Mission to the Sandwich Islands.--Elders called home.--Walter M.
Gibson.--Goes to the Sandwich Islands.--His perfidy.--Lorenzo,
with other Elders, sent to investigate.--Take Stage.--Arrive at a
mining town.--Incident.--New driver.--Favorable impressions.--Sings
melodiously.--Swears blasphemously.--Drives furiously.--Perilous
predicament.--Other perils.--Arrive at San Francisco.--At Brother
Eveleth's.--Take steamer.--Arrive near the landing at Lahaina.--Boat
upset.--Lorenzo and the Captain drowned.--Both restored to
life.--Rejoicing and thanksgiving.
In 1857, when the United States army was on the march towards Utah,
the Latter-day Saint Elders abroad on missions were called home, and
the mission on the Sandwich Islands was, for about two years, left in
charge of a native Elder.
During this time, Walter M. Gibson, a man of deep scheming policy,
came to Utah--professed to adopt the faith of the Latter-day Saints,
was baptized, took a short mission to the Eastern States, and when he
returned started immediately for the Sandwich Islands, and there palmed
himself on the unsuspecting natives as a superior personage, authorized
by and superior to President Brigham Young, and claimed the presidency
over all the Pacific isles.
He re-organized the Church in accordance with his own schemes, ordained
twelve Apostles, and charged them one hundred and fifty dollars each
for the office conferred, and High Priests and Elders in proportion.
With means thus obtained he purchased one-half of the island of Lanai,
where he gathered the Saints and all for his own aggrandizement.
Fearing they might be deceived, some eight of the Elders wrote to
brethren in Utah who had labored many years among them. They stated
some of the facts concerning Mr. Gibson's course, and asked advice.
This communication was translated and submitted to President Young. The
First Presidency decided that Apostles Ezra T. Benson and Lorenzo Snow
should visit the islands, and that Elders Joseph F. Smith, Alma Smith
and William W. Cluff should accompany them.
From Lorenzo's journal: "We took stage at Salt Lake City, about the
1st of March, 1864, for San Francisco, California. Some interesting
incidents occurred during our overland trip to California, that seemed
to us at the time rather interesting or, at least, a little exciting.
It is true, so far as the tremendous jolting was concerned, we had
decidedly the advantage of Horace Greeley in his ludicrous lone
stage-ride over the same road, inasmuch as five of us could maintain a
better balance than a lone man. At any rate, on the roughest portions
of the route, we partially succeeded in keeping our heads clear from
the top of the stage, which, as per report, he failed in doing.
On arriving at a small mining town one Sunday morning about sunrise,
our stage-man drove to the post office to exchange mail bags; just then
a negro rushed out of a saloon directly in front of our horses, and
had barely crossed the street, when a white-man in his shirt-sleeves
hurried out of the door from whence the negro came, with revolver in
hand, and fired several shots in the direction in which the negro was
running. We saw him fall, and as his antagonist absconded, curiosity
prompted us to follow and ascertain the condition of his victim. He lay
upon the ground groaning and writhing in agony. He pointed to places
on his body where the bullets struck him, but just then the stage was
ready to start, and we left the unfortunate fellow to his fate.
At another time, having stopped to exchange horses just as night
was setting in, one of our company remarked that our new driver had
quite the air and appearance of an intelligent gentleman, and we
soon discovered that he possessed a wonderful musical talent, in the
exercise of which he elicited our surprise and admiration. It really
seemed to me that a sweeter, a more pathetic or melodious voice I had
never heard. It is quite possible that the stillness of night and the
wild scenery of nature around us had a tendency to enhance the effect
and increase our appreciation of melodious accents; whatever it might
be, I was charmed, delighted, and felt that I could embrace that man
and call him brother.
Whether the causes of these variations exist originally in their
organizations, or are the result of a life training, may be a subject
for philosophical discussion, but facts definitely prove that some
people are made up of opposite elements, the proof of which one may
visibly notice by waiting and observing, as in the case now instanced.
