20th I took passage at 11 oclok to day in a thing they call a stage to ride n^i^ght
& day 100 miles to through the forest. I will describe the stage
one pairs of Horses was put onto the tongue of an open lumber Waggon
with two seats in it the 1st seat was occupied by the drivers & Mr
Frazier with their feet on the Mail Bag. I occupied the 2nd seat above
making a driver & two passengers the Bottom of the Box ran out behind
the waggon 4 feet upon which stood a large Heavy chest. next was
another waggon with the long run under the first waggon & fastened
to it with ropes the se[c]ond waggon was loaded with wood
& trunks And with this train of two waggons & lumber hitched behind two Horses we
started to travel all day & all night through a forest country vary Hilly for 100 miles
And when I herd the driver tell about getting through in 24 Hours I thought
it would be more likely to take a week for I did not see how He was going to go out
of a walk with such a train of cars behind him But I was soon undecieved & my eyes
were opened for it was very Hilly & long Hills in many places & as soon as He came
to the top of a steep Hill, His Horses could not Hold the two waggons if they fell
ever so much disposed to so of course the ownly way was to run fast enough to keep out
of the way of the waggons so by the time I had rode down a few long Hills with the
Horses upon A keen run which speed they would not break untill they reach halfway
to the top of the next Hill. I began to think to we should soon get through our journey
but I thought it much more likely to end at the bottom of some tremendious
precipice or off a bridge in some brook which were vary freequant on the road, th[wax seal]
to End in Miramichi & that to before the light of anoth day. And in this way [wax seal]
we went dashing down Hills, through gullies, & over bridges Je Ho Jeho like unt^i^lll midnight
21st l oclok in the Morning changed Horses, took tea, got in waggon. A fresh pair of Horses
put into A run, down Hills, with two waggons at their Heels, the driver & his companion
both sound asleep dark night, cannot see the road, Nothing but God or Angels can guide
us. Horses go whare they please, & probably it is better for the driver to be asleep than awake
for they may keep the road. My wife need never to call me an unlucky man if I ever live to
see day light again. would you not like to take a ride with me what an interesting Journey
I am Having. I am telling the truth just as it is we rode all night long in this way to broad
day light & down evry Hill from 10 rods to quarter of a mile long the Horses would go upon
a run & the drivers & Frazier slept for two hours after day light for which I was glad
to see. we came near being dashed to atoms runing down a Hill after day light. I could
not tell so much about the danger in the night but this child did not sleep untill After day light
I then caught myself noding a few times but they were short naps. I Arived At Capt at ll oclock And was glad to leave the stage & find myself alive I called upon Br Russell
And we had A Happy Meeting Br & sister were both glad to se me I felt tierd out with riding
& excitement. I went to bed & slept to Hard
22nd Sunday I arose quite unwell. I find Br Russell
located in most a Delightful situation at the Junction of the two branches of the
River 7 Mills above , upon an Island in the Midde of the river 1 1/4 Mile long half a
mile wide all of which He owns He has got a large ship building yard, in 11 years has built
23 ship that will make an Average of 700 tons each. his buildings & improvemets in the stats [states]
saw nothing about his land would be worth $25,000 & his buildings well furnishand. He lanches
launches his last ship next wiek week He will sell all his property Here in september if He does
not get £50 for it He will make a great of property Here it is one of the most
beatiful locations I ever saw. He is prresiding over a small bra[n]ch of the A chapel in
His own Home I attended meeting with him to day mch with his Teachings faith
& order in the chuch & His Houshold see 4th Page
As ever your
Wilford Woodruff
20th I took passage at 11 oclok to day in a thing they call a stage to ride night
& day 100 miles to through the forest. I will describe the stage
one pairs of Horses was put onto the tongue of an open lumber Waggon
with two seats in it the 1st seat was occupied by the drivers & Mr
Frazier with their feet on the Mail Bag. I occupied the 2nd seat above
making a driver & two passengers the Bottom of the Box ran out behind
the waggon 4 feet upon which stood a large Heavy chest. next was
another waggon with the long run under the first waggon & fastened
to it with ropes the second waggon was loaded with wood
& trunks And with this train of two waggons & lumber hitched behind two Horses we
started to travel all day & all night through a forest country vary Hilly for 100 miles
And when I herd the driver tell about getting through in 24 Hours I thought
it would be more likely to take a week for I did not see how He was going to go out
of a walk with such a train of cars behind him But I was soon undecieved & my eyes
were opened for it was very Hilly & long Hills in many places & as soon as He came
to the top of a steep Hill, His Horses could not Hold the two waggons if they fell
ever so much disposed to so of course the ownly way was to run fast enough to keep out
of the way of the waggons so by the time I had rode down a few long Hills with the
Horses upon A keen run which speed they would not break untill they reach halfway
to the top of the next Hill. I began to think to we should soon get through our journey
but I thought it much more likely to end at the bottom of some tremendious
precipice or off a bridge in some brook which were vary freequant on the road, thwax seal
to End in Miramichi & that to before the light of anoth day. And in this way wax seal
we went dashing down Hills, through gullies, & over bridges He ho like untilll midnight
21st l oclok in the Morning changed Horses, took tea, got in waggon. A fresh pair of Horses
put into A run, down Hills, with two waggons at their Heels, the driver & his companion
both sound asleep dark night, cannot see the road, Nothing but God or Angels can guide
us. Horses go whare they please, & probably it is better for the driver to be asleep than awake
for they may keep the road. My wife need never to call me an unlucky man if I ever live to
see day light again. Phebe would you not like to take a ride with me what an interesting Journey
I am Having. I am telling the truth just as it is we rode all night long in this way to broad
day light & down evry Hill from 10 rods to quarter of a mile long the Horses would go upon
a run & the drivers & Frazier slept for two hours after day light for which I was glad
to see. we came near being dashed to atoms runing down a Hill after day light. I could
not tell so much about the danger in the night but this child did not sleep untill After day light
I then caught myself noding a few times but they were short naps. I Arived At Capt at ll oclock And was glad to leave the stage & find myself alive I called upon Br Russell
And we had A Happy Meeting Br & sister Russell were both glad to se me I felt tierd out with riding
& excitement. I went to bed & slept to Hard
22nd Sunday I arose quite unwell. I find Br Russell
located in most a Delightful situation at the Junction of the two branches of the
River 7 Mills above , upon an Island in the Midde of the river 1 1/4 Mile long half a
mile wide all of which He owns He has got a large ship building yard, in 11 years has built
23 ship that will make an Average of 700 tons each. his buildings & improvemets in the states
saw nothing about his land would be worth $25,000 & his buildings well furnishand. He
launches his last ship next week He will sell all his property Here in september if He does
not get £50 for it He will make a great sacrafice of property Here it is one of the most
beatiful locations I ever saw. He is prresiding over a small branch of the Chuch A chapel in
His own Home I attended meeting with him to day mch Edifyed with his Teachings faith
& order in the chuch & His Houshold see 4th Page
As ever your
Wilford Woodruff
