Transcript

Extraordinary Arrival
FROM SALT LAKE.

MR. JAMES MONROE, left Salt Lake Valley on express business to the States on the 1st day of December, and arrived at this point on the 16th inst., in good health and spirits, making the entire journey in 47 days, and in the most perlious period of the year. Br. Monroe is certainly an adventurer, and clearly shows what kind of men they are for bravery on the other side of the mountains. He brought no letters, or papers with him, because it was feared that he perhaps would not reach the States this winter. He left Salt Lake City, accompanied by two of the brethren, and three animals of his own, and upon arrival at Fort Bridger they overtook the U. S. Mail, that left the Valley on the 22d of November. The Two that came with him, then returned back to the Valley, having only tendered their services to keep him company to the Fort, and he came through with the mail to Fort Kearney, where he left the mail, and came to this place alone, making the journey of 200 miles in 4 days and 1 hours. Mr. M. lost two of his animals before he reached Fort Laramie, the other was so much jaded down he was forced to leave it. From Fort Laramie he hired his passage with the mail.

The mail which left Independence in September last, and met by Kinkade & Livingston, as they came in this fall at Strawberry Creek in a storm, Mr. Monroe says that they lost all their animals, and were five days without food, before they reached Fort Bridger; they hired a horse at the Fort and that one they lost, so that they had to go into the Valley on foot; the same carries that went out came back with the mail with him, and they may be expected to reach Independence in a few days. Their animals however have been fatigued in a great measure owing to the long and tedious journey at this season of the year. He reports to have travelled over ten feet snow on the first mountains, but after that he says that the weather was remarkably good for travelling.

Previous to his departure from the Valley, Gen. Rich, and his company came in from California, bringing with them rather a scanty supply of the shining ore, but an abundance of news rather of an unfavorable character from the mines, which had a tendency to render the circulation of money rather more scarce than usual, Elders G. A. Smith and Ezra T. Benson were about to leave for Little Salt Lake settlement, where an abundance of coal and iron ore have been discovered, and Elder Pratt was expected to leave on the 1st of January for the Sandwich Islands on a mission by the way of the Colorado Territory, and Gen. Rich was to leave soon with a large company for the latter place. The news of the appointments for Utah were received previous to Mr. M's departure, and a degree of of satisfaction seemed to prevail among the people respecting them. He represents the mercantile business in the valley as very flourishing, and the health of the inhabitants good. The Indians about the valley and on the route are said to be peaceably disposed and friendly.

Just as we were finishing the foregoing a friend of ours handed us a note containing the following additional intelligences: The mail for Salt Lake and Independence had arrived at Fort Kearney, a days out. At Fort Laramie, he would leave his wagon and animals, and make snow shoes and a sledge. Mr. Arnold the person in charge, says he can go through. He is an old mountaineer.