The miraculous preservation of the company on the ship Wyoming

On September 15, 1873, the steamship Wyoming, carrying over 500 Latter-day Saint emigrants led by John B. Fairbanks, encountered a crisis near Sable Island. At approximately 6:10 p.m., the captain realized the ship had gone off course and turned south, but shortly after, the vessel struck a sandbank and became firmly lodged, embedded about three feet deep. The situation caused immediate alarm, with the captain ordering the lifeboats prepared, firing six to nine distress shots, and sending up 14 rockets. While the crew worked to signal a lighthouse six miles away—sending the third mate and five men to the shore—the passengers remained calm. Jens C. A. Weibye, a returning missionary, noted that the ship rocked violently at times during the six-hour ordeal. To lighten the vessel, the captain ordered about one-third of the cargo to be cast into the sea. This effort, combined with the arrival of high tide, successfully freed the ship around 12:30 a.m. on September 16. The company then proceeded to the north side of the island, safely continuing their journey to New York and ultimately arriving in Salt Lake City on September 29.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

On the 15th of September, at 4 p.m., the weather cleared, and we could see Sable Island, about six miles distant. The ship was then steered more to the south, and we sailed along very well until half-past 6 p.m., when we struck on a sandbank. The captain immediately ordered the life-boats to be prepared, and fired from six to nine cannon shots, and sent up fourteen rockets as signals of distress. He also sent the third mate and five men in a boat to the lighthouse on the island. The weather was fine, but the ship rocked very violently at times, and we were embedded about three feet in the sand. The captain ordered about one-third of the cargo to be thrown overboard to lighten the vessel. This continued for six hours, until half-past 12 midnight, when, by the help of the high tide, the ship floated off again. We all felt to rejoice and praise the Lord for our deliverance, and held a thanksgiving meeting in the first saloon.