Show DIVINELY PROTECTED the return of elder ira williams of hyrum byrum cache county from a mis sion aioo to great britain where he has haa been for nearly two years recalls an aa exciting experience on hta his outward trip elder williams williama left liverpool on his hie return the of toe the present month onta on the alaska toe ne fastest of the outon company s boats beato once famous as AB the greyhound of the ocean ills HIB outward voyage however on which hiob he be started from new york on the isn of december 1891 was waa be taun oa 00 what was then the slowest of the quion fleet the abyssinia A full account of the chief episode of the voyage was given at the time by the NEWS special ecial correspondent aud it is ib unnecessary now to recite the she details the abyssinia ha ba i been announced to leave new york on day december 12 but was wag delayed one day in taking her cargo her passengers gera numo numbered ered fifty nin nineteen cabin and forty steerage among the former were three missionaries tor for great Brit britain aiu elder ekler juseph H klach arde rde ol of arizona Ari xoua elder josel josepf M err of payson utah an elder willame wila ili lamB ame considerable rough weather was experienced on the voyage but all went vent well until the filth day out frily friday ly december 18 in the forenoon slight alight mishap to the machinery machine y caused a slacking ut speed fur rep felaire fe paire airD between noon anti and 1 p m glie fire was discovered in the cargo and efforts fiorta were at once made to lo extinguish MI it some ol of the passengers learned bearr ed the beabou of df an unusual activity amone abou amou the crew but were reas reassured by the statement that serious need be apprehended at this time there was waa no sign ign of the proximity of any veasel nothing but the broad expanse of angry waves and the black clucas which betuk betokened ened a continuance or in in the severity ot of the weather tuo the flames paid little heed to the efforts tu to extinguish them and it boon become became apparent to the officers ficere of ani the ship was doomed preparation s wart ferb therefore maje made to 10 lagoon the small mall boata w ul i nave beau of no avail in the lury fury ot of the storm which came on lu the night but they iney afforded tle the only hope ol of rel reecie cue tuat was WAB up to tins MIS lime the ibe pats had bati not beun beautt to the extent of their peril yet the lad fact was thai shut within three hours the vese ve se which up to that lime land niven kiven them shalter belter was waa to be a mabs of und and there was not a aiau aigu of relief relied in eight while preparations for lowering the loata were going on aline a line of black smoke amk became discernible some lis lance to the right and in the rear of the abyssinia and soon a large steamship oame came into view when those timae on board the guion liner learned the full danger of their situation it was wag only the prospect of timely aid that hat prevented a panic As AB it ww wap the blanched blan obed faces and evident nervousness told how they were affected signals of distress were put out on the burning vessel and were quickly responded to by the ibe new arrival which proved to be the north german lloyd steamer spree from fram new york december 16 15 for southampton and bremen the german vessel came up to the burning steamer and seeing the condition of af affairs proffered to take all ou on board an offer that was wae gladly accepted and boats were low towered ered irum from bath ships A snowstorm was in progress and the sea was wag running very high making the transfer r difficult and dangerous it was accomplished however without any serious accident and by 4 p m the passengers and crew of the abyssinia gereon were on board the spree the flames gained so rapidly that there was waa no opportunity of saving anything from the fated ship abla but her precious load of human freight tas cue personal luggage of the passengers was leit left on deck elder williams losing even his cot coat by p D m when the abye sinia became alst to the view of gf those on board the spree she was ablaze from stem act stern but sill all on board were saved there had bad been just acne time for that no more even at this distance it causes a shudder to think what would dve been their fato fate if it had bad not been for this special interposition ter position of providence in their behalf all that history could have recorded of their sad end ending would have been that the ship which carried t them hem from port had sailed and had been heard beard ot of no more it if the spree had bad been three hours earlier she would have passed the abyssinia all well weli if she had been three hours later there would not have been a vestige ol of the guion boat on the surface of the ocean fhe divine hand had bad guidel guided tier her in the winds and storms of a three and a half days P voyage from new york so thai she arrived on the so scene ne in the very hour when her pres presence eoe was most needed on the spree the comfort of those who had been saved was amply provided for until on toe night ot of december 22 the entire party was safely landed at southampton the promptness cou courage and uniform courtesy and k kind iud nes nee of captain iii master aster of the german vessel and his bis officers aou anti crew received the highest commendations from those whose gratitude they merited by ccuin rt them front from a watery grave the elders tell felt griat in providing the means of af their heir escape from dinger abe almighty had bad indeed answered the prayers which are offered up by his people fur for the ibe protection of 0 those who tire are called to carry the gospel to the nations af the this occurrence to is one among many noteworthy events that go to make up the history of the eluera elders aud aid members of the church of ot of latter day saints in connection with their travels across the mighty deep the record which covers the entire period of sending out missionaries and gather ing the salute saints to Is remarkable I 1 la its lm im from dis betrous results to those engaged in the work in the extensive journey ings that have been undertaken not even all the dangers of the sea have been allowed to interpose a barrier that closed the way there have been ocoa aiona when every earthly hope seemed gone yet goj goi has never tailed to provide that which was necessary the supplications ions af wives and of children of parents br othera othere sisters relatives a A d of the body of the church in behalf of the missionaries at a d the saints who are gathering in obedience to the lords command are heeded beefed and receive re sponge in the protecting power of providence that is unceasingly manifest recognizing the great blessing that has been thus bestowed the dainas should so BO live jive that their petitions may be ever athe the prayers of the righteous ousS that shall be of avail in invoking a continuance of the divine waton bare over those who seek to fulfil fulfill his purposes |