, 1859-01-15
The Weather on the PIains..Ureadful
Sufterlng--Ten Men Frozen to Death.

LfIQu y CAe1A 14@4o a1&AA ~A+- ss1
We bad call from Mr. John II. Guthrie, aud
learn the following incts of his trip in. hi. G.
left Salt Lake City On the 9Th OF November, with
the mail on packed animals, in company with G.
i. Bearaly, oi New York 1t had been showing
for seven eight days before Mt. G. left the val
ley. The SNOW was from one to six feet deep in
the Big Mountains, and they had to tramp nc
snow to pass with their animals. Second day out
tue SNOW wls so deep that the company got lost,
and lay out all night and the men in charge Of the
mail bad their feet and hands frozen, and their
boots had 10 be taken of Of their feet tho next
morning.
The third day they made Bridgcr at sunset and
after travelling about twenty miles, got lost AGAIN,
and were compelled again to lag down in the SNOW
till morning. Fourth day they made Big Sandy
Station, and left there about two O'Clock in the
evening and travelled ab1ut twenty miles, wind
blowing from the east. The storm increased 80
as to prevent them from sesing I've feet before
them, and compelled them agaia to lay up. they
camped in hollow, aud during the night SNOW
dlitted On tuem to the depth oi three feet. Here
the whole company almost fsoze. Nj. G. states
that Ills feet and legs we're 50 numb d to be al
most unable to stand up. The mail men; having
no bedding, were compelled to walk around all
night to keep from freezing.
Fit1h day, left early in the mornfng-trayeled
eight miles one Of the mail mems face md bands
froze and the other Was so far frozen as to lie a1
most asleep. NJ. G. here finding that the men
They then turned and went back 28 miles to Big
Sandy. The next day the Wind ceased, sud they
started in company with Mr. Ashton, the mail
agent. They reached the South Pass at dark.
Here the wind raised again - the Bnow being
dtifted from iys to ten feet deep aud they again
became lost. For three or four hours they wan
dered round in hopes to find the road, and their
only hope was to facc the vind in order to reach
Sweet Water, which they did. They then at
tempted to travel down this stream hut the drifted
SNOW was so deep as TO be impossible.
They cauped, and Mr. Ashton troze one Of his
feet while in the bed. In the morning they left
mules, mail, and al1 and took it q foot down
Street. Water On the ice. Mr. Ashton begged to
be left in the bed as they had to cut the boots of
his feet. Mr. G. pulled OF his buffalo moccasins
md put them on Mr. Acknowledging his feet
with only deer skin moccasin on. The whole
company concluded tleir time was growing short,
but, like heroes, made desperate edort-part Of
the time carrying III. Ashton. They reached q
station shout ten miles distant. They then had
some hopes Of making the trip, although the ther-
mometer stood II degrees below zero. Mr. San
ders the surveyor on the new road south at Lara
mie had Mr. Miller stationed at this place, with
barometer and thermometer in order to take notes
Of the weather. The oldest mountaineers, one in
particular who 1ires close by the station states
that it WIS the coldest reather they had expert
enced for thirty years
They left Mr. Ashton after laying over three or
| four days, While here, the ST. Joseph mail ar-
! riyed-Mr. Gasyis, the Indian Agent for the
Snakes. coming through with It, They had nine
| mules frozen around their camp fire. The men all
had their hands and feet frozen, and lay four days
within eight miles Of the station, unable to ket in
| Here Majors l. Russell had ten men frozen to
death. They attempted to follow the train aud
became lost and froze. While here the Salt Lake
| mail Of December 4th overlook Ar- g.. and hay
ing no men TO send with the mail, Nj. G. took
charge Of it aud brought it to Laramie. where he
met a1 agent haying men. Mr. G. took tLs
coach, in company with four other passengers
bclow Laramie they had but little snow, and the
roads were good most Of the time. They found
men at almost every station on the road frozen
They met Nj. Hock1day at Cotton Wood Springs
on his way up With mules to supply the mail sta
,ions. From here the roads became muddy ani
the creeks high, and in some places they had t.
swim the mules.