Phineas F. Bresee - A Prince In Israel - Media Sabda Org

had no money, and that he had better accept one of the three or four invitations to churches in Iowa,
and do the best he could. Although Knotts himself had lost heavily, and was much embarrassed by
adverse financial conditions, he authorized Dr. Bresee to draw a check on him for whatever money
he needed to make the trip. This generous offer was accepted to the extent of a thousand dollars, and
Brother Bresee and family started for Los Angeles in August, 1883.
Starts For Los Angeles
At that time he had only a general invitation from the Presiding Elder. In the First church at Los
Angeles, there were a few of his friends, but he had not been called by the church. In view of the
necessity of economizing in every possible way, Dr. Bresee consulted with the general ticket agent
of the Union Pacific Railroad at Omaha, who was a friend of his, and the latter sent over a car to
Council Bluffs, for the exclusive use of the Bresee family. They fitted up the car with beds, curtains,
etc., and arranged for a comfortable camping trip on the way across the continent. A few friends who
also wanted to go to California, were permitted to ride in the same car. Among these were two
teachers for the Indian school.
To use Dr. Bresee's own words: "The trip was in every way full of interest and picturesqueness.
Sometimes our car was hitched to the express train, sometimes to a freight train, and sometimes it
was sidetracked. Occasionally we were left over two or three hours in some village, and that gave
us fine opportunities for observation and pleasure.
A Sad Incident
"One very sad incident occurred. We were hitched to an emigrant train, and a lady from Germany
was making the trip, with several little children. Her husband had come to America in advance, had
secured employment at San Francisco, and saved money enough for her and the children to join him
there. The little mother was greatly distressed because one of her children had sickened and died on
the train. She was without money. I went through the train and took up a collection for her. When
we reached a small city, I purchased a coffin for the child and was going to bury it, but the authorities
would not allow me to do so, unless I secured a death certificate from one of the local physicians.
I scarce knew what to do. The mother was not in condition to be taken off the train with her family,
and left in that place. Finally, in conversation with the railroad men, they proposed to haul our train
outside of the city limits, and that they would help us to bury the child. We followed their suggestion.
The workmen dug a grave in the sand beside the tracks, and the occupants of the train gathered
around. I conducted a little funeral service, and made arrangements with the sheriff of the county
that, if the father sent for the child, he would disinter the remains and send them to San Francisco.
I never heard anything more about the family."
Eight days were required for the journey from Council Bluffs to Los Angeles, where Dr. Bresee
and family arrived on Saturday afternoon, August 26,1883. They were met at the depot by Mr. H.
C. Sigler, who, by their request, had secured a furnished house for them, and placed it in readiness
for their occupancy. Like Paul of old, they went to their own hired house, where they were
comfortably situated. On the following Sunday morning, they attended the First Methodist church,
located on Fort street (now Broadway), between Third and Fourth. They were a little late, and found