Story I didn't know about...

Pioneers in wagons and handcarts were not the only Latter-day Saints who made the difficult journey to Zion. Australian Saints aboard the Julia Ann faced their own unique test of faith when they were shipwrecked--an experience of tragedy and testimony that the survivors would never forget nor regret.

At the time of departure, there were a total of 56 aboard the Juli Ann, half of whom were Latter-day Saints, including three Mormon crew-members. As the Saints left the Sydney docks, they were singing "The Gallant Ship Is Under Weigh," a hymn written by the famous LDS poet and hymn writer W.W. Phelps.
Captain Benjamin F. Pond--"The first two weeks at sea were altogether exceedingly unpleasant; head winds, accompanied with much rain.  We however entered the south-east trades, and everything again brightened, promising a speedy and pleasant voyage."
Indeed, the voyage began pleasantly enough, but on October 4th, nearly a month into their travels, the ship began picking up speed while passing between Mopea and the Scilly Isles.

DISASTER STRIKES

Accounts were given by 2 Latter-day Saint passengers, John McCarthy and Andrew Anderson.  Andrew Anderson was a missionary in Australia in the early 1840's.  

About half-past eight o'clock the Julia Ann struck on a reef.  Word came out from someone for the passengers to go to the cabin, and by the time I got the four children out of bed, the water was knocking about the boxes.  I got mu leg very much bruised with a large box, with difficulty we gained the cabin, and about ten minutes after we left, house, gally, and box were all overboard, preparations were made to go on the rocks to ascertain whether we could get any footing, as there was no land in sight, the ship was breaking up fast.

Some of the passengers drowned, but some made it to the reef.  They were stranded on that reef for several days until the captain made a makeshift boat to sail to a near-by island.  (More than 8 miles away)

They survived on Turtle eggs and coconuts.

After being on that island for almost two months the weather suddenly changed its course and blew toward Samoa, which the captain recognized as "Divine Providence."  They carried the makeshift boat across land about 200 years and launched it with a crew of 10 brave men who would need to row continuously for several days, both day and night.

With very few provisions, (some salted pork and a little turtle, along with two casks of water) they set out.

John McCarthy claimed to have had two dreams, which ultimately led to the rescuce.  One of his dreams made know that if the 10-man crew voyaged to Samoa, they would drown, but the other revealed that if they rowed toward the Society Islands (Bora Bora), they would be saved. 

In late November, the crew was so exhausted they did not have the strength to walk after natives helped them from their makeshift boat.  

On December 3, the remaining castaways on Scully Island were saved.

This is quite a story!!  

There is a book--"Divine Providence" with the whole story of accounts of the survivors.

These pioneers wanted something better.  They wanted to live where they could worship without persecutions.  They wanted to come to Zion.

We are so BLESSED!! 

AMAZING STORY!!  Who knew?