Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-04-03

CAMP ScoTr, y. T., Jan. 81, 1853.
| We have at last received mail from the
States The mail which left Independence
on the 1st November reached here on the
goth instant, having been eighty eight days
on the road This delay is not owing to
snow or bad weather, as the following ac-
count from gentleman who was passcn-
ger will show:
1t seemed that the mail started in charge
| Of an experienced conductor Upon its ar
rival at Fort Kcarney, this conductor re-
quested the principal conductor, Mr.. Miles,
who was there at the time, to let him have
two more men to assist him, as he found
that the two he had with him were not suf-
6cient to take care Of and protect the heavy
mail which he had to take Miles refused
to DO so, and the conductor therefore refus-
ed to 60 further, and returned to the States.
Miles thereupon engaged q man named
Thompson, who had been loadng for come
time about the Fort, as conductor, and gave
him The charge Of the mail. When he
reached the Platte bridge, on tho lst Of De-
cember. Thompson concluded to rest awhile,
and therefore laid by there for eleven days
when on the 18th instant, Mr. Jones, the
other contractor, arrived there in charge Of
| the mail which left our camp on the lst Of
December. He directed Thompson to start
Immediately on with the mail. It was, how
ever, three days after he leA before Thomp-
son started
| During the storpage at the bridge the
greater portion of the mail was thrown into
the blacksmith shop, and the remainder left
in the wagons, and during this time there
were Several strangers wandering about the
premises. After leaving the bridge and
travelling on few days, Thompson preten-
ded to lose the road, and, after wandering
about the country for several days, returned
to trading post on the main road. Here
he stopped for some twelve or thirteen days,
until an espressman came up from Laramie,
when he engaged the exprcssman to show
him the road and come on Since Thomp-
son arrival here, he has been recognized
by gentlemen who formerly resided in Salt
Lake City, as Mormon ). and be is IN
doubtedly one of those whom Brigham sent
to try and obtain situation in some Gov
eminent train to act as spy. There is Go
doubt but that the mail was opened at the
bridge, as it contains but three letters for
Brigham Young, and the last contained
thirty or forty. Brigham has in his posses
sion complete set Of brass lock Post-office
keys belonging to the Salt Lake City Post
office, and there would be no difficulty there
fore, in opening and closing the sacks.
The road from here to the States our OK
pressmen report as being in excellent condi-
ton and free from snow. Mr.. Thompson
will be taken caro- Of
| The whole camp was thrown into excite
ment last night, by the report Of the escape
Of the Mormon prisoner. Stowell, together
with corpcraa, who was in conGnelnent oi
account of some misdemeancr. They were
in charge of the guard Of the 10th Infantry
Just after dark they obtained permission t
90 out Of the tent on SOME excuse OF other
/ IN charge Of sentinel they had no soon
er reached the bushes which line the creel
near the guard tent, than they started ant
ran, and although heavily irohed with chain
! extcndiAg from ore foot to the other, Che,
succeeded in concealing' themselves IN th'
bushes, and making good their escape.
The sentinel who was sent to watch then
f fred at them when they started to run, bu
without effect Several companies were i'm