Jewels from Jane, April 28

Thursday, April 28, 1870 Kindness of the Sisters of Mercy

"Reverend Mother Gabriel took us to visit the Magdalen Asylum in the country. Mother [Emerentia Bonnefoy] was rather indisposed, and did not accompany us. Sister Martha [Peters] remained with her. The Sisters at the asylum were extremely kind to us. They wished to load us with provisions for our journey, but as we were inexperienced in these matters, did not think we would need them, and accepted only a few knick-knacks, just to please them. We were heartily sorry, when hungry in the desert, of not accepting their offering. We shall ever feel grateful to those good Sisters, who proved to us 'friends in need,' and lavished so much kindness upon us - they are truly worthy of their calling.

From "Trek of the Seven Sisters" - Sister Monica Corrigan's diary

Jewels from Jane, April 27

Wednesday, April 27, 1870 Entering California

"About 6:00 o'clock a.m. we passed a place called Cape Horn. It is an ugly, dreary place. The railroad track runs along the side of a mountain that rises on the right and left. About five or six feet from the track there is a precipice said to be 300 feet deep, which extends about a mile along the railroad. On the opposite side of this precipice are mountains from whose sides issue several streams flowing into the chasm beneath, where, uniting, they rush along with an awe-inspiring impetuosity. At 8:00 o'clock we reached the California gold diggings. They are subterranean; consequently we did not see them. We dined at Colfax with Rev. Father Kelly, who took a fatherly care of us. We then parted with him, and in bidding us farewell, he presented us with a five-dollar gold piece, with strict injunctions to telegraph him in case we needed any funds, as he would not fail to supply them. He gave us an introductory to Rev. H. Gallagher, San Francisco, who rendered us important services when there. Father Kelly said he would apply for a colony of our Sisters for Salt Lake City, were it not that he purposed leaving the mission to enter the Congregation of Lazarists. He is the first pastor of that mission and has been there 15 years.

"At 7:00 o'clock p.m., we presented a beautiful sight after our week's journey, without arranging our toilet, the distance from Omaha to San Francisco being 1914 miles. At 7:00 o'clock p.m. we reached San Francisco. Mr. Deobeck saw us in the bus, and attended to our baggage, but owing to some mistake in the address, we did not reach the hospital until 9:00 o'clock p.m. We were received most cordially by the good Sisters of Mercy, who did all in their power to make us comfortable. We were sadly in need of rest, as we were completely dizzy from the motion of the cars."

From "Trek of the Seven Sisters" - Sister Monica Corrigan's diary

Jewels from Jane, April 22

April 22, 1870 Happy to Miss Connections

"In the morning we refreshed ourselves with a nice cup of coffee, then proceeded on our journey. The weather was cool and pleasant -- an Indian boy played the violin for the entertainment of the passengers.

"Reverend Mother treated us to apples and maple sugar, and presented us with little statues of Our Blessed Mother as souvenirs; but in spite of all there was a sad cloud overhanging us. It was not surprising, as we were to part from Rev. Mother in a few hours -- and that, perhaps, forever in this world; but, as in similar difficulties, we had recourse to our good Father St. Joseph. We were detained about two hours after time, but yet we feared that the San Francisco train would wait for us, as we wished it gone, for then we could remain one day more with Reverend Mother. As we approached Omaha, some of us were crying and others praying, but all were looking eagerly to see if the train was there. We did not wait long as a messenger came with the welcome news that the train had just left. Thanks be to God! Escaped from every lip, and was in every heart. We then went to the convent of the Sisters of Mercy, where we received the most cordial welcome from those good Sisters. We remained there until the next morning."

From "Trek of the Seven Sisters" by Sister Monica Corrigan