Miraculous preservation of James Wilson and Anna during a severe sea storm

“On the 16th, the storm having assumed its greatest proportions, we had four life-boats rendered useless, and some of them shattered to pieces. Some of those strong iron jostings were snapped as though they were made of cotton yarn. The ship sometimes would take lurches, and pitch on end as though she was going to dive to the bottom of the sea, yet she braved the storm; at other times she lay on her broadside until her life boats were submerged, but still she came back to her position. The angry waves swept our decks day and night until the 20th, when the storm commenced to lull. During one night the ship gave a great pitch fore and then aft, and at the same instant a great wave struck her cabin deck, staving in her ports, and almost filling her cabin with water. The violence of this shock forced the lid off a large box of crockery, and threw them out on the floor, breaking everything to pieces. The captain said that in all his seafaring life he never encountered such a storm and head winds without intermission. The Wisconsin is undoubtedly a fine ocean steamer, as good, I do believe, as ever sailed the deep. As for my part, no doubt of our safety ever crossed my mind. I felt that the Lord was at the helm, and that we should reach our destination in safety. We arrived at New York on the 24th, at 4 o'clock p.m., having been 14 days and 4 hours on the voyage, and I can truly say that I never enjoyed a voyage better in my life, notwithstanding the storm.”

— James Wilson, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star