Sister Aveson's Concussion and Recovery on the S. S. Wyoming
Published October 5, 2026 at 5:35 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
During a severe storm on the S.S. Wyoming, Sister Aveson fell down a hatchway and struck her forehead. This caused a concussion leading to congestion of the brain, causing her to lose her mind and rave. The ship's doctor initially feared she would have to be left behind in New York, but she recovered sufficiently to continue her journey to the West.
Fuller account of this event (the complete account as preserved in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 42, No. 19, 10 May 1880, p. 299):
Sister Aveson, who fell down the hatchway and struck her forehead, causing concussion and congestion of the brain, and who had been for some time in a state of mental derangement, was, through the administration of Elders Jas. L. Bunting, John L. Blythe, Isaac Smith and Geo. L. McKinnon, so far restored as to be able to continue her journey to the West, whereas the ship's doctor had previously stated that she would have to be left in New York.
In Their Own Words
“During the storm Sister Aveson was going up the hatchway and fell to the bottom, striking her forehead, which resulted in congestion of the brain. She was out of her mind and raved considerably. The doctor thought it was serious and said she would have to be left at New York. But she recovered and we hope to continue her journey with the Saints to the far west. — Millennial Star 42:19”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 10 May 1880 (Vol. 42, No. 19). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1880-05-10_42_19 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Complete account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 42, No. 19, 10 May 1880, p. 299 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1880-05-10_42_19
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