Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-01-08
LU MBUs OHIO, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY

feared the fire from the stoves; and, with
such aid as he could muster, had visited a
railway building some distance away, fore
ed it open, and was seeking how he might
best render it rtenable, when Michigan
Southern train, drawn by three engines,
came in sight. This train was signaled,
stopped, and arrangements were made for
the transfer of the chilled passengers from
the Central train to it.
A distance of three hundred yards. more
or less, was to be traversed. The snow was
deeply drifted. The snow and frost-laden
wind was sweeping the path like storm of
| grape. But it was announced that the pas
sengers would be taken to the city. if they
would instantly make an effort to reach the
Southern train. Haste was necessary in or
der that the engines might not freeze up be-
fore we could get started. Don't man of
you start without taking woman or child
with yOu," shouted Carter "Wrap up,
wrap up close" shouted Butterfield, who,
in his anxiety for others, forgot himself and
frOZe his face, nose and ears, and women
and children undertook the terrible passage.
Cold as it was in the car, those who had not
had occasion to expose themselves to the
storm previously, knew little of the ordeal
through which they must pass in order to
reach the other train. Strong men fell by
the way-frail women dropped down Unable
to step, and were caught up in the strong
arms of men and hurried to the cars insen-
sible. Children, half-clad, were rescued
half-frozen. Few who attempted the jour-
ney escaped being frost-bitten. White
noses ears, faces, and hands marked most of
the Central passengers and many of the
Southern ones, who had nobly rendered aid
In the transfer. The scene in those cars, as
the frozen passengers were helped in, beg
gars description. Men with frozen features
rushed out for snow with which to extract
the frost from the feet and hands and faces
of the women and children, forgetting their
own condition until made conscious of it
by the painful tingling which follows neg
lect in such cases. Children crying, women
moaning and fainting, men shouting and
rushing hither and thither, with snow and
liquors, the rush of cold air through the
open doors, the signal shreks of the en-
.inc, the anxious inquiries of friends for
riends. of mothers for children, of children
or their mothers, combined to make an
Impression that will render the first day of
he new year 1864 ever memorable to those
who were present. Two or three sick
nd wounded soldiers and one or two
women were left OH the Michigan Central
rain, with two or three train hands to
rovide for their comfort. One woman had
iven her eldest child, girl of two and q
alf years, into the hands of a strong man
. carry. He had deposited the child safely
4 the train. The mother attempted to fol-
Nv with babe of four months folded to
er breast. She found she could not endure
: and returned whence she came. And so
lother and child were separated. The lat
II suffered less than the mother probably,
Dr wrapped in heavy shawl she soon fell
sleep, and woke to be carefully fed and
ursed during the succeeding night by Mrs.
I. of this city. The Michigan Southern
rain drawn by the three engines started
nth the added freight for the city. Few of
rs dreamed that there would be serious de-
ention further. Hope of seeing home and
friends and reaching comfortable quarters,
ievived the fainting and animated all. But
,arcely three miles had been passed before
ihe train suddenly stopped. What is the
latter? 'Here are two Rock Island en-
ines frozen up" was the reply. In few
linutes, word came back from. the baggage
ar that the engineer had said that seventy
We engines could not draw the train
trough to Chicago-it was so badly drift
i. Another vigilant person announced
nat the three engines had been detached
ON the train and gone on to the city to
reak the road and get four more to help
lem draw the train in. Hope of help and
IN early arrival in the city did not die out
18th this announcement. The cars were
OF ventilated with Ruttan's ventilators,
nd those of us who had been so ventilated
congratulated each other OH this change of
tmosphere. The hours passed in inter-
mango of experiences among the passen-
ers of the two trains. 1t was reported late
n the afternoon that the three engines had
Tiled in the effort to break through to the
ity, and that Conductor Curtis, of the
outhern train, and one or two other men
ad gone on afoot to get help. 1--WE are to
ay here tonight" was first looked and
Zen spoken by each passenger to the other.
here was passing away of the cheerful |
ess. The stOmachs of most of the passen- |
ers were empty. The children were rest |
,ss and fretful. Women were exhausted
'ith fasting, fright and frost. What about
lel was the question. Itwas soon solved, for
strong voice said, "We shall soon be out of
lel. We must stay here tonight, and fuel |
iust be provided before dark. Here fence
D be broken up, and yonder, on those
lock Island engines, is wood and coal. |
We must get into these cars, gentlemen,
freeze. Let us go at it-come" And |
len who had kept close before began |
> feel the pressure of this appeal. How
lueh woman's eyes can do! They looked |
ito mems faces, and asked, "Are you a
,dn?" And to prove it, men unused to eX-
osure who never handled an axe, never
arried burthens, rushed into the storm and
.iorked like heroes. But man could eX-
rcise in this terribly exhaustive wind but
few minutes at time, and volunteers
rsere compelled to re-enlist several times
',efore the needed supply for the night was
,ecured. There were some selfish ones who
uddled up close within themselves and let
.,thers provide that they might enjoy. NoI
ne envied their enjoyment, however,
again lunch baskets were explored for the
hildrcn and the faint. Again was the eau
ion repeated concerning too hot fires, and
he picture of burning cars and freezing
md frozen freight conjured up to prevent
he incautious feeding of stoves. The
ilraughts were closed. The women said,
''Yes, let us suffer little cold rather than
incur the danger of being without shelter"
And man was placed at each stove to
watch and feed it as it might be safe to do
so. .u.
The day went out into dusk when the
door of the second car was thrown open
and muffled figure, white with frost and
snow, entered and thrilled all present with