The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-27
THE SNOW BLOCKADE.
Twenty-eight Days from San Fran
cisco to Chicago.
Travel Resumed on the Union Pacific Railroad
The Perils and Pleasures of Overland Jour-
ney in Midwlnter- Statement of One the
Travellers-Beguiling the Time Sing
ing Songs. Playing Cards and
Shoveling the Snow.

difficult TO say Tue first passengers overland from
San Francisco in thirty days arrived in this city yes
terday. The story they tell OF their eighteen days.
detention in the snow drifts Interesting one,
and reveals the privatuns and hardshlps which pas.
sengers have had TO encounter on the Union Pacific
the present winter. The statement OF one OF them
TO q HERALD reporter relates the adventures ana
vicisstudes OF the Journey from san Francisco to
Omaha.
In the former city business OF all kinds sun cred
severely by VI the blockade, particularly at
christmas, the merchants not being able to procure
their stock OF holiday goods from the East. Great
indignation was expressed In tne city relative TO the
conduct Oh The Union Pacific officials as 1t was be-
neved That If proper precautions mad been taken
and sufficient money expended the road might have
been
KEPT CLEAR OF SNOW.
the entire winter At the date OF the departure OF
the gentleman from san Francisco the weather was
beautiful, and fruits and flowers of all kinds were
bursting with bloom. The promise OF fruitful
harvest on the Pacific slope has never
been better, and there is every anticipation
Of season OF unprecedented prosperity. On the
nne Of the Central Pacific trouble OF any KIND
was encountered, trains were all running on time,
accommodation was first raie and officials polite
aud attentive. Ogden was reached the 20 Of
February, and here the
TRIALS OF TIE PASS ENGERs
commenced. There were numerous reports OF the
bad condition of the road at Ogden, but the
agents OF the railroad company denied the truth OF
the rumors, and Induced those who were medItatng
stay at salt Lake TO proceed East, assuring them
mat the blockade was certainly raised Ior the win
Ter, and that The eastern terminus OF the road nc
Omaha would De reached Without dltiicuty or dan
ger. Fortified by these seemingly plausible state
ments, all the passengers with the exception OF
few VINO would not be convinced, lett Ogden. A
number Of
LADIES WERE OF THE PARTY,
who undauntediy announced their determination
90 take all hazards sooner than remain among the
ACrmonS Tor an lndeiinne period. The tram
reached Green River without delay though a
numDer Of small snOwdrIits were encountered but
they were noJ sufficiently large to impede the pro-
gre55 OIL Me tram. When Green River was reached
Ihe tram was unaccOuntaby stopped and nothing
could induce those Ia charge 10 proceed iurtner.
Fer5uaslons and solicitations were employed
10 Induce them TO change their Accommodation
bat without erect The partes IN charge were evil
dentiy acling under orders from their superlOrs,
anu could not be induced TO proceed. Subsequent
proceedings proved mat this action, though unsatlS
factory 10 the passengers at The time was the wlsest
arrangement that could be adopted Tor the comfort
o, those Oh board. Green River Is On Inaccessible
LONELY AND UNPEoPLED DISTRICT,
and here the passengers Obliged 10 remain Tor
thirteen Gays. passing tneir time away best they
could. When It became known that the tram
would proceed no further Governor POtrs, a pas
Benger on the train, lelegraphed to San Francisco
ADVISING the people who purpOsed TO travel east not
~ come oy the Union Pacific, rs the road was I'M
passable and blocked ny snow. The employees Of
she telegraph company at San Francisco were evil
ii
Governor Ports received an answer IRON one OF It's
officials requesting hlm to contradict the state
ment or the pass ON which ne was travelling
would be revoked. He refused to DO so,
and purchased u ticket, FORGETTING the pass
There abundant STOCK OF provisions
on the train ana every one had enough 10 eat. SO
THAT inc suffering from hunger which was preva-
lent on the ives .ern bound trains was happily
SenL On Inc WESTERN bound trains the passengers
CRACKERS AND CHEESE
varied by little salt salmon. This meagre diet
produced Its natural results, and the Passengers
many instances were utterly prostraed 10y sickness.
