The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-01-21
Horrible Suffering upon the Plains.

Mr.. John M. Guthrie returned
from Salt Lake City few days since,
and gave the Weekly Platte Argus
the following account of the horrible
sufierings which he and his compan-
ions endured from the cold weather
on the plains and in the mountains:
Mr.. Guthrie left Salt Lake City
on the eth Of November, with the
mail on packed animals, in company
with G. A. Beardley, of New York
1t had been showing for seven or
eight days before Mr.. Guthrie left
the valley. The snow was from one
to ak feet deep in the Pig Mount
aims, and they had to tramp the snow
to pass with their animals Second
LAY ont the snow was so deep that
the company got lost and lay ont oil
night, and the men in charge Of the
mail had their feet and hands frozen
and the boots had TO be cut off their
lect HE next morning.
The third day they made Bridger
at sunset, and after travelling about
twenty miles got lost again and
we're compelled again to lay down
in the snow till morning. 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 seeing five feet ahead.
and comp He'd them again to lay ny
They campcl in a hollow, and du
ring the night snow drlited on them
to the depth OF three feet, Here the
whole company almost frozn. Mr.
'Gu'hrie states thai his feet and legs
were 50 numb as to he almost unable
to stand mp. The mail men having
no bedding were compelled to walk
around all night to keep from freez
ing.
Fifth day-left early in the morn
ing-travelcd eight milestone Of
the mail mems face and hands tr 70
and the other was so far rroZe as to
be almost asleep. Mr.. Guthrie here
finding that the men would freeze.
took them off and made them walk
They then turned and went back
twoi ty-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 SouIh Pass at dark. -
IL re the wind raised again; the
snow being drifted from five to ten
feet deep, and they again became
lost-tor three or four hours they
wandered round in hopes to find the
road, and their only hopes was to
face the wind in order to reach Sweet
Water, which they did. They then
attempted to travel down this stream
but the drifted snow was so deep as
be impossible. They escaped, and
Mr.. Ashton !roze one OF his feet
while in the bed.
In tho morning they left mules,
mail, and all. and took it afoot down
Sweet Water on the ice. Mr. Ash.
ton begged TO be left in the bed, as
they had to cut the boots of his feet.
Mr.. Guthrie pulled off his buffalo
moccasins and put them on Mr.,
Acknowledging his feet with only
a dear skin moccasin on. The whole
company concluded their time was
growing short, but like heroes, made
a desperate eGort--part of the time
carrying Mr.. Ashton. They reach
ed Station House about ten miles
distant. They then had some hopes
of making the trip, although the
thermometer stood twenty. seven de-
grees below zero. Mr.. Sanders, the
Surveyor on the new road South of
Larime, had Mr.. Miller, stationed at
this place with a barometer and
thermometer in order to take notes
Of the weather. The oldest noun.
taineers, one in particular who lives
close by the station, states that it
was the coolest weather they had
experienced for thirty years.
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