Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-12-24

So $500 viz oHSSuSCs iuHhS, utu
car tried to get on. 1t advanced nearly a
mile, and within a few hundred yards Of ours,
when the engine gave out. Some Of the pas
sengers came through the snow, no little I'M
dertaking, for it drifted i'll some spots leg deep,
to our cars, and gave us the first tidings that
the ladies' car, in which were some twenty
ladies and children, was left u mile behind.
This redoubled the anxiety of all for the arri-
val of the engines from Bordentown, and ut
last their distant fires We're seen, one, two,
three, and with such a force, deliverance SEEM
ed to be at hand. Still their slow approach
indicated increased difficulty in forcing their
way. The wind and snow were fercely rag
ing, and doubts of the probability of extricat-
ing all the cars began to circulate. Finally
the nearest car was reached, two engines Were
attached ahead, and with the aid of that which
had brought US on, and now aided to push us
back, slowly, and after repeated checks, we
were re-conveyed to Bordentown, which was
reached about 3 o'clock.
kester's Hotel was soon opened-rousing
fires of hickory made-the tables spread-and
while those who had made good their retreat
were refreshing themselves, the engines were
all sent back to bring in the New York train.
But the increasing violence of the wind, which
whirlcd the snow in eddies on the road, rem
dcred all efforts useless, and one by one the
engines gave out without reaching the cars
and were frozen up on the track-the men
succeeded in scrambling back, exhausted and
almost persisted with cold, to the town. Thus
then, about half past four o'clock it became
certain that the passengers of the whole New
York train, except the few who had succeeded
in reaching the Philadelphia train, would be
left till morning In the cars. 1t was vain
effort TO obtain sleighs or any other mode of
reaching thenl-the canal on the one side,
and morassy fields on the other side of the
road, precluded approach in the night, and the
drifts on the road itself rendered passage of
sleghs on it impracticable-the only conso-
lation was that of knowing there was fuel c.
nough to keep us goood fires.
Sunday morning came in dull, dreary and
boisterous, the snow and the wind still pre-
vailing. MIR. E. Stevens, with all the force
he could muster, was early at work with snow
ploughs and scrapers, and spademen, to ex-
tricate engines and cars frozen up, but as their
progress was slow, some of the passengers,
among whom Mr.. Silas +. Burrows was con-
spicuous, determined to approach the la
dies car as near as they could with sleighs,
and taking with them hot coffee and hot milk
for the children, with wine and various eata-
bles, they started; but it was past midday
before any tidings were had ofthem.-Mean-
time, through great difficulties, and one by
one, the engines left on the road the night
before were brought back-thc snow drifted
between them, rendering the task exceeding
ly laborlous. About one o'clock we were
cheered by the return of the sleighs, having
the women and children-who thus, after
twenty hours, passed in the cars, were brought
to the hotel in safety, and without having suf-
fered much. The only mode of reaching the
cars where they were, was by passing through
the fields. The little children, whose chief
want had been food, were exceedingly delight
ed, as may be imagined, by the supplies
which the forethought of their deliverers had
provided--nor were these wholly unaccepta-
bio to the fathers and mothers.
There still remained another car on the
track, which had not yet been approached,
and in which were several gentlemen. This
was brought in by an engine about four o.
clock, and thus all the passengers were safe.
The great desire, after being warmed and re-
been heard Of from either end of the line, it
was feared no advance could be made. The
day was passed however in preparation for
forcing through one car at least on each route
when about O'Clock, Captain Hosken, OF
the Great Western, came In a sleigh from
arlington, saying that the morning train
from PHILADELPHIA, after six hours struggling.
had reached there, and then the engine broke
the connecting rod. Still, as anxiety was ex-
pressed by many passengers to be forwarded
to Philadelphia, an engine was attached about
8 o'clock to the car, and Mr.. T.. Stevens then
told the passengers, if they insisted on 1t, he
would make the attempt, and go with then!
himself; but he felt quite assured, from the
continued drift of the snow, that they coulo
net get through. After some deliberaton the
project was abandoned, and all were ialn to re-
Main at Bordentown; the landlord, MIR. Hes
ter, did his best, provided capital dinner,
multiplied his beds, procured lodgings In the
town for those he could not accommodate,
and still some dozen or two passed the night
on the floor of his dining room, and as many
more, perhaps in the cars where good fires
were kept burning.
A restless, or fun loving fellow from among
those in the cars, about o'clock A. NJ, rang
the bell which notifies the departure of the
cars, and forthwith the sleepers III the hotel
and village were all reused, surprising the
trains were ready and about to depart; but as
they rushed forth imperfectiy attired, to crave
a little delay, they soon found it was hoax;
wbereupOn, without any kind imprecations,
we fear, upon the author thereof, on so cold a
night, they again betook themselves to their
slumbers. Monday morning was bright, beau
tful, mild, and all rose in high spirits, not
wi,hstanding disappointments, and in spite of
long boards, and linen not over whlte-for
the baggage was all locked up III the cars.
A single car was despatched about 8 o'clock
to Camden, with the Philadelphia passen-
gers among whom were Messrs. Grnnell
and Kempshall of the House of Representa-
tives, from this state. Before L O'Clock, the
engines sent to extricate the car still remain
ing on the Trenton road, returned, and shortly