New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-08
THE REALITIES OF THE RAIL.


To The Editor oJ The N. y. Tribune
SIR: All the beauties Of Railroad travelling have
not vet been told. The following report of recent
trip may interest some Of the thousands of your
readers.
He:5oa M, March 10, started from Berlin, Conn,
with a compsuy for Iowa. Arrived at New-York all
right Were told at the Office of the Ede Railway,
that we could not go their road by reason OF the
snow near DunkiIk. They would sell us tickets at
our own Iisk but advised us not to CO. This was
honest All honor to the Erie Company and their wor-
thy tcliet-man.
Al the Office of the New-York Central, were assured
that thar route was ceGT-thst pas eogers had come
tbre ugb from Chicago daily. Had fears and made
car efu Inquiry both at the depot and at two Offices IN
Er adway. Friends of more experience SAID 1t was
safe to CO. .u
1890 Were there told that no train had come or gone
beyoLd Rochester for several days. Concluded, never
theless TO 90 aorg Conductor gave dismal accounts
Of the accun ulaiDg muudes at Rochester, and SAID
the officers at NewYOrk must have known the facts.
Passenger began drop of to find lodgings, or to re-
Turn BY the first train East. We concluded to 60 for
ward with the multitude.
Arrived at Rochester at ESQ a. IN. thursday, q
hour behind time but no obstruction thus far. And
lOwbat a crowd Passengers had been there two or
three days, without lodgings. Many had returned.
Took rooms at Congress Hal, concerning which We
heard and .ad sad reports OF mercess gongng.
or too gentemnuly to be abused, or perhaps he had
felt the power of printers ink He charged us but IS
for six half dinners and suit of comfort ibe rooms.
A train having come i'll, said to be direct from the
Falls we left Rochester at 80 p. IN. with twenty-five
loaded cars and two engines, leaving half as many
more loaded cans behind Arrived at Lockport az .,
and here was,
DEAD SET.
Snow ahead ten feet deep, and 300 men shoveling.
No train through since Monday. The train arriving
at Rochester at hao just been dug out below Lock
rort where II and passengers had rested three days
Soon another train arrived from Rochester Two
locomotives, with two car loads Of shoveler, went
forward 10 see what they could see. At l9 they re-
TUNED with an additional engine and reported al
clear. Then at IL p. m, with tram OF 8; car,
drawn by four powerful engines we crept slowly IoT
ward. Snow in many places high as the tops OF
the ca E. ,
At2a. Of Friday, arrived in Queen Victoria's
doninions, a long time being consumed IN taking the
monster Il ain, piece meal, across the bridge. let
some nervous old ladies before they knew 1t.
A RICH SCENE!
May we never see the like again. Passengers from
the Wet had been accommodating for four days, and
with those now arriving from the East, there was "A
multitude which no man there and then could number.
Ii could not have been less than 5000 motley crowd
of men, women and children. Vulga men, shouting
and swearing, and tired babies crylng-rehned del
cate ladies aud dirty emgrants-al clusses and con-
tons in one perfect jam. No place of rest could be
found. Feeble women with children in their arms
stood in that crowd the veong night or sat upen the
only floor, walked III tLe cOlu HiguJ VI
sixty passengercars stood there empty, but no one
could be found 10 open until near daylight! Then
one was opened for ladies only a husband not being
allow ed to accompany an exhausted wife and end
AT length az tie day began 10 dawn the cars began
to be warned, and one by one to be slowly opened.
The weary throng, many OF whom had seen dsys and
nights without comfortable rest, for many could not
rest at Rochester for fear Of being ef eagerly avaied
themselves Of the luxury OF car-sea instead o Ded
And the baggage-what a mass full hali.acre
of
valises and bundes, all arranged in such beautiful dis
order! Some in the luggsge-room, some on the plat
form, and some on the snew-eome sound, and some
stove in, with the contents rat'ling out. Certainly
was s.ght," or would have been if there had been
hglt. And from this unarangcd mass the passengers
were told they must select their luggage. 1t was
dark with only here and there small lantern IN the
bano. Of the cleek.men, who were constantly crying
out " Passengers TiH please sC!cct their baggage"
Therefore, over those trunks and boxes, bags and
baskets tior there was no other way men walked or
tumbled in the dark in search of their property True,
the conductor of the Newly ok Central did say in the
hearing of few, as be was abou, TO back over the
bridge, "There will be time enough after daylight for
the election of baggage. But the multitude heard
nothing of his and the baggage-men were constantly
calling out to passengers to find their baggage, and
bring il forward for change of checks. les, pas
sengen compelled TO find their luggage, and lug
it themselves over through that confused mass,
leave behind. Some found their property, some did
not. For shame officials of the Greet Western Rail
Road who could sleep quietly in your comfortable
beds while all this suffering and confusion was en-
cvuntered at Your station VIII il be said that thi.
was an unusual crowd which You could not prevent,
and for which you could not provide' Then you
should have made unusual effort at least 10 mitigate
their suffering. II YOU could not direct strangers
10 LODGINGS you could have had your warmed
and lighted and open 10 your passengers. Instead of
this netting was done for comfort. Even the
usual method Of changing gage-chtcks was now
thrown overheard, and, apparently, nothing was OF
ten pied for our comfort.
AT length, one hour behind time, we again started
for the West with ten capable Of seating 600, but
containing 40 persons. We had seats but IN pity for
those who had noue, inerceded for more cars yet
in vain Plenty of them standing empty at the
Falls and strong horses abundantly abe 10 draw them
more than enough to take the emigrgAs and Others
left behind-and other Idle al the way
stations. Yet those who had not brass enough 10 de-
mand 81 ats stood twelve bours during that weary ride
of $50 miles except the compassion OF more favored
passengers afforded occasional ehef.
ALMOST An ACCIDENT.
On stopping at one of the wsy-statiOns II was dis
covered that the forward truck Of of the baggage
cars was nearly demolished. II appeared that the tire
of the wheels had fst broken, then the rim Of
the Wheel and lastly the framework of the truck
badly broken, and some of it gone. No one seemed
to have known IT until we stopped. IL miracle,
almost that were not all dashed down some high
enbaDk ment. Nothing but the constant strain of
drawing the great load behind had supported the for
ward end of this heavily laden car.
Another car was brought alongside and the baggage
man began 10 Mroc the trunks &C.. end over end
into Il Messenger Standing by demonstrated earnest
into tha and AZ, -