The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-03-12
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Tuesday afternoon last in Brainerd WAS
warm. beautiful day, inviting in the
extreme in this latitude at this season of
the year, and the denizens of the City of
Pines. were luxuriating in and appreoiat.
ing the really enjoyable day. Tie dense
pine forests surrounding the city exclude
the wind entirely. and while We were en-
joying With zest the change in the tenn
perature OF the day. the people from ont
IN the open country West of here we're
being visited by one of those tornado.
ike winds TO frequent on the plains OF
the Tar West, accompanied with falling
snow. It was the everlasting report
from thefront on such occasions, wind
bowling, fierce snow storm, drifting
badly, cuts filled and filing up, trains
cannot move," sc.
From certain movements near the de.
pot, "guessed" the trouble, and made
my way toward that quarter, and soon
ascertsined that had judged Alright.
Arriving at the depot, I found the two
"work-cars" Of tho Northern Pacific
Rallroad Company being prepared for a
trip West aud fight With the elements.
These work cars are models in their way,
and brief description of them will be
OF Interest to many. Both are Of the
same size as cosoh-oar. having under
meath the floor large tool.boxes built,
access to which is gained from the out.
side. One OF them is fitted up after the
manner Of Pullman sleeping coach,
finished much palmer. of course, having
lower and upper berths running the
whole length Of the Car, each berth being
provided with mattresses and good sup
ply OF blankets. The other cur is used
as dining-car, having kitchen parti-
toned of, also q small room with two
berths within it. In the dining-car are
stationary tables set. over which ou one
side OF the car are three upper berths,
for the nse Of officers of the road and
conductors. These cars are complete 10
every particular, built strong and warm,
providing warm, comfortable sleeping
aud eating quarters for officers and men,
" great Improvement over the trials and
exposures of lat winter, as experienced
IN suow-bucking.
Snon pillow engine No. 33, with
engine No 23 rs ''pusher," handled
by two As brave engineers as ever pulled
throttle, were coupled on to our work
cars. and away we went. battling along
RAPIDLY. er. long ws we're tout of tho
wilderness" and in moro open country,
where NC soon discovered severe
change in the atmosphere. No snow of
any amount was met. with for the first
sixty miles. at which distance we reached
frazos's mills at about dark. After
some teleGraphing, ascerlaining the stu
alton West, Superintendent Hobart
deemed 1t best to go no further that
night, give tho men i nights rest, and
start at day-break in the morning. So
we all partook Of q hearty meal that
would do credit to many hotels of the
country, had social smoke aud retired
to our berths. After night OF refresh
ing eleep, we were awakened at early
morn, ate breakf .st. and then again
away We went. From this point to Oak
Lake, no trouble was found, but at the
first cut" West Of Oak Lake, the real
work com mence5. At Hobart, the train
was made mp in th.eo sectious, the snow
plow. with ''pusher" attached, compris-
ing the first section. An engine hauling
way car" in which we're forty strong,
sturdy men, armed with Shuvels, styled
the shovel brigade, being tho second
section, and the work cars making the
third section. In this order, The train
proceeded. AS l have befora said, tie
first "stnp' VIC hae was in cut West of
Oak Lake. Iuto this cut the snow.rlow
plunged at the rate Of thirty five or forty
miles per honr. On they went. out ol
sigh! III Il moment; then cnme to our
ears "ne whistle, indicating ''stuck :"
Then came in tho system IF tLo officers
of the road. The working trains cou-
tanning the men were run rapidly toward
the snLDrrgel snow.p!ow. aud in uu in.
crediby short space of time. forty men
were clearing tho track. Like moIcs in
the ground, they dug from under and
around the two engines the hurI-packed
snow, very soon releasing them, when
they backed up, took another run"
ut the cut, and, through it, out on the
open track again, they sped onward like
the wind till they again met like invi-
tation to take rut, followed 10y the
other trains as before
It was my good fortune to sit in tLs
cab OF the snow.plow, behind Mike
Grace, travelling engineer OF the road "a
small-built, quiet, unostcntatious man,
such as no one would suppose, from his
appearance, was holding such nu impor-
tant position; a thorough bred. however.
in whom the company have every coua-
dencc. Sitting there quietly, looking
0hena, saying but little, we soon came in
ci,,l,f ~