A sudden lurch of the coach, which was occasioned by a miss-step
or awkward movement of the horses, wrought a sudden, marvelous
change in our entertainer, and instantaneously closed our animating
entertainment, while a volley of oaths and the most horrid blasphemies
succeeded. As he poured forth his disgusting and heart-sickening
profanity, he most furiously lashed the innocent horses.
At this time we were just commencing the descent of a mountain some
miles in length; it was quite dark, the road rough and rocky, and it
may be readily imagined that our prospects were not the most inviting.
Our coach swayed fearfully--the wheels ever and anon striking fire as
they whirled over the rocks, with a double span of horses upon a keen
run, tossing us up and down, giving us a few hard strokes of the head
against the cover of the coach.
At length Elder Benson, in a tremulous yet powerful voice, demanded
of the driver to moderate his speed, which was responded to by an
increased and more furious lashing of the foaming, panting steeds;
thus, and more, with a drunken coachman (as we afterwards learned),
we tore along down the mountain, every moment in jeopardy of being
dashed to pieces. When at last reaching a station, we were happily
relieved from this perilous adventure. On our return we learned that
the inebriate had been discharged.
But one peril over, another comes. The most exciting and dangerous
portion of our overland route is yet before us, which we encountered
in passing over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Many portions of the
road were covered with snow and ice, and ran a long way close beside
fearful ravines, hundreds of feet in depth. One sitting in the coach,
by inclining the head a little one side, could gaze down into the vast
depths below, conscious that the wheels of the vehicle were often
within a few inches of the terrible gulf; consequently, the slipping
of the wheels, the least blunder of a horse, or a strap or buckle
giving way, or the least carelessness of the driver, would plunge the
whole outfit over the rocky crags into the abyss below. The danger
was increased by the ice and snow, and the sudden, abrupt turns in
the road. When we approached very slippery places, where the road
frequently was barely of a sufficient width for the coach to pass
between the high sharp rocks on one side and the frightful chasm on the
other, the driver, in guarding against catastrophes, would put his two
spans on their utmost speed.
Hour after hour, as we thus moved on, particular points in the road
were pointed out to us, where coaches had whirled down precipices,
and every occupant had been killed. These nerve-stirring recitals
caused us more seriously to realize the gravity of our situation and
our dependence on God for the preservation of our lives; and we truly
felt grateful for our deliverance, and breathing more freely, felt our
pulses restored to their normal state as we dismounted from the coach
at the western base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
On our arrival in San Francisco we were kindly entertained by Elder
Eveleth, whose hospitable house was our home during our short stay,
while making arrangements for our passage by steamer for the point of
our destination. Brother Eveleth's kindness and hospitality to the
latter day missionaries traveling to and from Salt Lake is proverbial;
and although called to a higher and broader sphere, he lives in the
grateful, affectionate remembrance of those who knew him.
The following is from the narrative of Elder W. W. Cluff: We arrived at
Honolulu, the capital of the islands, about the 27th of March, 1864. On
the 29th we sailed for Lahaina, on the schooner Nettie Merrill, Captain
Fisher, for the island of Maui, a distance of about ninety miles from
Honolulu. On the morning of the 31st of March, we came to anchor about
one mile from the mouth of the little harbor of Lahaina.
Apostles Ezra T. Benson, Lorenzo Snow, Brother Alma L. Smith, and
myself, got into the small boat to go on shore Brother Joseph F. Smith,
as he afterwards stated, had some misgivings about going in that boat,
but the manifestation was not sufficiently strong to indicate any
general accident. He preferred to remain on board the vessel until
the boat returned. The boat started for the shore. It contained some
barrels and boxes, the captain, a white man, two or three native
passengers, and the boat's crew, who were also natives.
The entrance to the harbor is a very narrow passage between coral
reefs, and when the sea is rough, it is very dangerous, on account of
the breakers. Where the vessel lay, the sea was not rough, but only
presented the appearance of heavy swells rolling to the shore.
