, 1864-01-04
THE GREAT SNOW STORM.
1Cp,ttin,ted from F.rst Ih3c.]

lC1'dinaed from F.rst Ra3e1
an early arrival in the city did not die out
with tiis announcement. The c1rs were not
those Of us who had been SO ventilated con-
gratu1ated encl other On this change Of at
mosphere. The hours passed in interchange
Of experiences among the passengers Of the
two trains. II was reported late in the after
noon that the three engines had failed in the
Conductor Curtis, oi the Southern train, aud
one or two other men had gone on afoot to
get help. ave ere to etay here tonight"
was first looked and thcn spoken BY cacn
passenger to the other. There was passing
away Of the checrfulness The stomachs OF
children were restless md fretful. Women
were exhausted with fasting, fright and frost.
What about fuel was the question. It was
soon solved, for a strong voice snid,
awe shall soon be out of fuel We
must stay here tonight, and fuel
TO be broken up, aud yonder,. on those Rock
Islands engines ts wood and coal. We muBt
get 1t into these cars, gentlemen, or freeze.
Let us 60 at it-comeg' And men who had
kept close before began to feel the pressure
Of this appeal How much woman's eyes can
dot They looked into mems faces, and
asked sss yor VIA Ana to Progs II
IN a1c. never carry burthens, rushed into the
storm and worked like heroes. But a man
could exercise In this terribly exhaustive
wind but q few minutes at time, and volun.
tec1s were compelled to re-enllst several
times before the needed supply for the night
who cuddled up close within themselves and
let others provide that they might enjoy. No
ono cnsied their enjoyment however. Again
lunch baskets were explored for the children
and the faint Again were the fires klndlcd
to rednces. Agnin was the caution repeated
picture 81 burning cars and freez.
Ing and frozen freight conjurcd up
to prevent ths incautions feeding
the stoves. The sdraugbts were closed.
The women said, "ycs, let us suffer little
cold rather than incur the danger Of being
: each stove to watch md feed 1t rs 1t might
he safe to do 80.
Tic day went ont into dusk when the door
Of tho second car was thrown open and d
muf1ed figure, white with frost and SNOW,
entered ind thrilled all present With the an
visions from the city. There are two more
teams coming somewhere on the prairie, bnt
1t is getting dark and they cannot find The
train in the face Of this storm. I want mer
to build fire In the rear Of the cars as bes.
con and signal for those teams" hal
score Of men volunteered, which exclamation
OF surprise, admiration and gratitude echoet
from the heart Of every person who had
thoughtfnlly realized the danger we were In
The ire WAs lighted, and about eight O'CLOCK
another team or two came BY Its guidance
to the comfort and relief OF the passengers
The sandwiches sold chicken, tgrseys duck e;
hungry ones. who ate and wondered, and 81
lently thanked the men who had thus brayet
the storm to give them did and cheer. "
learned that Conductor Curtis and NJ
Barnes had reached the city and given It'd
tleman WINS badly frozen, and the latter hat
returned to guide Nessrs. Hough and Man
chester, Of the Southern road, and others t
the train. Several teams Ind started-ou
TWO or three had reached the train; and ho'
any human being could live to ride in such
ter Of establishment to all The attempt Q
the teams to return 10 the city that nigh
failed, VIC learned Saturday morning, M
two or three ladies, who started with them
were badly frozen before reaching shelter
Friday night was Pafssd II eo%pa1atigs % dise CON
sufficient to warm tile car, and closely crowd
ed in the seats, on the floor, and on piles
fuel, we watched over the women and littl
ones, and waited for day 10 dawn.
Toward morning the bowling Of the win
ceased; the snow ceased fltering In thEoug
that the storm had spent its anger. Ther
WINS joy among the passengcrs-a geners
waking up followed Saturday mornln
came, with further distribution Of foot
and vigilant lookout for some signs
help. About eight o'clock an engine ~
seen approaching Us from the east WITH
anow,plou. Before ten o'clock It had scachs
III and hauled US back to the junction. whe
We found two or three other trains waiting
70 in. About twelve O'Clock 1t Was a
nounced that s1etghs from the city had
rived, chartered by the railroad company
wait for the road to be broken;to Ulich's H
tel. These were soon crowded, and afte'
tedious, cold ride, were safely set down
Ulich's, where the chilled and frozen rece1v
every attention from the hospitAble proprl
tors, who refused to receive money +
hasty record of tic why the old year clos
and the new year began with those Of us Y
Tere on railroads In this great storm. L
record Is imperfect, for all that was felt, q
suffered and experienced, canhot be Write
Nor is 1t possible to express the gratitude 4
1t wonld be invidious to mime any Q
as meriting especial praise; but it Is OF
just TO say that every Tailroad man within !
observation md knowledge, on both
Michigan Central and Southern trains,
Ol6 WHOLE Qutf, uQOly huA uuAAHGAAusays.
And am sure that only croaAeF and d.
peptic, too selfish and indolent to take care
any body but himself, would indulge in m
merings and cursings ut the tardiness and
difference Of railway managers. There ".
one or two such characters on the trai
but they awoke no expression OF sy
pathy among the passengers, ein
by word OF act. They belonged
the class of men who did not help the '
mcn md children, aad who grcedily en3o!
the fire for which they had provided no fl
and tue food furnished ct the risk OF tn
lives, by the men against whom they mt
gricvous complaint.
Lam glad 70 eay that these characters v
in 1afEe minority. Aud refer to th
here only that they may be known If Il
should continue to croak in pnblic.
C. D. B