The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-16
News from Salt Lake.

ARRIVAL OF JOHN NJ. GUTHRIE, OF THE FIRM OF JOHN
NJ. GUTHRIE 4 CO., OF ST. LoUIs-TEN OF MAJORS
RUasELL's MIN FROZEN TO DEATH AT ONE TI,lE.
From the Western Platte Argus Jan. ~
we had call from Mr. John NJ Guthrie, and learn the
following facts OF his trip in Mr. Guthrie left Salt Lake
City on the 9th of November with the mail on hacked
mules, in company with G. A. Reardly of New York II
left the valley The from one to six feet deem
IN the Big Mountains and they had tramp the snow to
deep that the company got lost and lay out all night and
the men in charge of the mail had their feet hands
next morning. '0I -
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 till morning
Fourth day they made Big Sandy Station and left there
about two O'Clock in the evening and travelled about
twenty miles wind blowing from the east The storm in
creased so asto prevent them from seeing five feet be-
fore them, and compelled them again to lay up They
camped IN hollow, and during the night snow drftcd on
them to the depth Of three feet Here the whole company
almost froao Mr. c. sasss that his feet and ess
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 roze and the
other was so far frozen as to be almost asleep Mr.
here finding that the men would freeze, took them of
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
drifted from five to ten feet deep, and they again
became lost For three or four hours they wandered
round in hopes to fndthe road, and their only hope wa
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 deep as 10 be impossible.
They camped and Mr. Ashton roze of his feet while
in the bed In the morning they left mules, mail and all
and took it foot down Sweet Water on the ice. Mr.
Ashton begged to be left in the bed they had the
boots of of his feet. Mr. G. pulled of his buffalo
sins and put them on Mr. Ashop-eavipg his feet with
only deer skin mOccasn on. The whole company con-
cluded 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 making the trip, although
the Thermometer stood twenty degrees below Zero
Mr. Sanders, the surveyor the road south Of lara
me, had Mr.. Miller stationed at this place with baro
meter and thermometer in order to take notes Of the
weather The Oldest mounaineers in particular who
lives close by the station states that coolest weather
they bad experienced for thirty years.
They left Nr. Ashton after laying three or four
days. While here the St. Joseph mail arrived, Mr.
Garvs the Indian agent for the Snakes coming through
with it. They bad nine mules freeze around their
camp fire. some within two feet Of the fire. The men all
had their hands and feet frozen and lay days within
eight miles of the station unable TO get in Here Majors
Russell had ten men frozen 10 death. They ATTEMPTED
to follow the train and became lost and froze. While
here the Salt Lake mail OF December overlook Mr.. G.
and having no men TO send with the mail, Mr. G. took
charge OF II and brought TO laramie where he met an
agent having men, Mr.. G. took the COACH in company
with four other passengers. Below Laramie thew had
but little snow end the roads good most of the time
They found men Mt almost every station the road frozen
They met Mr.. Hockaday at Cotton Wood Springs on his
way up with mules to supply the mail stations From
here the roads became muddy and the creeks high and
in some places had 10 swim the mules.