the ladies' the tram bore bravey up against their
trials Tor long Time, but finally succumDed utterly
worn out and exhausted. The eastern bound tram,
lying at Green River, luxuriated In canned meats
with the addition OF occasional bits OF beef ante.
nope, provlded by the skniul markslnen OF the
party d anu served up on grldiron formed
SrOm the side lines along the road For day or
Two the blockade was looked upon as good Joke,
Inc romantic young lazy passengers enjoyed the
thing Immensely and were loud IN their eXcama-
nous OF "How strange p "How delightful p "How
all KING were organized, cards were In requIsi.
zion, and Green River Tor time WAS lively with
well enough for the FIRST day ana lasted through
the second one, but when the tnrd and fourth days
came On change came over the spirit OF the dream.
INDIGNATION MEETINGS WERE ORGANIZER.
dlre threats OF vengeance were INDUCED In against
we Union pacnc officials, and resolutions were
adopted Of the same tenor anu the usual amount OF
JuslifaDle ioolisnness was displayed. Wnen this
amusement had been exhausted stories told
ana songs were sung battles were fought over
again. tales OF flood and Held and love begullcd away
the monotony Of tue time. Even this began to
get tiresome and, as a last alternative the entire
crowd OF passengers commenced the athletic and
exhllaraiing sport Of snovelling snow. TINS manly
exercise occupied belaed travellers for the re-
mainder OF the time The train stopped al Green
River, and was the only genuine enjoyment they
participated III IRON the time OF leaving san Fran
cisco.
During the entire detention there was no oommu.
nlcauOn IRON either East or West and the passen-
gers were entirely cut od from all communication
with the outside word. The supply OF iuel, which
ut the 1rst was very good, commenced TO iail short
mil nj nlr fnnf I'm ma
pie Kept themselves rom beng frozen. The ladies'
were placed III worse position than the members
shOvellers the snow was TOO deep upon the river
allow Of skating, and in any case they had no
skates. but they endured all their sunerlng5 with
patience and herolsm when Is spoken OF with the
highest admiration by all who witnessed their
Part OF the time storms ragged with unparalleled
Jury. The wind blew great gusts and the driving
snow
SWEPT IN HEAVY DRIFTS
against the train driving IN the windows and ex-
unguishing the fires. More than one thousand
men were al work IN the snowy region, but they
could make but little head way against the tremen-
dous blockade. The Western bound trans were
alpgng tneir way along as best they could, making
IN several Instances, but
FOURTEEN MILES IN TWO DAYS.
I'd one OF them the passengers suffered from hunger
and would inevitably have starved mad not a Mr..
nanoI, WHO Is about 10 start restaurant at Green
mitted the hungry crowd 10 take what they wanted
rms Timely assistance was appreciated az It de-
served, and the passengers were loud IN their ex-
presslons OF gratitude TO Mr.. sailor for rescuing
them from an unJimey and horrible fate
on the trains there was great diversity OF optnion
among the travellers relative 10 the conduct of the
Union Pacific officials; some maintained that they
were not TO blame the blockade and mat II could
not nave been prevented by any action thers but
the larger portion were OF different opinion, and
asserted that there was no excuse for such long
delay and hardship and that with reasonable
energy and determination and proper expenditure
of money on the part OF officials who understood
their business the road might nave been kept ear
A number threaten SUIT against the company for the
damages they have sustained by the detention and
the rreparabe loss they have suffered IN their busi-
ness. This, however, is probably mere idle talk,
spoken in the heat Of their natural anger and veXa-
tiOn.
After the lapse of thirteen DAYS the travellers
from san Francisco got aboard the train again and
started for Buffers Greek, sixty-one miles distant
from Green RIVER, which was reached without IN.
corruption. When they arrived at separation the
train was again blocked, there being several large
snow drifts between separation ana simpsons Hill.
The disciples OF muscular Christianity again came
upon the scene and devoted themselves, heart and