evening prayers, and on Sundays
Church services were held where all were admonished to live together in harmony and love.
Many faith promoting testimonies were borne and soon a choir was organized, and all joined
in singing the songs of Zion, which was their destination. He said the elements combined
to make unity. The third day out a very strong wind tossed the boat back and forth making
many seasick, and they obliged to remain in their bunks and could not go on deck for
exercise and fresh air. This storm kept up the three or four days. Daniel stood it
wonderfully as he was more or less used to high seas in his travels back and forth from
Windsor to Boston with trips mostly on sailboats. When the wind abated, the passengers
resorted to the deck parades for exercise and fresh air. He said on March 3, 1846. The
ship drifted into summer like weather and they crossed the Equator. Many tricks and jokes
were played on some of the passengers. They were amused by the many flying fishes and the
porpoises racing along the ship, first in the water then leaping