I was called from a sound sleep by my mother saying, "Get up quick
Elizabeth, here is the vessel at anchor just in front of our house." I
was up in a minute and ran out to see. Yes, there was the little vessel
resting so quietly on the water. Father and John were carrying goods to
the shore, the captain and another man were loading the yawl, mother and
I carried what we could. Our pets had all been put on board, our
clothing and most of our bedding was loaded. Mother and I had gone to
the vessel. All was loaded except a few boxes and two large trunks.
When father and John started to go back to the shore after them several
men were standing beside the goods and each had a gun in his hands. This
was enough. Father knew the rest of our goods must be left. Our sails
were quickly hoisted, the anchor pulled up and soon we were sailing
toward Charlevoix, where we knew our friends were waiting for us. The
sun was just coming up in the east, and as we looked back we could see
the door of our house stood open as our doors had always been to
strangers or any who needed help. None had ever gone away cold or
hungry. And some of the people who now stood on the shore with guns
pointed toward us had been fed and cared for by my people.
With a fresh breeze and a fair wind our little vessel was nearing
Charlevoix, the land that seemed to promise us safety. Surely there we
could live in peace. As we neared the river we could see our friends
waiting for us on the shore. We came to anchor on the north side of the
river, the wind making a big sea at the river's mouth. I remember how
happy we all felt that night to be with friends and no Mormons to be
afraid of. Mr. Alva Cable had built a large house and shop on the south
side of the river on the bank, very close to the water. The lumber he
had bought at Traverse City. Captain Morrison had built his house also
on the south side just close to the river bank. Several houses were made
on the north side of the river. There were twenty-five families of
Gentiles, and two Mormon families had stolen away with the fishermen,
claiming their protection, which was freely promised them. One was a
Mormon elder and his family, the other a young man living with his
widowed mother.