Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-01-19
"The Oldest Inhabitantv Befogged


That gentleman abou, town, the cold.
esq inhabitant." has been exercising his
memory for several weeks past, and look.
ing over the records, to ascertain whether
the like was ever seen beforc,' as the
spell of weather" which has visited us,
the effects Of which has not ct passed off.
The result, at this writing THURSDAY is,
that the old gentleman gums it up
Since the days of the flood" mot our
flood which threw little Harrisonburg into
fits-but Noah's food,) the old weathel-
cock cannot remember distinctly, that as
severe. weather has been experienced in
this latitude. For two weeks we have
been literally freezing, and the ground for
that time has been covered with snow,
varying at times from 10 to is inches
The severity OF an entire winter seems to
have been concentrated into IA days.
The most intense suffering has been expe-
ritneed, not only among the poorer classes,
but all classes. Fowles, also, and animals,
have shared in the general distress. r.
- Those persons who happened to be
travelling, experienced the keenest suffer-
ing. We learn, that at Gordonsyille, at
one time, there were about 800 persons,
many Of them without where to lay their
heads, and with but scan!y allowance 10
satisfy their appetites. The cars were ap.
propriated :or bed rooms and every thing
that come under the head of edible was
consumed. Provisions gave out entirely
There were also many persons in Char
lottesville, detained there, as at Gordons
vile, BY the irregularity Of the ears. A
! gentleman who travelled from Rich mond
TO Staunton during the week, informs US
that the officers and hands on the road
USED the utmost industry and energy in
pushing along, keep moving When
the cars would come in contact with snow
bank they would back the engine, and
take running start at the embankment,
which operation was repeated until the
Engine conquered. By such tedious la
Dor, the cars forced their way to Staunton,
on Tuesday, about noon, after an absence
Of three and a half days. Of course, our
citizens rejoiced with exceeding Joy a. the
| sight Of the herald Of news The untiring
energy Of Mr.. J. H. Timberake, the Su-
perintendent OF the road, is highly spoke
OF by all with whom we have conversed.
Several nights he retrained from sleep, and
applied his entire time TO the interests of
the Road and the comfort O! the passen.
gers. Capts Pierce, Gooch and Swift 1--we
also have heard mentioned ID high terms Of
praise loi their conduct during these scenes
OF trial. In tact, while the officers OF al
most every railroad in the State qua:Ied
before the hurculean labors imposed by the
late SHOWS, the Central cars were constant
ly in motion, and working their way TO
meet their regular time, which, Of course,
it was impossible for them o do. A gem
tleman ho is familiar Will, railroad ope-
ratons in Virginia. remarked to us the
other day. that he believed there was three
times the energy aid industry brought 10
the assistance of the Central Road during
the past lew weeks, Of that employed on
any other road in the State. We learn
that the Orange and Alexandria ears have
not made their connection at Gordonsyile
for IL days. However, from what we
have seen in the Alexandra papers, we
believe that every effort that could be EN-.
ployed Nas used for the relief of the cars,
and the passengers on this road. The
snow storm appears TO Aava been more
severe in that direction. than farther
souta, and hence, we presume the failures
alluded to. s
The Central we believe to be one of the
best managed roads in the State. 1t makes
better time, the officers are mole accom-
modating, and the general business opera
tons Of the road, in better trim, than any
other road on which we have travelled in
the State. ..t..-.s.