The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-07-24
The Overland Trip by a Honolulu Overlander.

Our party left Sacramento at $50 on the morning
of the 18th of May, and arrived at the termination
of the Central railroad at eiD0ut . O'Clock on the
morning of the 18th, Promontory Point being the
terminus ut this writing and from this on, for 12O
miles, we found the road dangerous, as it was not
even ballasted.
Saturday afternoon, May 18th, our train was
stopped this side of the bridge at DEVILS Gate by a
land slide, which had to be removed from the track
before we could pass on. On resuming progress the
train moved at a snail's pace to pass over the dan
gerous bridge over Weber Canon, through which q
stream runs at the rate of Is or 20 miles an hour,
dashing and foaming along, having been swollen by
recent rains. Most of the passengers were afraid to
cross the bridge in the cars, because of the supposed
insecurity of the bridge. Seven of our party pre-
ferred to remain in the cars rather than go out and
take a wetting. particularly as they had no change
of clothing handy, and their luggage could not be
got Mt. The engineer had his wife in the train, and
he informed us that the locomotive would reach the
farther side of the bridge before the last car of the
train came to it, and if the bridge gave way they
could detach the last car and save it. As a matter
Of course some of our party kept as near the end of
the car as possible, in order to jump out in case Of
alarm. 1t was o solemn time when we were silently
listening to the creaking of the timbers and the noise
of the rushing waters beneath us. When we got
safely over we could but thank God that this danger
was past -
1t is a remarkable fact that the engineer and fire.
man deserted the engine until it was safe over, them
ran and took possession. One passenger previously
boosted to me that his life was insured for $25,OOo,
and he did not care about the danger, as in case of
serious accident his wife would be better of. 1t was
suggested to him that many q true word was said il
;acf apd T foupd tho tho oapf1enan did NOT care TO
better his wife's condition when the danger stared
him in the face, for he stepped out of the cars and
walked over. We arrived at Wahsatch in the night,
and the cars were locked, as it was unsafe and even
dangerous to go out at night, for it is said that on
this line there are upwards of a thousand men that
would take any ones life for ten dollars. Truly it
appeared a God-forsaken place. In its burial ground
were 25 occupants, out of which but one had died q
natural death.
Sunday, 10th, we were detained about FIVE hours
ut Piedmont, and learned the full particulars of the
corralling and detention of DIR. Durant and his
party after hearing which I felt satisfied that
Mcintyre and his party had done right in stopping
them. The cause of our detention was that a con-
struction passenger train, with 200 passengers, was
of the track about four miles ahead. 1t appears
that a horse was on the track, which the train ran
on to, and thus threw off the track all but the en-
glne and tender. Inc nrst report gave US eight
killed and nine not expected to live the day out, be-
sides many broken limbs and bruises. Accidents
are very common, many wrecks Of cars being met
with. We passed q wreck and saw nine cars per-
fectly smashed up, and q dead horse by the side Of
the track. We also passed the men at the next sta
ton who had escaped. Our conductor had received
a telegram when at Piedmont, ordering him not to
stop at the station, as the men intended to take the
cars so he maneuvred to pass the station at o quick
rate without blowing his whistle and by their atti-
tude I saw they were disguised. Had they known
our intention they would have turned of our train
and lives might have been lost.
Telegraph operators are stationed every 10 to 80
miles along the route. When we got to the station
beyond we had q different version of the accident,
more were killed and wounded than had been re-
ported. This fourth night out We got q palace sleep
ing car, at Brian, for which we had to pay Sc q
night for a section, thereby improving our condition.
Monday, 18th, we breakfasted at Laramie, adjoin-
ing Fort Saunders, and had a splendid antelope
steak as a chief dish, which cost us S1,25 each in
currency and had our moneys worth.
About q week previous the Indians, some Is, 200
strong, surrounded the fort and demanded provi-
sions, and the garrison not having strength to resist
had to yield or suffer the consequences. During this