"DEPARTURE (3rd Company). -- The S. S. Wyoming left the Mersey at 11:30 a.m., on Saturday the 14th instant. The company was composed of English, 321; Scandinavians 213; Swiss and German 57, making a total of 592 souls, exclusive of 17 returning elders, as follow: H. W. Naisbitt, C. D. Evans, D. McArthur, J. H. Miles, W. H. Branch, J. Steele, J. Maycock, W. G. Sanders, T. A. Halgren (on account of poor health), A. Hanson, J. C. Thoresen, A. Tullgren, B. Nilson, J. Petersen, Jakob Muller, F. G. Froerer, J. R. Young.

Sisters Laker, Rickard, and Ferguson are with the company, after a brief visit to England. Everything looked favorable for a pleasant and speedy passage to the valleys of the growing West. May the spirit of Zion rest upon them, so shall they be prepared for absorption among those who are laboring for, and seeking her interest continually. . . ."

"Sat. 14. [Sep. 1878] -- The steamship Wyoming sailed from Liverpool, England, with 609 Saints, in charge of Henry W. Naisbitt. The company arrived at New York, Sept. 25th, and at Salt Lake City, Oct. 3rd."

". . . A company of 218 emigrating Saints of eight returning missionaries sailed from Copenhagen on the steamer 'Bravo,' Sept. 7,1878, under the leadership of Elder August W. Carlson. The other returning missionaries were the following: Alfred Hanson, Axel Tullgren, Ingwald C. Thoresen, John E. Christiansen, Andrew F. Petersen, Truls A. Hallgren and Bengt Nilson. On Tuesday, Sept. 10th, the company arrived in Hull, England, and the following day continued to journey to Liverpool by rail. Here the Scandinavian Saints, together with 321 British and 57 Swiss and German Saints, embarked on the steamer ' Wyoming' and sailed from Liverpool Sept. 14th. Henry W. Naisbitt who, during the absence of President Joseph F. Smith, had presided over the European Mission, was appointed leader of this company, with Daniel D. McArthur and Alfred Hanson as his assistants. Elder Carlson remained in Liverpool until the departure of the next emigrant company. On Sept. 25th the 'Wyoming' arrived safely at New York. During the voyage the emigrants encountered three days of stormy weather, which caused much seasickness among the passengers. An old Danish brother died the day before reaching America and was buried at sea. After a somewhat tiresome journey by rail from Jersey City, the company arrived in Salt Lake City, Oct. 3, 1878. . . ."

Diary of Charles D. Evans . . . Sept. 8 - I baptized Nathanial [POSSIBLY Nathaniel] Ludlow and Martha Ann Narsbitt and confirmed them. I also ordained the former to the office of elder. Both emigrate next ship. I now close for present and set sail on the 14th for Zion. September 14 - Set sail for New York in the steamer Wyoming, making the voyage in 10 days and 5 hours. One male over 70 years old died on board and was consigned to a watery grave. We made the trip across the continent in 7 days arriving on the evening of the 3rd of Oct., making an absence from home on my mission of one year and eleven months. . . . [p.147]

Letter from H. [Henry] W. Naisbitt - September 24, 1878 S. S. Wyoming, Sept. 24, 1878.

President William Budge.

Dear Brother,--As we are now reaching the borders of Zion, I feel it a pleasure to drop you a line, by way of reporting progress, regretting only that in my hurry I forgot paper, and that ink is a very rare thing among the [p.653] Saints; and I am using my bunk for a writing place. To be sure the sea is smooth, scarce a ripple breaks its surface, and Long Island reaches away in the distance, prophesying the harbor not far off. But we have had stormy times; head winds and much rain, early on the way. It caught us just out of port, and continued until the Saints were exhausted, and many thought, "There's no place like home." However, now there are light hearts and pleasant voices, and the prospect of release is inspiring everyone.

A sister fell down the hatch and broke a rib, but she is laughing and will not need to be left behind. This morning an aged Danish brother died from debility; and, with our own service, we committed him to the deep. Some thought we should have taken him to New York, but the great cemetery around us is more sacred than those round Gotham, and when the sea gives up its dead, our faithful brother will be there.

In a moral sense we have been healthy; one "lewd fellow of the baser sort," made suggestions to a sister which made me declare myself in our first public meeting, and since then it has been understood that we have no compromise with "either knave or fool."

I hear of some of the Welsh Saints who have not a sixpence with which to purchase provisions on the way from here to Utah. They are going out by the Fund. [PERPETUAL EMIGRATION FUND]

The officers have given us good attention, but I have been on hand for inspection every time, and have really run early and late seeing to the Saints.

Your blessing has been upon us, and God has been with us by his spirit. We have after all, had a good time; that is, a time of peace. And I hope this spirit may continue, not only in the trip, but after we reach our home in the mountains. It is now near six. We shall anchor about midnight; and bright and early we hope to have everything packed ready for a move.

When you receive this we shall be enjoying home and friends; and you, along with Brothers Nibley and Nicholson, will be prosecuting the labors of your mission.

I shall think of you "many a time and oft," and wonder how the office is getting along, how the mission is doing, and how the STAR [MILLENNIAL STAR] is going on, for I loved its appearance, and always longed to freight it with precious and interesting things for the Saints. We have not a case of sickness aboard at present.

May God bless you in your labors, endow you with wisdom continually, and so lead all like faithful men to "that rest which remaineth for the people of God."