, 1872-11-27

we're calculated for, and the eating and lodging
places were strained to the utmost. At the
hotel they fed $50 people at meal, and still
they came. The town was lively with the null
titude, who were scattered over the place in
small shelter tents, "prairie Bchoonels.'' and
hastily-constructed shanties.
Some of the people, it is said, came across the
prairies from the Northern Pacific Road q dis
tance of 120 miles, to strike the St. Peter
Road.
AS the camps Of tracklayers and graders came
in they told various stories Of their experience
during the storm.
were caught out beyond the State line in Dako-
ia. He came in as far as Waseca with the relief
train. They left the front on Monday. There
had been no deaths then from the cold, and he
thought most Of the camps: were breaking up
and coming in.
Watson's bridge-builders and Peter Brennan's
tracklayers were still at the west.
It was reported that q man named. Chapel
one Of Watson's force, was frozen to death, and
it is believed that one;or two other men have
.perished from exposure.
One man reported that he was in camp with
sixteen others when the storm overlook them
Their provisions gave out, and for two days the
entire party lived on q skunk which they had
succeeded in killing. He thinks it's worse than
"crow.". John Mosher winds up the story by
saying they had fight over its tail.
a man named Chapman started with four
horse team from the end OF the track to get into
Marshall, but the snow blinded the horses so
completely that be was unable to manage them,
and WAS obliged to cut the leaders loose and let
them go. They we're subsequently found frozen
to death. With the other two horses he pushed
on till he got mired in slough. Still he worked
On perseyeringly, and succeeded in getting one
Of the horses out, but the other Was fast in the
mud and SNOW. The bowling storm warned Chap
man that lie must hasten on. Reluctantly he
gave up his efforts, and left the poor animal to
die, while he pursued his journey with his last
horse. He had not gone far, however, before he
WAS surprised and rejoieed to sec the horse
that he had left come galloping on after them,
having relieved himself from his psrilous posi-
ton, and faithfully followed his mate and master.
Chapman reached Marshall at last, in safety,
glad to have got through with his life.
The suffering Of the people at the western
end is easily explained when the situation is
once understood. They were living in tents
and temporary shantiea, which had to be
gressod westwardly. It was expected that
the work would be finished in q few weeks,
and therefore no permanent winter quar-
ters were provided, and no more provi-
sions were laid in than we're necessary for the
wants Of the men for 8 few days tiule. The con-
supplies were brought by them. Tho sudden and
severe storm coming 80 early surprised them IN
this situation, and compelled most Of them to
beat hasty retreat to the settlements.
statements in regard to the suffering, but it is
believed there have been comparatively few
deaths from exposure, while none are as yet
known from starvation.
One woman and her two children we're found
BY the men Of the relief train lying in the snow
in semi-consciouB condition. They we're taken
aboard the train, and revived on receiving proper
care and mfortable quarters.
After the relief train arrived in Marshall, Col
onol DeGraE decided to push on to the end Of
the track. In company with force OF mon and
three locomotives they started out, but, when
only seven miles from Marshall, the two hind
engines jumped the track just as they had
emerged from q drfted cut upon pile bridge
fifteen feet high. Two Of the engines went
RG1gng to the ouna and were into
the track, but did not go of the bridge.
How the engineers and fremen escaped With
out getting killed is q mystery, but aside from
the fractured leg Of Albert Kluge. there were no
serious injuries.
At the time of the disaster there happened to
be team passing toward Marshall One of
Dedraff's men, George Case, without stopping
to ascertain the full extent Of the accident,
jumped on one of thoee horses and spurred in
hot haste to Marshall, arriving just in time. to
starting for home with the relief train. The
business car Was at once sent to the wreck, and
brought in the wounded and other men on the
train.
Meanwhile the snoW-plow had received orders
to start back and wait at Plum Creek until the
other sections OF the relief train came up. The
accident detained them several hours, and when
they finally got under way they found the cuts
again filed where the snow-plow had passed.
Here was another fight with the snow-drifta, and
it was terrible night Of hard work. The en-
gines got fast in the drifts, and all but ono gave
out. # that should fai1, the whole party would
be Obliged to f!foot it" across the country to
Redwood Falls. The efforts Of all the engineers
were directed to keeping alive this one locomo-
tive. Blankets were burned to keep the pipes
from freezing up, and snoW wa8 melted on the
small cook-stove in the busiuess-ca1, to keep the
pump going. At last, when hope Was we'll nigh
gone, and men were almost worn out with IA
tigue, the shovels succeeded in breaking the
drift sufficiently to give the eng Inc another
chance, and this time the drift was passed.
The hard work Of that night will never be for
gotten by the men who took part in it's perils.
The force Of carpenters under Mr. Doig attack
ed the two fiat carr, loaded With wood and Eawed
it up with han ndsaWs for the engines while the
train was whiZZing along between drifts, and
the wind blowing such gale that the mon Ind
to keep hold Of stakes to prevent being blown
from the car.
!: Superintendent Stewart speaks in the highest
terms Of the faithfulness with which every man
connected with the railroad stood to his post and
nobly did his duty. Among the many incidents
that the event will always recall the fidelity Of
the men in his employ will be among the fore
most.
Mr. Froude to His Assnilnnts.
The fotlowinr ara the renarka with which Mr.