The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-03-12

ff|ass1vtssAuE soos1ss s0B-sASrNsvsAvYuPaer
!, atresd.-PlsuEhinK Through the
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
fines. were luxuriating in and appreoiat-
Ing tho really enjoyable day. The dense
piI1o forests eurS Sounding 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
10 the open country West Of here were
being visited by one of those tornado.
Like winds 10 frequent on the plains OF
the far West, accompanied with falling
snow. It was the everlasting report
from ehsdront on suoh occasions, "wind
}'howling, fierce snow storm, drifting
badly, cuts filed and filling up, trains
cannot move," Sc.
FROM certain movements near the de.
pot, I "guessed" the trouble, and made
my way toward that quarter, and soon
asoertained that I had judged Alright
Arriving at the depot, found the two
"work-cars" Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company being prepared for q
trip West and fight with the elements.
These work cars are models in their way,
and brie: description of them will be
OF interest to many. Both are of the
same size as q coach car, 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 small room with two
berths within it. In the dining-car are
stationary tables set, over which on one
side OF the car are three upper bsrths,
for the use of officers of the roud and
conductors. These cars are complete 10
every particular, built strong aud warm,
providing warm, comfortable sleeping
aud eating quarters for officers aud men,
" great Improvement over tho trials and
exposures of lat winter. as experienced
in suow-bnckiDg
Snon snow.plow engine No 33, with
engine No. 23 us ''pusher," handled
by two as brave engineers as ever pulled
a throttle, were coupled on to our work
cara. and away we went. knttling along
rapidly. er. long We were ''out OF tho
wilderness" nnd IN moro open country,
where wc 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
t'razss's mills at about dark. After
some telegrnphing, ascertaining the stu
alton West. Superintendent Hobart
deemed 1T best to GO no further that
night, give the meu nights rest, and
start at day-break in the morning. So
we all partook Of a hearty meal that
would do credit to many hotels Of the
country, had social smoke aud retired
to our berths. After q night OF refresh.
ing sleep, We were awakened at early
morn, ute brcakf .st, and then again
away we went. From this point to Oak
Lake, no trouble was found, but at tho
first ''cut" West Of Oak Lake, the real
work commenced. At Hobart, the train
Was made up in three sectious. the snow
plow. with ''pusher" attached, compris-
ing the first section. An engine hauling
a way car" IN which were forty strong,
sturdy men, armed with shovels, styled
the shovel brigade, being the second
section, and the work.cars making the
third section. In this order, tho train
proceeded. AS have before said, tie
first 'stop' VIC had WAS in cut West of
Oak Lake. Iuto this cut the snow.llow
plunged ut tho rate Of thirty five or forty
miles per hour. On they went, ont Of
sight III II moment; then cume to our
cars one whistle, indicating "stuck !"
Then came in tho system Of tho officers
Of the road. The working trains rou-
tanning the mon were run rapidly toward
the snLDrrgrl snow p!ow, aud in IN in
credibly short space Of time. forty men
were clearing the track. Like molcs in
the ground, they dug from under and
around the two engines the hard-packed
snow. very soon releasing them, when
they backed up, took another run"
at the cut, and, through it. out on the
open track again, they sped onward like
the wind til! they again met like invi.
tation to take a rut," followed by the
other trains as before.
It was my good fortune to sit in tho
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 nn impor-
tant position; n thorough bred, however.