Having migrated from Scotland, his native land, to New Orleans in the year 1843, he obtained employment there as a ship builder and machinist until the spring of 1844, when he determined to continue his journey to Nauvoo, the destination he originally had in view. He secured cabin passage on a steamboat, but had not proceeded more than about fifty miles when he was suddenly awakened by a violent quiver of the boat caused by its hull striking a snag of some kind in the river. Not knowing the cause of the sensation, but, acting on the impulse of the moment, he sprang out of bed, hastily dressed, and, rushing on deck, jumped from the deck railing to the deck of a flatboat that was being towed alongside the steamboat. A few moments later the steamboat sank, carrying with it to a watery grave nearly all the passengers. Elder Lawson and a few other passengers who were fortunate enough to follow his example by jumping upon the flatboat saved themselves by cutting loose from the steamer and drifting with the stream until morning, when, as the flatboat neared the shore the men seized some overhanging limbs of trees and effected a landing. He leisurely made his way back to New Orleans, obtained employment and remained there until the fall of the year, when he again boarded a steamboat for Nauvoo, and in due time safely landed there. CHAPTER III. COMFORTING ASSURANCE EXPERIENCED BY A. O. SMOOT DURING A STORM AT SEA--HIS NARROW ESCAPE FROM BEING A VICTIM OF THE SALUDA DISASTER--HIS ACCOUNT OF THE EXPLOSION.