The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-01-25
TERRIBLE SUFFERING IN A SNOW
STORM.
Late from, Salt Lake-Ien Hen Froze to Death
at one Time.
{ From TIE Wesfern Platte Argus, Jan. Z,

Il
From the Western Platte Argus, Jan. II
We had call from Mr. John NJ. Guthrie, and
learn the following facts of his tr in. Mr. g. left
Salt Lake City on the 9th of November, with the
mail on packed animals in company with G. A.
Beardy of New York. 1t had been showing for
seven or eight days before Mr. G. left the valley.
The snow 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 deep that the company got lost, and lay out
all night, and the men in charge of the mail had
their feet and hands frozen and their boots had to
be cut off of their feet the next morning.
The third day they made Bridger at sunset, and
after travelling about 20 miles got lost again, and
were compelled again to lay down in the snow till
morning. Fourth day they made Big Sandy sta
ton, and left there about o'clock in the evening
and travelled about 20 miles, wind blowing from
the east. The storm increased to prevent
them from seeing FIVE feet before them They
camred in a hollow, and during the night snow
drifted on them to the depth of three feet. Here
the whole company almost froze Mr. e. states
that his feet and legs numb as to be almost
unable to stand up. The mail men, having no
bedding, compelled to walk around all night
to keep from freezing.
Fifth day, left early in the morning travelled
eight miles; one of the mail mems face and hands
froze, and the other was so far frozen to be al
most asleep. Mr. G. here finding that the men
would freeze, took them off and made them walk.
They then turned and went back % 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 drift
ted from five to ten feet deep, and they again be-
come lost For three or four hours they wandered
round in hopes to find the road, and their only
hope was to face the wind in order to reach Sweet
Water, which they did. They attempted to travel
down this stream, but the drifted snow was deep
to be impossible.
They camped, and Mr. Ashton froze of his
feet while in bed. In the morning they left mules,
mail, and ALL took it foot down to Sweet Water
on the ice Mr. Ashton begged to be left in the
bed as they had to cut the boots off his feet. Mr.
g. pulled off his buffalo moccasins and put them
on Mr. Acknowledging his feet with only deer
skin moccasn on. The whole company concluded
their time was growing short, but, like heroes
made desperate effort-part of the time carrying
Mr. Ashton. They reached station about ten
miles distant. They then had some hopes Of max
ing the trip although the thermometer stood p de-
grees below zero. Mr. Sanders, the surveyor on
the new road south of Laramie, had Mr. Miller sta
toned at this place with Barometer and Their
mometer to take notes of the weather The oldest
mountaneers, one in particular who lives close by
the station, states that it was the coolest weather
they had experienced for thirty years.
They left Mr. Ashton after laying three or
four days. While here the St Joseph mail arrv
ed-Mr Garvis the Indian agent for the Snakes
coming through with it. They had nine mules to
freeze around their camp fire, some in two feet of
the fire. The men all had their hands and feet
frozen ana lay four days within eight miles of the
station, unable to get in. Here Majors and Rus
sell had ten frozen to death. They attempted
to follow the train, and became lost and frozc.-
While here the Salt Lake mail of December 4th
overlook Mr. g., and having no men to send with
the mail, Mr. G. took charge of and brought it to
Laramie, where he met an agent having men. Mr.
G. took the coach, in company with four other
passengers below Laramie they had but little snow
and the roads were good most of the time. They
found men at almost every station the road
frozen.