The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-01-20
Horrible Suffering Upon the Plains---Ten
Men Frozen to Death.

Horrible Suffering upon the 1ialnsA Aeh
Men Frozen to Death.
Mr.. John NJ. Guthrie returned from
Salt Lake City few days since, aud gave
Tie Weekly Argus the following account
of the horrible snfferings which he and
his com panions endured from the cold
weather on the plains and in the noun
tains:
Mr.. G.. left Salt Lake City on the 9th
of November, with the mail on packed
animals, in company with G. A. Beard
ley, Of New-York. 1t had been showing
for seven or eight days before Mr.. &. left
the valley. The snow was from one to
six feet deep in the Pig 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 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 next morning.
The third day they made Bridger at
sunset, and, after travelling about twenty
miles, got lost again, and were compelled
again to lie down in the snow until morn
ing. Fourth day they made Biz Sandy
Station, and left there about o'clock in
the evening, and travelled twenty miles
wind blowing from the east. The Storm
increased so as to prevent them from-s see
ing five feet ahead, and compelled them
again to lay up. They camped in hol
low, and during the night snow driftcd OF
them to the deptd Of three feet. Hero
the whole company almost froze. Mr.. 6
states that his feet and legs were so numt
that be was almost unable tostand up. Th'
m all men, having no bedding, were com
PEELED to walk around all Digbt to keeI
from freezing.
Fifth day-Left early in the morning
travelled eight miles; one of the mai
mems face and hands froze, aud the othe
was SO far froze as to be almost asleep
Mr.. G. here finding that the men would
freeze, took them off and made then
walk. They then turned and went bacl
% miles to Big Sandy. The next da.
the wind ceased, and they started in com
pany with Mr.. Ashton, the mail agent
They reached the South Pass at dark
Here the wind raised again; the snow be
ing drifted from five to ten feet deep, anc
they again became lost; for three or fou
hours they wandered round in hopes t.
find the road, and their only hope was t
face the wind in order to reach Swee
Water, which they did. They then at
tempted to travel down this stream, bu
the drifted snow was so deep as to be i'm
passable. They escaped, and Mr.. Ash
ton froze one of his feet while in the bee
In the morning they left mules, maj
and all, and took it a foot down Swee
Water on the ice. Mr.. Ashton begge,
to be left in the bed, as they had to Gu
the boots of bis feet Mr.. g. pulled O
bis buffalo moccssins and put them on Nj
Acknowledging his feet with only dee
skin moccasin on. The whole compan
concluded their time was growing short
but like heroes, made desperate etfor
part Of the time carrying Mr.. Ashton
They reached q station-house about te,
miles distant. They then had some hope
of making the trip, although the ther
mometer stood twenty-seven degrees be
low zero. Mr.. Sanders the surveyor o
the new road south of Laramie, had MI
Miller stationed at this place with ba
rometer and thermometer in order t
take notes of the weather The oldes
mountaiDecrs, one in particular, who live
close 20 the station, states that it was th
coldest weather they had experienced 70
thirty years.
They left Mr.. Ashton after lying o.c
three or four days. While here the 81
Joseph mail arrived-Mr. Garvis, tn
Indian agent for the Snakes, coming thrc
with it. They had nine mules frozen a
round their caup fre-some within tw
feet of it. The meu ell had their hand
and feet frozen, and lay four days With
eight miles of the station, unable to ge
in. They attempted to follow the trair
and became lost and froze. While her
the Salt Lake mail of December over
took Mr.. e.. and having no men to sen
with the mail, Mr.. G. took charge of
and brought it to Laramie, where he NE
an agent having men. Mr.. G. took th
coach, in company with four other pas
seugers; below Laramie they had but lit
tie snow, and the roads we're good mos
of the time. They found men at almo:
every station on the road frozen. The
met Mr. aockaday at Cotton Woo,
Springs, on his way up with mules to SUP
ply the mail stations. From here th
roads became muddy and the creeks higl
and in some places they had to swim tn
mules.
Simple mode of Ascertaining Interest.