As we approached the reef it was evident to me that the surf was
running higher than we anticipated. I called the captain's attention to
the fact. We were running quartering across the waves, and I suggested
that we change our course so as to run at right angles with them. He
replied that he did not think there was any danger, and our course was
not changed. We went but little farther, when a heavy swell struck the
boat and carried us before it about fifty yards. When the swell passed
it left us in a trough between two huge waves. It was too late to
retrieve our error, and we must run our chances. When the second swell
struck the boat, it raised the stern so high that the steersman's oar
was out of the water, and he lost control of the boat. It rode on the
swell a short distance and swung around just as the wave began to break
up. We were almost instantly capsized into the dashing, foaming sea.
I felt no concern for myself about drowning, for while on my former
mission I had learned to swim and sport in the surf of those shores.
The last I remember of Brother Snow, as the boat was going over, I saw
him seize the upper edge of it with both hands. Fearing that the upper
edge of the boat, or the barrels, might hit and injure me as the boat
was going over, I plunged head foremost into the water. After swimming
a short distance, I came to the surface without being strangled or
injured.
The boat was bottom upwards, and barrels, hats and umbrellas were
floating in every direction. I swam to the boat and as there was
nothing to cling to on the bottom, I reached under and seized the edge
of it.
About the same time Brother Benson came up near me and readily got hold
of the boat. Brother Alma L. Smith came up on the opposite side of the
boat from Brother Benson and myself. He was considerably strangled, but
succeeded in securing a hold on the boat.
A short time afterwards the captain was discovered, about fifty yards
from us. Two sailors, one on each side, succeeded in keeping him on the
surface, although life was apparently extinct.
Nothing yet had been seen of Brother Snow, although the natives had
been swimming and diving in every direction in search of him. We were
only about one-fourth of a mile from shore. The people, as soon as
they discovered our circumstances, manned a life boat and hurried to
the rescue. We were taken into the boat, when the crew wanted to row
for the shore, and pick up the captain by the way. We told them that
one of our friends was yet missing, and we did not want to leave. We
discovered that a second boat had left the shore and could reach the
captain as soon as the one we were in. Seeing this, the crew of our
boat consented to remain and assist us.
The captain was taken ashore, and by working over him sometime was
brought to life. Probably his life would not have been much endangered
but for a sack of four or five hundred silver dollars which he held
in his hand, the weight of which took him at once to the bottom. The
natives dove and brought him up, still clinging to the sack. When his
vitality was restored, the first thing he inquired about was the money;
intimating to the natives, with peculiar emphasis, that it would not
have been healthy for them to have lost it.
Brother Snow had not yet been discovered, and the anxiety was intense.
The natives were, evidently, doing all in their power.
Finally, one of them, in edging himself around the capsized boat, must
have felt Brother Snow with his feet and pulled him, at least, partly
from under it, as the first I saw of Brother Snow was his hair floating
upon the water around one end of the capsized boat. As soon as we got
him into our boat, we told the boatmen to pull for the shore with all
possible speed. His body was stiff, and life apparently extinct.
Brother A. L. Smith and I were sitting side by side. We laid Brother
Snow across our laps, and, on the way to shore, we quietly administered
to him and asked the Lord to spare his life, that he might return to
his family and home.
On reaching the shore, we carried him a little way to some large empty
barrels that were lying on the sandy beach. We laid him face downwards
on one of them, and rolled him back and forth until we succeeded in
getting the water he had swallowed out of him.
During this time a number of persons came down from the town; among
them was Mr. E. P. Adams, a merchant. All were willing to do what they
could. We washed Brother Snow's face with camphor, furnished by Mr.
Adams. We did not only what was customary in such cases, but also what
the Spirit seemed to whisper to us.
