through A Hilly rough country to travel day & night I did not
see what way one pair of Horses was going to travel with any speed
with wsuch a train of Lumber behind them but I soon
found out for as soon as we come to the top of A Hill the Horses
could not Hold the waggons And of course they went down
the Hill upon A keen run as fast as there legs could carry them
& continued to run untill they got part of the way up the
next Hill in this way we got along vary fast we changed
Horses evry 20 miles we travelled in this way the whole rout
~ Saturday
21st I find myself this morning siting in the open stage
with the Horses runing down all the Hills at full speed with
the driver snoreing & fast asleep And continued untill
sun was two hours high we came within a foot of running
the waggon off a precepice 30 feet deep which would
have dashed us to peases among the rocks the driver awok
& when He saw the danger He had run he turned pale but
was soon asleep again we continued Journeying in this way
for 100 miles & arived at the ferry of the Beaubaurs Island
whare we arived at 10 oclock whare I left the stage feeling
vary thankful that my bones were whole & my life preserved
I crossed the ferry to the Island walked one mile through
A plesant grove to the House of Elder Joseph Russels I found
Him at home & we had A Happy Greeting indeed. I was thankful
to strike Hands with & to see a latter Day Saint after travelling two
weeks without seeing any Saints I found Sister Russell also a
vary kind sister & Mother After visiting his ship yard & looking
about I went to bed & had a good nights sleep distance from Frederick to Miramichi100 m[iles]
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday I recieved A letter on my arival here from
Br Cannon. I was quite unwell this morning. I found Elder Joseph Russell located upon An Island called Beaubars Island
situated at the Junktion of the two branches of the Miramichi
River 7 miles Above Chatham the Island is 1 1/4 miles in
length half a mile wide Brother Russels has owned the whole
of the Island for eleven years during which time He has
built 23 ships upon it with an averaged tonage of 650
tons each. His location land & improvements at a low rate
would be worth $30,000 dollars besides 3 ships on hand. He
is now calculating to sell on the 5 Nov at some price or other
settle his business & go to the valley & settle with the Saints. the
Island is A vary beuautiful & plesant situation A good location
for ship building in the centre of the river which abounds
with salmon Mackerell Harrau shad & other fish in the
season thereof. Br Russell was also A presiding Elder over
A small branch of the Church of L. D. S on the Island He had
A chapel in his own house I met with him on this Sunday morn
ing I was much edifyed with his teachings & pleased with the order
He had carried out in his meetings & family circle & also in all his
temporal business. I met with them in the Afternoon & spoke to
them from these words surly the Lord God will do nothing but He
revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets [Amos 3:7] I was quite unwell
~ Monday
23rd I rode with Brother & sister Russell to Chatham & called upon
His son George H. Russell He recieved me vary kindly A Preacher
of the congregational church called & opposed Br Russell in his
through A Hilly rough country to travel day & night I did not
see what way one pair of Horses was going to travel with any speed
with such a train of Lumber behind them but I soon
found out for as soon as we come to the top of A Hill the Horses
could not Hold the waggons And of course they went down
the Hill upon A keen run as fast as there legs could carry them
& continued to run untill they got part of the way up the
next Hill in this way we got along vary fast we changed
Horses evry 20 miles we travelled in this way the whole rout
~ Saturday
21st I find myself this morning sitting in the open stage
with the Horses runing down all the Hills at full speed with
the driver snoreing & fast asleep And continued untill
sun was two hours high we came within a foot of running
the waggon off a precepice 30 feet deep which would
have dashed us to peases among the rocks the driver awoke
& when He saw the danger He had run he turned pale but
was soon asleep again we continued Journeying in this way
for 100 miles & arived at the ferry of the Beaubaurs Island
whare we arived at 10 oclock whare I left the stage feeling
vary thankful that my bones were whole & my life preserved
I crossed the ferry to the Island walked one mile through
A plesant grove to the House of Elder Joseph Russels I found
Him at home & we had A Happy Greeting indeed. I was thankful
to strike Hands with & to see a latter Day Saint after travelling two
weeks without seeing any Saints I found Sister Russell also a
vary kind sister & Mother. After visiting his ship yard & looking
about I went to bed & had a good nights sleep distance from
Frederick to Miramichi100 m
~ Sunday
22nd Sunday [FIGURE] I recieved A letter on my arival here from
Br Cannon. I was quite unwell this morning. I found Elder
Joseph Russell located upon An Island called Beaubars Island
situated at the Junktion of the two branches of the Miramichi
River 7 miles Above Chatham the Island is 1 1/4 miles in
length half a mile wide Brother Russels has owned the whole
of the Island for Eleven years during which time He has
built 23 ships upon it with an averaged tonage of 650
tons each. His location land & improvements at a low rate
would be worth $30,000 dollars besides 3 ships on hand. He
is now calculating to sell on the 5 Nov at some price or other
settle his business & go to the valley & settle with the saints, the
Island is A vary beautiful & plesant situation A good location
for ship building in the centre of the river which abounds
with salmon Mackerell Harrau shad & other fish in the
season thereof. Br Russell was also A presiding Elder over
A small branch of the Church of L.D.S on the Island He had
A chapel in his own house I met with him on this sunday morn
ing. I was much edifyed with his teachings & pleased with the order
He had carried out in his meetings & family circle & also in all his
temporal business. I met with them in the Afternoon & spoke to
them from these words surly the Lord God will do nothing but He
revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets I was quite unwell
~ Monday
23rd I rode with Brother & sister Russell to Chatham & called upon
His son George H. Russell He recieved me vary kindly A Preacher
of the congregational church called & opposed Br Russell in his
"Journal (January 1, 1847 – December 31, 1853)," July 20, 1849 - July 23, 1849, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed November 30, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/31v9