The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-01-21
Latest News from salt Lake.
Ten Of Majors q. RusseiFs men frozen 10
death al one time.

Latest News frGm salt Lake.
Ten Of Majors q Russell's men frozen 10
death al one time.
From The Western Platte Argus jan. 7tb,
We had call from Mr.. John NJ. Guthrie,
and learn the following facts of his trip in-
Mr.. G. left Salt Lake City on the 9th OF NO
vember, with the mail on packed animals, 10
company with q. A. Beardly, of New York.
II had been showing for seven or eight days
before Mr.. G.. left the valley. The snow was
from one 10 feet deep in the Big 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 hat
their feet and hands frozen, and their boots nad
to b.. cut off of 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 10 lie down IN
the snow till morning. Fourth day they made
| Big Sandy Station, and left there about Ten
O'Clock in The evening, and Travelled about
twenty miles, wind blowing from the East.
The snow increased so as 10 prevent them from
seeing FIVE feet before them, and compelled
them again to lay up. They cam7ed in the
hollow, and during the night, snow drlhet on
whole company almost froze. Mr.. e. states
that his feel and legs were so numb as 10 be al
most unable 10 stand up. The mail men hav-
ing no bedding, were compelled to walk around
/ all night to keep from freezing.
Fifth day, left early in the morning travel
ed eight miles; one of the mail mems face and
hands froze, and the other was SO far frozen as
10 be almost asleep. Mr.. G. here finding that
the men would freeze, took them off and made
them walk They then turned and went back
2S miles 10 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 "a
ean-the snow being driNed from five to ten
feet deep, and they again became 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 then attempted to
travel down this stream, but the drltled Snow
was SO deep as 10 be impossible.
They camped, and Mr. Ashton froze one of
his feet while in the bed. In the morning they
lett mules, mail, and all, and took it atoot down
Sweet Water on the ice. Mr.. Ashton begged
to be left in the bed, as they had 10 cot the
boots off of his feet. Mr.. q. pulled off his buff
fao moccasinS and put them on Mr. Ashton lea
wing his feet with only deer-skin mcccasin on.
The whole company concluded their time was
growing short, but like heroes, made desper-
ate efort-part of the time carrying Mr.. Ash
ton They reached the station about ten miles
distant. They then had some hopes Of making
the trip, although the Thermometer stood q
degrees below zero. Mr. Sanders, the survey
er on the new road south OF Laramie, had Mr.,
Miller stationed at this place with barometer
and Thermometers in order to take notes OF the
weather. The oldest mountaineers, one IN par
ticuiar who lives close by the station, states
that il was the coldest weather they had expe-
rlenced for thirty years.
They left Mr.. Ashton, AFTER laying over three
or four DAYS. While here the St. Joseph mail
arrived-Mr Garvis, the Indian Agent for the
Snakes, coming through with 1t. They had
nine mules to freeze around their camp fires
iiad tneir i 68hs m if fo4rT, sa sa1ae nv raiil
days withn>eight miles of the station unable to
get in. Here Msjors & Russell had ten men
frozen TO death. They attempted to follow the
train and became lost and froze. 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 il and brought it
to La annie; where be met an agent having men.
Mr.. e., took the coach, in company with four
other passengers below Laramie they had bu,
little snow, and the roads were good most of the
time They found men at almost every station
on 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 to swim the mules.