Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-17
HORRIBLE SUFFERING UPON THE
PLAINS.
Ten of Majors and RusseII's Men Frozen
Death at one Time.
Nine Mules Frozen in One Night.


Mr.John M. Guthrie returned from Salt Lake
CITY few days since, and gave the Weekly
Platte Argus the following account OF the nor
rible sufferings 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 No
vember with the mail on packed ANIMALS, IN
company with G. A. Beardsly, 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 AMI
mails. Second day out the snow was SO 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 the boots had to be cut
off their feet the next morning -
The third day they made Bridger at sunset,
and after travelling about twenty miles got lost
again, and were compelled again to lay down IN
the snow till morning. Fourth day they made
Big Sandy Station, and left there about o.
clock in the evening and travelled twenty miles,
wind blowing from the east. The storm IN
creased so as the prevent them from seeing tive
feet ahead, and compelled them again to lay up.
They camped in hollow, and during the night
snow drilled on them to the depth of three feet
Here the whole company almost froze- Mr.. U.
states that his feet and legs were so numb as to
be almost unable to stand up The mail men
having no bedding were compelled to walk
around all night to keep from freezing. Flttn
day-left early in the morning-traveled eight
miles-one of the mail mems face and hands
froze and the other was so far froze as 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 twenty-eight
miles to Big Sandy. The next day the wind
ceased, and they started in company with MI
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 wan
dered round in hopes to hnd the road, and then
only homes was TO face the wind in order to react
the Sweet Water, which they did. They ther
attempted to travel down the stream but tht
drifted snow was SO deep as to be impossible
They camped, and Mr.. Ashton froze one OF MI
feet while in the bed :,
In the morning they left mules, mail and oil
and took it afoot down Sweet Water on the ice
Mr. Ashton begged to be left in the bed -as the
had to cut the boots off his feet. Mr.. q. Pulie'
off his buffalo moccasins and put them on Mr.
Acknowledging his feet with only deer skll
moccasin on The whole company concludes
their time was growing short, but like heroes
made a desperate efort-part of the time carry
ing Mr. Ashton They reached station aoou
ten miles distant. They then had some hope
of making the trip, although the thermomete
stood twenty-se ven degrees below zero. MI
Sanders, the surveyor on the new road south o
Laramie, had Mr.. Miller stationed at this Plac
with Barometer and Thermometer, IN order
take notes of the weather. The Oldest noun
taineers, one in particular who lives close by tn
| kl,,f. tho COld6St WPatle
they had experienced for thirty years.
! They left Mr.. Ashton after laying over thre
or four days While here the St. Joseph mai
arrived-Mr Garvis the Indian agent for tn
Snakes, coming through with it. They ha'
nine mules frozen around their camp fire, soEl
f within two feet of the fire. The men had al
their hands and feet frozen, and lay four day
within eight miles of the station, unable to ge
in. Here Majors and Russell had ten men fro
} zen to death. They attempted to follow tn
train, and became lost and froze. While her
the Salt Lake mail of December 4th, overtoo
Mr. g. and having no men to send with tn
mail, Mr. G. took charge of it and brought it t
Laramie, where he met an agent having mer
, Mr. G. took the coach, in company with tou
other passengers; below Laramie they had bu
little snow, and the roads were good most OF tn
time They found men at almost every static
5 on the road frozen. They met Mr.. Hockaday
/, Cotton Wood Springs, on his way up with mule
s to supply the mail stations. From here th
roads became muddy and the creeks high, an
in some places had to swim the mules.
S The stage company refunded Mr.. Guthrie h
e passage money at st. Joseph, on account OF b
attention to Mr.. Ashton, the agent, the hand
and for taking charge of the mail, and bring
ing it through from South Pass to Laramie hin
: self.