The Final Hours

Train conditions for the emigrating saints were meager at best. Their "coach" turned out to be a cattle car where passengers had to stand up, with little water. 20

The train ride from New York City north to Albany was fatal for several of the emigrating saints, including Elder Clark.

The train arrived in Albany at about 4:30 p.m. where the saints had to disembark, and then load their belongings and things on another train, this one headed west. Ezra James was near death when the train from New York City arrived in the New York capital, where the passengers had to board another train.

In Albany, one young passenger, Emily Pickering Andersen, noted the following: "My father accompanied Elder Ezra J. Clark, a return missionary, myself and (-) girlfriends to dinner. When we were going back to the depot the two men fell as if they had been shot, it proving to be sunstroke. Brother Clark never regained consciousness. They put the body on the train and went two or three stations further. They called for a donation(-) to purchase a metal casket. Father hearing this, was sent into unconsciousness for 24 hours. Seven elders gathered around him, asked the Lord (-)spare his life, which he did (-that time. "21

Andersen's account differs a bit on some of the details with that of Elder Jacobs, who tended Ezra in his final hours. Ezra's serious problems became evident about an hour south of Albany.

"An hour or so before we arrived at Albany, a Sister Mary Ann Watson expired through weakness and heat. She had been ailing for sometime. On our arrival in Albany the sun was very hot. We had to go about 200 (no distance measure given) from the car to the station house, prepared for transferring to another line. In so doing, about 12 or 15 persons were [sick with] sunstroke. Amongst the number was Brother Ezra J. Clark. We got him on the train and made him as

20 The Mohawk Valley Democrat, July 18, 1868

21 Reminiscences of Emily Pickering Andersen

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