Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-02-23
A Week Adrin.

tFrom the Chicago Journal Of February 81
Our friend Chester, Of the Kankakee Ga
sette, was of the number who we're on the |
train near Dwight, on the Chicago and Mis- |
sissippi Rail Road, en- route for Springfield
last week
The following extracts are from his Jour
nal -
THURSDAY. January 25.
At sunset became imbaddod in snow drift,
and $50 persons on board Of train.
3 o'clock, FRIDAY MoRvtNG.
Wood all gone. Commenced breaking up
the seats and other portions Of the ears, for
fuel, Passengers crowding around the stoves,
shivering with cold
SrNRIsE.--On a vast ocean Of prairie wild
and stOrmy-our windows covered with a
thick glazing of the ice, and the snow driven
into the cars Mt every crevice.
gazing upon each other with anxious faces.
The cold and storm too severe to venture from
the cars; one or two houses seen miles dis
tant; no wood or timber in sight.
O'Clock, A. NJ. Signals Of distress. Mes
sengcrs gone out to communicate our condi-
tion to the nearest dwellings. Express agents
commence breaking open boxes and distribu-
ting cans of oysters. Gentlemen and ladies
cooking, by cutting open one side Of cans
and setting them on the stoves-nothing, even
pepper or salt, to eat with them.
II o'clock, NJ. Passengers thirsty-no
water-oyster cans cleansed with snow, then
filled with the same, and placed on the stoves
to procure water to drink.
l o'clock, p NJ. Two men thoroughly
muhled in blankets, appeared on horseback.
inquiring into our condition, and left on iull
gallon to provide assistance. Found few
railroad ties to cut for wood The inside OF
one car, seats and partitions, burned up to
keen warm Conductor directed the passen-
| gers to begin with the poorest car ana des-
| troy it for fuel, and then the next, rather
than to suffer with the cold
3 o'clock. p. NJ. Children crying for food
| some crackers and cheese arrive met a
| ioyful reception Each one with n handful
| of crackers short allowance oil cheese,
many unable to get any.
O'Clock, p. NJ More provisions. but not
sufficient for each. Divided among the ladies
and children first Engines gone and frozen
up. Men gone in different directions IN nur-
suit of houses Our number reduccd-deer
seen on the prairie-one man goes in pursuit.
| Conductor reports that he can do nothing
more toward advancing US on our journey.
| Two men from the country arrive with teams.
! The members of the Legislature make large
offers to be taken by teams to Bloomington
| One teamstcr offers to take u load to Pontiac
| (l3 miles) for ten dollars apiece some
started on foot arrangements made Tor
another gloomy night on the cars Efforts to
make the ladies and children as comfortable
as possible. The fires in two Of the cars put
out, and the passengers crowded into the + =
mainder for greater warmth an attempt
made to haul car by oxen back to Dwight
station, SIX miles, but failed much com
planning among the passengers.
Saturday morning, o'clock. Conductor
distributing some broken fragments of bread
and fried cakes among the passengers, nc
person allowed to take more than one piece
sent for more provisions. Nearly everything
purchased, paid for at eXorbitant rates. Pas
-engers at work shovellins snow, and mum
bers who have left the ears are severely
frozen. Members of the legislature yer,
anxious to reach Springfield, oh''rin- ulrnos
any terms that may be demanded to enable
th"m to reach Bloomington no teamstc
willing to risk it have been out in the mds
of the tempest to find teams, hut failed.
Cigars nearly gone gentlemen smoking
very carefully the last end until 1t burns
their lips.
Gentlemen begging tobacco to chew ar,
shown little wads of it carefully and econo-
mically saved, and are unwilling to divide.
clock, p. NJ. No dinner; started my
self for Dwight station on foot there found
dinner prepared refreshed myself anC
started on foot for Wilmington, 20 miles dis
tlnt. Three others joined me; met two en-
Gines from Joliet, about three miles from
Dwight, in search Of our party; took us OF
board and ploughed through the snow drifts
being well stocked with wood and provisions
; arrived at Dwight about : o'clock great cx
| citement among the passengers who had ar
rived at Dwight station, at the appearance
= of the engines. Prepared with an additiona
| supply of wood and water, started for th
scene Of distress great joy on board tn
t cars were soon evtricated from the snoN
r drift and returned to Dwight station.
Supper prepared, passengers were seate
once more after u long interval, to suppe
t table, The place afforded no lodgings for tn
passengers-again retired to the cars to spen
= the night. The plow engines went on to brea
= through to Bloomington. An extra locomo
4 tive coming from Joliet loaded with provis
, ions, we undertook to follow the plow toun
the plow engine oil the track in deep sno'
= drift.
e l2 oclock at night. Cars returned to tn
S Dwight station; storm raging again.
? Sunday morning. Track north and sout
t again completely closed engines unable
y move in either direction; passengers appea
gloomy provisions at the station scanty
some of the passengers destitute of money
3 provision made for them great deal OF III
= easiness and excitement among the passer
y gers.
" SUNDAY evening I.ACilclhcht oO4iio " H'
x allayed commenced singing familiar hymns
}, passengers all animated with the music.
y Two seighs with provisions from Morris,
z miles distant no prospect OF being able
l. leave for several days at least. few OF IN
" passengers found rooms in private families
a but nearly all remain on board the cars.
h Monday morning, 3 o'clock. Members
i the Legislature making arrangements at e.
l. travagant prices to go through to Blooming
Is ton by sleighs charges twenty-five cents p'
i mile ; two sleigh loads leave; quarter
= an hour later and all return teams unao
II to proceed the members determining to pr
n ceed on foot dissuaded from it efforts
J. procure other teams
s. Papers of tobacco found smokers BORN
Is out cobs, making large hole at one On
~ for the tobacco, and whiting down the otl
er to put in their mouth. IN place of ciga
, which eleyates them almost TO ecstacies.
>, Tuesday morning Members of the Legl
; ature determine TO make arrangements
"a proceed on foot at o'clock Il four horl
~ sleigh arrives for them, ten members lett
y the sleigh for Bloomington; snow one and
10 half 10 two feet deep on II level ; some OF Il
y passengers are sad at parting from the
. friends under such gloomy circumstances :
m engineers making arrangements TO cut thr
a the snow drifts, intending to leave some
n the passengers unwell for want of sleep, an
"a other comforts of life.
n Wednesday morning. One engine and Ct
n start for the North, with men and shoyels al
such passengers as wish to return, and el
If deavor to cut through to Wilmington, twei
"a ty miles after hard labor, reach heay
10 drift al sunset, within six miles OF that place
they return, fatigued, to Dwight station.
10 Thursday morning, six o 'clock-Start ngai
a91 for the North, 0 o'clock discover an engiI
h from the North coming to rescue us; eleye
la o'clock, cut through engines meet and r
ID turn with great joy to Wilmington the cit
Z zens greet our arrival; road open to Joliet
n the train continues its journey and we bi
W 'frieuds in our mirth--lriends in our miser,
a too, - a kind farewell,