Transcript

Transcript for "Salt Lake Mail," Frontier Guardian, 27 June 1851, 2

Salt Lake Mail.

The following from the Occidental Messenger of the 24th ult., communicates the cheering intelligence of the safety of Mr. Arnall; also his suffering through snow and frost on his way to the Valley with the December Mail:

The mail under the charge of Mr. W. H. ARNALL, reached here on the 20th inst., having left Salt Lake City on the 1st of April. Mr. A. left this place on the 1st of December in charge of the mail and until his return was generally supposed to have perished in the mountains during winter. But he succeeded in getting through, performing one of the most perilous trips ever accomplished by a human being and reached Salt Lake City on the 7th of March. At one time he lay near the Pacific Spring for seven weeks where it snowed upon him for seventeen successive days and nights--Four of his mules froze to death, but by close attention he succeeded in keeping alive the remaining three he had with him. For long distances, he and the two men with him were compelled to open roads through the snow five feet deep for the mules to travel in.

The January mail out, reached Salt Lake about the first of April.

On their way in they met a considerable number of emigrants for Oregon; comparatively few for California. Met the train of our fellow citizens, Phelps & Chiles, a considerable distance ahead of all other traders and getting on finely.

Groceries at Salt Lake were very scarce and commanding high prices. Sugar and coffee were selling at $1 per pound; whisky at $8 per pint. The prospect for those traders who should get in first, was very flattering.