The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-29
STORM-BOUND TRAINS.
Shameful Example Of Rail-
road Neglect.
SIXTEEN HOURS IN THE SNOW.
Four Trains Stuck Fast in the
Metropolitan Suburbs.
What Wornout Locomotive Did-An Night on
the Track-Women and Children Eating
Gnow-A Frozen Conductors Hero
ism-No Food, No Fire, No Water.

Enow-A Frozen Conductors Hero
ism-No Food, No Fire, No Water.
singular and most reprehensible example OF
laundering incompetency AID mismanagement was
displayed on the line Of the New York and New
Haven Railroad on Thursday last, and though not
attended with any very serious results, about one
thousand persons, comprising men, women and
children OF all ages and conditions, subjected
to great suffering, privation and inconvenience.
In order, however, not to influence the public
Judgment in the matter it will be perhaps best not
to characterize the ''fiuken and the outrage on
public rights which 1t led to in too severe terms
but simply to let Of the parties anected tell his
own story.
At this particular season, when all the railroads
are 80 much Inconvenience by the phenomenal
snowfall OF the past few days, IL is or course
matter Of extreme difficulty to keep the lines in
running ORDER and the public Ia not so exacting
to expect the trains to make schedule time. A
fair efort In the public interest is all that is de.
handed Hearing, however, that several pas
senger trains were blockaded on the New York
and New Haven road just above Morrisania, or In
other words
IN THE SUBURBS
OF the city, on Thursday last HERAL1 reporter
passenger on one Of the trcsns In question to
learn and give to the uEolic his version Of the
story. The gentemars Whose story is appended,
objected, however, to the publication Of his name
at present, but he Is well known citizen and says
that should his statement be denied he win then
come publicly forward.
The reporter found him late yesterday after
moon, "after the Matinee" in the mana
gers room OF a well known and popular up
town theatre Upon being informed OF the object
Of the reporters visit the gentleman said :
in fact in any way, In this matter; but In the IN.
terest of the public think 1t should be told, and
am willing to tell You y% S INST wnas
was. II my statements are questioned will then
back them up.o
on what line was this blockade in which you suf-
fered?n
ut was-let me see-day after Christmas that's
York and New Haven road, and we were blocked
up for about sixteen hours
the reporter.
Between no cities, but right here, in New York,
IN ten uss MY sor and them Sen
any questions you want TO ask I'll answer-if
can. II can, mind you! | never promise to do
then. was at fremont, and left there to come
to New York shortly after four O'Clock on Thursday
tender, baggage car, think, and three passenger
cars The snow was pretty deep and falling fast,
and when we had got perhaps mile or two this
side OF fremont the whole thing came to o dead
standstiil and
WE WE'RE STUCK IN THE SNOW
or course the passengers myself among them,
thought we should soon get along and for little
while paid no attention. but when we had been
there half an hour we began to look about. We
CINE and found that there it was where
the trouble lay. The locomotive was a busted
thing that wouldn't draw prize On policy ticket,
let alone three or four railroad cars. cit actu-
way as was veil proved by the fact that trains on
the other track consisting OF more cars and going
through the same depth OF snow, passed frequently
at good speed. The conductor OF our train, whose
name don't know beyond the fact that ne was
called Frank really seemed to be good man,
get get US out Of our difiicalty. He sent
dispatches to the superintendent asking for mo-
tive power, and telling him OF our position; but
understood the answers were to the effect that he
must
GET HIS TRAIN OUT HIMSELF
heard this in relation to several dispatches and
replies At last darkness set in, and our condition
became critical Other trains kept coming on be-
hind us, one being New Haven train and another
was called 1.-The Boston Express There was
still another, making four blocked in all, all
Of them being passenger trains and contain
n s0S Many ssm haS ravesd
all day, and were pretty well exhausted, particu-
larly the ladies and children, and it was now sup
per time, with many persons hungry and no pros
poets OF supper. Frank, the conductor, had been
doing everything that lay in his power, and was
almost bored to death by the indignant passengers,
but he was notresponsibe for 1t. He waded about
in the snow rom one train Tor engine) to the
other asking questions, trying to devise means to
get out sending dispatches to the superintendent,
and worked In every way till
AT LAST HE CAvED IN
from sheer cold and exhaustion. His hands and
feet were frozen; he became insensible and we all
thought he was going to die. We brought him into
spread warm clothing. such as we could get, over
him, but 1t seemed no. nse and we felt sure he
would not rally. He was In this condition all night.
Toward midnight things began TO look desperate.
The passengers In the trains behind us began to
come to our train looking for wood, as theirs had
cold. II SO happened that we were better provided
with wood than they, and we managed to keep
could you supply them with anything at all ~
asked the reporter.
''Oh, no. we gave them a little wood, I think,
but We mad nothing else and not much oil that to
give. The water In the filters was exhausted, and
no one had anything to eat and people began to
THIRST, COLD HUNGER
and loss OF sleep. 1t was pitifu, indeed, to hear
the little children crying In every car, and their
mothers, themselves SUFFERING trying to soothe
them. The snow, OF course, continued to iall, and,
tell you, things looked very bad. Our conductor
still lay insenslble. The women and children on
many Of the cars had to eat snow TO quench their
thirst, and this only increased their desire for
water, besides causing them internal palms. as they
Were there no armhouses near from which you
could get assistance ~
'Wait minute, replied the narrator; II was
just coming to that. began to get desperate and
thought must have some warmth and sleep II !
couldn't get food; so started cut In the darkness
to founder through the snow, looking for house
where might get bed till morning. VIII only
say that was about an hour or two away and
came back. hadn't gone very far had found
no house, and got back to the train
WET, COLD AND EXHAUSTED
to the last degree. Everybody became demoralized
and made mp their minds that there was nothing
to do but TO wait there till daylight or until help
came. Meantime, however, information had been
sent along the line l suppose from New York,
about the blockade and the other trains that came
down during the night on our track were switched
on ut some northery station, and passed us during
the night on the other track on their way down to
New York. II was suggested that signal should