N. V. Schofield's Report of Divine Preservation During S.S. Wisconsin Mechanical Failure
Published October 6, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
During the voyage of the S.S. Wisconsin, a main pipe was broken due to an accident involving a stoker, causing the vessel to stop for 12-13 hours and continue at half speed. A singular event occurred where a dead calm prevailed specifically during the time the vessel was disabled, even though the sea had been and was again extremely rough and heavy, which the passengers interpreted as a blessing during their time of distress.
Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):
A singular feature in connection with this accident was, that during the time the vessel was disabled a dead calm prevailed, although immediately before and after we experienced extreme rough and heavy seas. The passengers were not slow to recognize the hand of the Lord in this, and felt that it was a special providence in their behalf, as had the sea been rough, the vessel, being unmanageable, would have been in great danger.
In Their Own Words
“A singular feature in connection with this accident was, that during the time the vessel was disabled a dead calm prevailed, although immediately before and after we experienced extreme rough and heavy seas. — Millennial Star 50:38”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 17 September 1888 (Vol. 50, No. 38). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1888-09-17_50_38 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Fuller account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 50, No. 38, September 17, 1888, p. 603 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1888-09-17_50_38
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