1885-01-15,From,SnowErastus,MexicoGuaymasSonora,To,SnowErastusWhite,UtahProvo

[Copy of original letter published in Erastus Snow book by Andrew Karl Larsen, p 760-761]


Guymas Sonora [Guymas, Sonora, Mexico] Jan 15th 1885 [Thursday 15 Jan 1885]


E.W. Snow [Erastus White Snow, b. 1849] Provo [Provo, Utah]


As you will perceive from date hereof and reference to the maps, we are at Tide water on the Guymas Bay, on the Sonora side of the Gulf of California [Guymas, Sonora, Mexico]. This is 353 miles by the Sonora Rail Road [Railroad] southwest of Benson [Benson, Arizona] on the Southern Pacific [Southern Pacific Railroad]. And, the way our car has traveld [traveled], about Twenty five hundred [2500 miles] from Salt Lake city [Salt Lake City, Utah]. Bishop Sharp says his little car has never before wanderd [wandered] so far from home. Our Party numbers 13 all told but a few stoped [stopped] off this morning at Magdelene [Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico] to reconnoiter the country and rejoin us on our return tomorrow. This is a town of about 3,000 inhabitants and is the principle seaport of the State [of Sonora, Mexico]. A steamer plies between here and San Francisco [San Francisco, California]. This is a hilly and rockbound shore and with the Broad Guymian Bay [Guymas Bay, Mexico] and its numerous alcoves and inlets it presents a picturesque and very romantic Scene. A few miles before reaching town we crossed the arm of the Bay [Guymas Bay, Mexico] on a pile Bridge about one and a half mile long and scoured along the Northern shore of the Bay to the town or the western limb, whence by ascending the summit of a Promontory west of town you have a view of the main Gulf and Peninsula of Lower California. It is said this town is largely supplied or has been before the advent of the Rail Road [railroad] with vegitables [vegatables] and fruits by the Yaque Indians across the Bay to the South East, the most powerfull [powerful] and industrious tribe of Northern Mexico the same visited recently by Elders B. Young [Brigham Young Jr., b. 1836] and Party.


This is a very mild climate entirely free from frost. Recent December rains have coverd [covered] this ordinarily desert land with a mantle of green. Our train stoped [stopped] fifty minutes [50 minutes] today noon at Hermosillo [Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico] the State capital and we improved the time to survey the town in carriages, Pay our respects to the Governor and State officials and in visiting gardens etc. We plucked Oringes [oranges] from the trees very large and find and engaged some Boxes to take with us on our return tomorrow. With the exception of a few Oasis where there is a little water for irrigation, the North western part of this state [Sonora, Mexico] is little else than an unmittigated [unmitigated] Desert a plain dotted with low hills and isolated ranges. Charley Borrell, Prest Taylors [President John Taylor] waiter and the cook Brig Randall, have come in and summond [summoned] us to Supper. Well now I must tell you what we have supped on. Fresh Oysters just out of the shell, fresh redishes [radishes] & lettuce, Spanish rools [rolls] of bread [bolillos ?] with Margarine for Butter. Finishing off with crackers, Oringes [oranges] etc. Our car [railroad car] is quite a Hotel of itself though a little crowded when all are in. It has a Kitchen, Bedroom (4 births) closets, washroom, and Parlor which is also used for drawing room and sleeping on lounge and matresses [mattresses], removed during the day.


When we reached St. David [St. David, Arizona] on the 13th [Tuesday 13 Jan 1885] we found Layton, McDonald [A. F. McDonald] and other refugees gone to Chuyua [Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico ?] via El Passo [El Paso, Texas] and the Mexican Central R. R. [ Mexican Central Railroad] We telegraphed them to return and last night received answer at the Custom House [Guymas, Sonora, Mexico], that they would be back at St David [St. David, Arizona] by the time we return there which will be on Saturday the 17th [17 Jan 1885]. You must understand that the Federal raids, upon all our people in every county in Arizona Territory as well as in other Territories causes a desire to travel and seek more healthy climes untill [until] “the clouds rool bye [roll by].” Whether we visit our people on the Ghile [Gila River, Arziona] and Salt river [Salt River, Arizona] or not is yet uncertain and the period of our return via California may vary from the 26th to the 30th inst. [instant Monday 26 Jan 1885 to Friday 26 Jan 1885] Please read this to the folks at Provo [Provo, Utah] and mail it to St. George [St. George, Utah] to [your] Mother [Minerva White Snow, b. 1822] as I may not write them again and if you will write me at the Palace Hotel San Francisco [San Francisco, California] I may possibly hear form home. Yours etc. E. Snow [Erastus Snow, b. 1818].


[Published in Erastus Snow: The Life of a Missionary and Pioneer for the Early Mormon Church, by Andrew Karl Larsen, The University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1971, p 760-761]