which he constantly read. We conversed together about three hours in this solitary abode & our
souls were made glad. He informed me of many things that had transpired while he was there in
gaol [jail] & among the variety he made mention of the goal taking fire a few days previous to my visiting
him, he said this looked sumthing like a dark hour the fire was roaring over his head while a scene of
uproar confusion & distress was upon every hand engines were rapidly playing around the building water
pouring into every room the people hallowing in the streets the prisoners crying for mercy to thbe streets let out
lest they be consumed in the fire one of the number was strugling in the agonies of death while others were
cursing & swearing &c. Br Rockwood said he felt composed through the confused scenery untill the fire was extin-
guished & silence once more was known in the gaol. Elder Rockwood was writing his life while in this state of
confinement he sent a roll of the same by me to his wife in Holliston, at half past 8 oclock P.M. the Jailor
came & unlocked the prison doors & I took the parting hand with this worthy Brother while he manifested
much Joy for my visit. Well whose soul would not be cheered to have a friend visit them while cast into
prison. I left him in good spirits & bent my way back again to the city of Boston while crossing the
long bridge on my return I herd the cry of fire, the ringing of Bells, the ratling of the engines, I soon beheld
the flames begin to illuminate the city it was however extinguished in half an hour by the flood of water
that was poured in upon the fire from the engines. I then crossed into the city & being alone & a stranger
& in the darkness of the night I lost my way in the midst of the city, but after wandering a wile I called
into Myrtle street No 9 & I there found Elder Ball with a company of Saints in a room occupied by Sister Vose all were patiently waiting for me, it was a happy meeting. Notwithstanding it was late in the evening
I spent a season in teaching them the things of God I then left these sisters who are patient in tribulation & wal-
ked with Elder Ball into Butoph street No 12 whare Elder Ball resides with his Mother we here spent
the night which ended this day of variety [FIGURES] Distance of the day 25 miles
which he constantly read. We conversed together about three hours in this solitary abode & our
souls were made glad. He informed me of many things that had transpired while he was there in
gaol & among the variety he made mention of the goal taking fire a few days previous to my visiting
him, he said this looked sumthing like a dark hour the fire was roaring over his head while a scene of
uproar confusion & distress was upon every hand engines were rapidly playing around the building—water
pouring into every room the people hallowing in the streets the prisoners crying for mercy to be let out
lest they be consumed in the fire one of the number was strugling in the agonies of death while others were
cursing & swearing &c Br Rockwood said he felt composed through the confused scenery untill the fire was extinguished & silence once more was known in the gaol. Elder Rockwood was writing his life while in this state of
confinement he sent a roll of the same by me to his wife in Holliston, at half past 8 oclock P.M. the Jailor
came & unlocked the prison doors & I took the parting hand with this worthy Brother while he manifested
much Joy for my visit. Well whose soul would not be cheered to have a friend visit them while cast into
prison. I left him in good spirits & bent my way back again to the city of Boston while crossing the
long bridge on my return I herd the cry of fire, the ringing of Bells, the ratling of the engines, I soon beheld
the flames begin to illuminate the city it was however extinguished in half an hour by the flood of water
that was poured in upon the fire from the engines. I then crossed into the city & being alone & a stranger
& in the darkness of the night I lost my way in the midst of the city, but after wandering a wile I called
into Myrtle street No 9 & I there found Elder Ball with a company of saints in a room occupied by Sister
Vose all were patiently waiting for me, it was a happy meeting. Notwithstanding it was late in the evening
I spent a season in teaching them the things of God I then left these sisters who are patient in tribulation & walked with Elder Ball into Butoph street No 12 whare Elder Ball resides with his Mother we here spent
the night which ended this day of variety FIGURES Distance of the day 25 miles
"Journal (January 1, 1838 – December 31, 1839)," May 11, 1838, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed September 1, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/895