White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-02-03
HORRIBLE sUFFFRIEG UPoETEE
PLAINS!
Ten Of Majors and RusselI,s Men Frozeu
70 Death at One Time.



Mr.. John Mr.. Gutherie returned from
Salt Lake City lew days silce, and gaze
the Weekly Platte Argus the following
seconnt Of the horrible sufsrings which
he and his companions endured from the
cold weather on the plains and in the
mountains
Mr.. G.. LEFT Salt Lake City on the 9th
Of November with the mails ON packed
animals. in company with G. A. Beardly,
of New York. 1t had been showing for
seven or eight days before Mr.. g. left the
valley. The snow was from one to six
feet deep in the Big Mountains, and they
had to tramp the snow to pass with their
animals. Second day out the snow was
so deep that the company got lost and Law
ont al, night, ahd-the men in charge Of
the mail had their feet and hands frozen,
and the boots bad to be cut OF their feet
the next morning. s't%'t-
The third day they made Bridger at
sunset, and alter travelling about twenty
miles. got lost again, and were compelled
sgain to lay down in the snow till morn
ing. Fourth day they made Big Sandy
Station, and left there about two o'clock
in the evening and travelled twenty miles,
wind blowing from the east. The storm
increased so as to prevent them from see
ing FIVE feet ahead, and compelled them
again to lay up. They eamped in hol-
low, and during the night snow drifted
on them to the depth of three feet. Here
the whole company almost froze. Mr.. G.
states that his feet and legs were so numb
as to be almost unable to stand up. The
mail men having no bedding were COM
PEELED to walk around all night to keep
from freezing. Fifth day-lelt early in
morning-travelled eight milestone Of
the mail mems face and hands froze, and
the other was SO far frozen as to be almost
asleep. Mr.. g. here finding that The men
would freeze, took them of and made
them walk. They then turned and went
back twenty eight miles to Big Sandy.
The next day the wind ceased, and they
started in company with Mr.. Ashton, the
mail agent. They reached the South
Pass at dark.
Here the wind raised again the snow
being drifted from FIVE to ten feet deep,
>and they again became lost-for three or
four hours they wandered round in hopes
to find the road. and their only hopes were
to face the wind in order to reach the
Sweet Water. which they did. They
then attempted to travel down this stream,
but the dr.fted snow was so deep as to be
impossible. They camped, and Mr.. Ash
ton froze one of his feet while in the bel.
In the morning they left mules. mail
and all, took it afoOt down Sweet Water
on the ice. Mr.. Ashton begged to be left
in the bed. as they had to cut the boots
off Of his feet. Mr. g. pulled of his bnf.
falo moccasins and put them on Mr.. Ash
tOn-leaving his feet with only deer skin
maccasin on. The whole company con-
cludel their time was growing short, but
like heroes. made desperate eFort-part
of the time carrying Mr.. Ashton. They
reached station about ten miles distant.
They then hail some hopes Of making the
trip, although the thermometer stood q
degrees below zero. Mr.. Sanders, the
surveyor on the new road soath Of Lara
ME. had Mr.. Miller stationed at this place
with Barometer and Thermometer, in
order to take notes Of the weather. The
oldest mountaineers, one IN particular who
lives close by the station, states that it
was the coolest weather they had expe.
rienced for thirty years.
They left Mr.. Ashton after laying over
three or four days. While here. the St.
Joseph mail arrived-Mr. Garyis, the
Indian agent for the Snakes, coming
through with It. They had nine mules
frozen around their camp FIRE, some with
in two feet or the Ere. The men had all
their hands and feet frozen, and lay four
days within eight miles Of the station,
unable to get IN. Here Majors and Rus.
sell had ten men frozen to death. They
attempted to follow the train, and becams
lost and froze. While here, the Salt
Lake mail Of Dec. 9Th, overlook Mr.. g..
and having no men to send with the mail,
Dir. g. took charge Of it and brought It
to Laramie, where he met an agent having
men. MIR. @. took the coach, in compa-
ny with four other passengers below
Laramie they had bat little snow, and the
roads were good most Of the time. They
found men at almost every station on the
road frozen. They met Mr.. HOcksday at
Cotton Wood Springs. on his way n?
with mules tosupply the mail stations.
From here the roads became muddy and
the creeks high. and in some places had to
swim the mules fr fHl -
The stage company refunded Mr.. Guth.
RE his passage money st St, Joseph. on
account Of his attention 10 Mr.. Ashton,
theagent, the hands, and for taking charge
Of the mail. and bringing it through from
South Pass to Laramie, himself
TERRIToRY OF PIKE's PEAK.-The Int
rior Denarfmank has heen called nnon by