, 1862-02-08

sengers who left this place on the stage of
the 9Th ult. for the Dalles:
JOHN DAYS RIVER,
Jan. II, 1862.
On last Monday morning, Messrs. Moody,
Doc. Gay, Mr.. Aulp phin and man they
called Pat, left us at the John Day House,
to go on foot to the Deschutes. On We'd
nesday the rest of us started, with six hcr-
ses, to get the express below After four
hours hard work we got to the top of the
John Day hill, with three horses and the
express, when the horses gave out and could
60 no farther, as they would sink to their
bellies in the snow. Men would go ahead
to break the snow; but it was no use. !
was advised to turn back, as l could not
reach the station that day-distance Is
miles. 1t was then II O. clock, and turned
back, with two of the passengers, and
reached Scott's house that night, with both
of my feet frozen; but l soaked them in
ice-water as soon as l arrived, which helped
them considerably. Others had their ears
frozen, and l have seen a great many with
their feet badly frozen. Now comes the
worst: Last night party arrived at John
Days river, from Deschuttes, and told our
driver, who was down there, that two of the
party who first started out, namely, Marion
Aulphin and Pat had frozen to death; and
also hat the last named party, Messrs.
Jaeger, Wellington, Mulky, Niles, Jefries,
Mcdonald, Glover, and two others whose
names do not know, had lost the road and
they did not know what had become of them.
Every one here thinks they have frozen to
death, as the night was the coldest ever
known here; but it may be that they
turned from the road to some wood to camp
by at night. I wanted Mr.. Jaeger to stay
with me; but he thought he could make
the station by night.
Tomorrow will make another start.
There is no food on the road for horses so
we start with eleven horses for the Des-
chuttes. have had a hard time since
leaving you. Last night was the first time
l have taken my pants OF, having slept on
the floor, with the box for my pillow. To-
day | feel muchbetter, as the swelling has
gone down considerably from my feet
< = Tomorrow when 1 arrive at
the station, if nothing has been heard from
Mr.. Jaeger and his party 1 will send the
Indians out for them.
Yours, J. JAMES.
Mr. Thomas Chapman, who arrived in
this city on Monday, having left the Dalles
on the 5th January, informs us that there
is bare possibility that Mr. Jaeger and
party got through to Deschuttes Mr..
Chapman left Deschuttes for Spanish Hol-
low the same day that Mr.. Jaeger and par
ty left john Days river; he reached this
station the first day, and the second day
was only able to make six miles the third
day he reached John Days river, and COM
ing in, he saw a trail where a party had
left the road, in the direction of the Colum-
bia, a short distance from where Mr.. James
speaks of leaving Mr.. Jaeger and party.
They could not have reached any point
near at hand where they could have found
wood, as Mr.. James surmises yet it is
possible that they may have passed Mr..
Chapman, behind one of the many little
hills that lie along the road, and reached
one of the stations on the second day.
Mr. Chapman informs US that the river
was frozen up between Portland and the
Dalles several days before be left Mr..
Lewis Day, Tracy & Co.'S messenger, had
made trip from Portland on foot, bringing
news of battle between the federal forces
and Gen. Price, in Missouri, in which the
federals were victorious, capturing num-
Der of prisoners and large amount of
plunder.
Mr. C. reports the snow much deeper
between the Umatilla and Dalles than at
this end Of the road. We learn also from
him that the passengers who left on the
stage of the 10th January, for the Dalles,
are lying at Willow Creek, some of them
with their feet badly frozen.
Mr.. c. awards great praise to Mr. John
Stevens for his indomitable perseverance in
driving the stage through from John Day.
river to the Umatilla. The horses would
often get almost buried up in the snow
and be unable to proceed farther, when Mr.
S. would get down from his seat and break
the road for them
VoLUNTEERs.-We have been shown a
letter from Col Ju8tus Steinberger, ad-
dressed to a gentleman in this city, inquir-
ing as to the probable opportunities for en-
listing men in this section to join the regi-
ment of Volunteer Infantry, the raising
and command of which has been commit
ted by the Government to Col. Steinberger.
He states that he is authorized to appoint
the recruiting officers necessary to raise
companies, and is also invested with full
power to organize the regiment and muster
it into the service. Judging from the i'll
success in raising men for Captain Curry S
company in this place, and owing to the fact
that most of the people here, exclusive Of
permanent settlers, are miners, and only
awaiting the opening Of the season to pro-
ceed hence to the mining districts, we