After working over him for some time, without any indications of
returning life, the by-standers said that nothing more could be done
for him. But we did not feel like giving him up, and still prayed and
worked over him, with an assurance that the Lord would hear and answer
our prayers.
Finally we were impressed to place our mouth over his and make an
effort to inflate his lungs, alternately blowing in and drawing
out the air, imitating, as far as possible, the natural process of
breathing. This we persevered in until we succeeded in inflating his
lungs. After a little, we perceived very faint indications of returning
life. A slight wink of the eye, which, until then, had been open and
death-like, and a very faint rattle in the throat, were the first
symptoms of returning vitality. These grew more and more distinct,
until consciousness was fully restored.
When this result was reached, it must have been fully one hour after
the upsetting of the boat. A Portuguese man, living in Lahaina, who,
from the first, rendered us much assistance, invited us to take Brother
Snow to his house. There being no Saints in the place, we gladly
accepted his kind offer. Every possible attention was given for Brother
Snow's comfort.
We will here append my brother's account of the upsetting of the boat,
and what he can recollect of the sensations of a man drowning and
afterwards coming to life.
As we were moving along, probably more than a quarter of a mile from
where we expected to land, my attention was suddenly arrested by
Captain Fisher calling to the oarsmen in a voice which denoted some
alarm, "Hurry up, hurry up!" I immediately discovered the cause of
alarm. A short distance behind us, I saw an immense surf, thirty or
forty feet high, rushing towards us swifter than a race horse. We had
scarcely a moment for reflection before the huge mass was upon us. In
an instant our boat, with its contents, as though it were a feather,
was hurled into a gulf of briny waters, and all was under this rolling,
seething mountain wave. It took me by surprise. I think, however,
that I comprehended the situation--in the midst of turbulent waves--a
quarter of a mile from the shore, without much probability of human aid.
I felt confident, however, there would be some way of escape; that the
Lord would provide the means, for it was not possible that my life and
mission were thus to terminate. This reliance on the Lord banished
fear, and inspired me up to the last moment of consciousness. In such
extreme cases of excitement, we seem to live hours in a minute, and a
volume of thoughts crowd themselves into one single moment. It was so
with me in that perilous scene.
Having been somewhat subject to faint, I think that after a few moments
in the water I must have fainted, as I did not suffer the pain common
in the experience of drowning persons. I had been in the water only a
few moments, until I lost consciousness. The first I knew afterwards, I
was on shore, receiving the kind and tender attentions of my brethren.
The first recollection I have of returning consciousness, was that of a
very small light--the smallest imaginable. This soon disappeared, and I
was again in total darkness. Again it appeared much larger than before,
then sank away and left me, as before, in forgetfulness. Thus it
continued to come and go, until, finally, I recognized, as I thought,
persons whispering, and soon after, I asked in a feeble whisper, "What
is the matter?" I immediately recognized the voice of Elder Cluff,
as he replied, "You have been drowned; the boat upset in the surf."
Quick as lightning the scene of our disaster flashed upon my mind. I
immediately asked, "Are you brethren all safe?" The emotion that was
awakened in my bosom by the answer of Elder Cluff, will remain with me
as long as life continues: "Brother Snow, we are all safe." I rapidly
recovered, and very soon was able to walk and accompany the brethren to
our lodgings. Brother Cluff resumes the narrative:
As soon as Brother Snow was out of danger, it occurred to me that I
had better return to the vessel. As I reached the deck by the rope
ladder over its side, I saw at a glance that Brother Smith was under
great anxiety of mind. We were both under an intensity of feeling which
men usually experience only a few times in their lives. Brother Smith
had been informed by a native that the captain and an elderly white
man were drowned. The latter he supposed to be Brother Benson, hence
his great anxiety. My own nervous system was strung up to an extreme
tension by the events of the past two hours. When I told Brother Smith
that all were safe, the sudden revulsion of feeling almost overcame
him. We rejoiced together that through a merciful Providence, and the
faith that had been bestowed upon us, we were all alive.