The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-12
ACROSS The CONTINENT" In WINTER
Eight Hundred California 'Passen-
gers Arrived at Chicago.
TWENTY DAYS in THE SNOW DRIFTS.
from the Chicago Tribune, Jan. o.l

Itrom the chicago tribune, Jan. D.
Yesterday morning about two O'Clock the North
western Railroad landed IN this city $50 passengers
who had been delay ed the Pacific Railroad.
Some of them left San Francisco on the 10Th ult.,
and had consequently, been confined IN their gided
cages nearly three weeks. Long confinement had
not however, Injured them to captivity. All OF them
were weary, hungry, lndlsp osed ana thoroughly
satlated with railroad riding. some OF them lett
this City by the early trains Yesterday morning,
anxious to reacn their destinations But most OF
them stopped over few hours To recuperate their
exhausted energies and to see the devastation Of
burnG-out Chicago.
The trains west of Ogden, which Is something
over eight hundred miles this side OF San Francisco,
have not been detained, except by ordinary accl.
dents during the winter. Since the 2lst ut trains
have lett Ogden very rregularly for Eastern points,
Nearly all the delay has been between Percy and
Cheyenne, distance OF l5) miles, creeping over
which brief space the first train out was occupied
nearly two weeks The present season, as compared
with former seasons In the mountains has been
one OF unusual rigor. The first winter after the
opening OIL the Pacific Railroad considerable tronbe
and delay was experienced. The snOwsheJs were
either burned or broken IN by the great weight OF
deep cuts and gullteS where protection was
most needed. The delay OF that winter
tailed serious Inconvenience upon travellers and
great expense upon the company. since that time
there have Deen occasional delays, which were sci.
dom long continued. A tram would be stopped TWO
or three days upon some portions OF the route aud
make the rest or the distance without hlndrance.
The experiences OF this winter have been different.
One stoppage I'm snowbank has been only the pre-
Jude 10 innumerabe similar Inconvenience and de-
lays.
From some Of the through passengers who have
retained sufficient equanimty to permit oil their CIV
ing detailed account OF their experience we have
obtained the facts which we give herewith the
storm which OCcaslOned the trouble occurred the
2lst of December. Intelligent gentlemen inform
us that, as near as they could TELL the fail
OF snow did not anywhere exceed twelve inches
in depth But 1t was fine, light and dry and
easily blown from place to place. For some days
succeeding the storm strong westerly and north
westerly winds blew necessarily. The snow
driven into the gues along the track, the
DRIFTS being sometimes as nigh the roofs OF the
cars. Wherever the snow drifted 1t packed closely.
The engines could make no Impression on It, and
they never ventured to proceed until the track was
entirely clear The snow pioughs experienced the
running of the track Great care naa to he used
10 avoid such contingencies. So rapidly would
snow accumulate that fe " minutes alter the pas
sage OF q tram the track would be again rendered
Snow pioughs were scattered all through the re-
gions OF the highest altitude from Ogden to Chey-
enne; but their number Tell lar OF the exigen-
cies OF The case. Laborers were distributed over
$50. The aggregate number employed could not
have aen snort of 1000, yes these proved very
had not been iuly appreciated by the company,
consequently they were poorly prepared
were able There was at first good deal OF swear.
ing and card playing, united with the i'm
bibailon Of wnskey; second, great deal OF lorag-
used to say and, third, moderate amount OF rell-
gion on sundays.
There were Jour trains that were showed In for
different periods OF tlme-tnose leaving san Fran
cisco on the 10th, 2Cth, 22d ana 26th Most OF the
passengers were first class. ana there were many
persons OF distinction on board There were about
500 persons all told. Quite number had Just ar
rived on the Pacific mall steamer from CHINA and
Japan, and the Union Pacific offered them dis.
count OF S28 to get them to go overland. These
persons felt very much Irrtated at the delay and
Omaha. Other through pass enpers felt consider
able Indignation at the discrimination made against
themselves. Among the distinguished travellers
We're several gentlemen, one OF them belonging
to the British Consular force at one Of the north
nnlQf IN thn
ment stoicay, and came through with only an IN.
creased tinge OF sallo gness upon his cheeks and
Count Pmlliphus, Russian Consul a. NagasakI, IN
Japan, jolly good fellow. VITO was the life Of his
car. He ala not in1:,ge in philippines, although MS
name would Fave warranted MIN in little excess
oil bitterness. Senator Cole, OF California, and his
newly elected colleague, Mr.. A. A. Sargent, were
were along, rather for show than 1t would seem,
as there was not shadow OF a redskin to be seen
was on the way from San Francisco to Washing Washing!
ton. She TOOK her hard tack and coffee with the
ras w nd OF was h sappy I%9 ns @
offered their services to conduct divine worship
Oh sunday. One Of them ollciaed, the music being
senger ali uniting in The chorus The other a" would
also have oicIated, but the conductor finding
mat car were opposed to that manner OF spending
me .,uvyu,n, atylne service Wa ..,,..ttod: One
was the Rey. Mr.. martin, from Allegheny City, and
tne olner Rev: MT. Devoe, OF Newark, NJ,
THE TERRIBLE DELAY
The detention was especially dIsagreeabIe and
lrksome to most Of the passengers some OF whom
mad had long voyage at sea, others having urgent
business and nearly all desiring to reach their
various destinations during the HOLIDAYS. Three
gentlemen DESTROYS OF making good time he
cause their wedding day was fixed Tor The hOlIday
week. and delay might be iata. we trust that the
orange flowers VIII not wher nor the BRIDES cake
become Stale pelOle they reach their destination
THE FEED.
One or the trains was supplied with hotel car.
Persons Oh the tram 10 which 1t was attached had
regular meals with but TWO exceptions. People
on the other trains Jared poorly. Some had brought
along q liberal supply from home anticipating
delay. But these stores, however ample gave out
AZ length. The iare at the section eating houses Is
aes s as Simply execrabe, the supply limited
ana the cooking utterly wretched Besides the snow
bocSade had prevented these pioneer restdurateu,s
from getting Their ordinary Stores from the East
one tram was furnished by the company with
crackers anu halibut, very appetizing when taken
IN small quantities. but hardly the thing for steady
uet Black conee and bread IN some shane were
the staples OF food. Elk and antelope steaks
cooked In pork fat, were TO be had at times In con.
siderable quantities. Occasionally q passenger would
get square meal'' from telegraph operator or q
clvlilzed household at one OF the small villages
alonR tue road, and would be, for o Dief period,
happy
Tue longest time between San Francisco ana
chicago was twenty days, just two weeks over
bcneuuie time. The experience OF the travellers dId
NOT aunt ora wide variety. The samenesa OF the