Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-03-11
A Fearful Ride.

Adaring feat was performed on = un.
day night between Emigrant Gap and
Blue Canyon by Thomas Forsyth, en-.
gineer on tho snow-plow LOGON olive
No. 70. 1t seems that the snow pillow
and Ave engines left Emlgrant Gap In
the evening to clear away the snow to
Blue Canyon so that the up bound pas
senger train could get through. When
within two and three quarters Of a
mile OF Blue Canyon the four rear
locomotives ran of tho track, also the
tender Of tho forward locomotive, No.
IS. 1t was storming at = fearful rate
and the snow lay on the track to the
depth Of from two to three feet. Nc
help could be- expected from tho pas.
senEer engines at Blue Canyon to pull
the ditched engines on tho track again
unless the snow-plow could be forced
through first and clear the track. The
only ray Of hope to speedy raise the
blockade was In getting the tender oil
locomotive No. IS Of the rails again,
aud using the full power Of the single
engine In making an opening through
to Blue Canyon aud getting the assls-
lance Of the three passenger engines.
by dint Of almost superhuman exer.
tions and = crew Of nearly one hundred
men, Nate Webb, Superintendent Of
the snow-plow department, soon has
the unlucky tender on the rails again.
Steam on the engine had been nurses
up In the meantime until the pres
sure indicated $50 pounds to the
SQUARE Inch. When all was ready
for a trial, Webb told engineer
Forsyth that no must make Blue Can,
yon or land his snow pillow, engine and
tender at the bottom OF tho American
River Canyon. The Unbelievable
was thrown wide open, the engine
and the forty-ton pillow In front started
forward on tho steep down grade, n
II lmpelled by the force Of gunpowder.
Fortunately, Immediately In front oil
the plsw for a hundred yards or so,
the track was comparatively free from
snsw, and the locsmotlve was under
Roadway when 1t struck the first drlft.
On 1t flew, with irresistible force, al
the rate Of nearly q mile q minute,
dashlng the snow fifty feet In the air,
a. II Ii had been but the llghte't spray:
Around the steep curves 1t clrcled and
swept with full head OF steam, and
crowded to Its utmost speed. Super.
intendsnt Webb had telsgraphed to
Blue Canyon In advance to have the
switch turned 80 as to throw the pillow
on n side track, aud thus avoid a col
lision with the passenger train. The
result Of the trial was watched with
"bated breath" by tho men who were
with the ditchsd engines, and by par:
ties ut Blue Canyon who were TOLD
what WAS going OIL. All seemed to un.
derstand the extreme peril OF the ride,
and that II the engine or snowplow
Jumped the track certain death at the
bottom Of the canyon awaited the dsr.
ing men on board. In just three min.
utes from the time Forsyth received
the command to go" q dispatch
came back to webb-"No. IS has ar.
riyed-all right" The distance, II
will DO remembered, was two and
three-fourths miles. Webb commsni.
Gated the glad tidings to his men, and
all united In three rouslng cheers for
Forsyth and the daring feat he had &c
compllshed. The enthusiasm OF the
moment was so catching, that even tile
sovcnty.llve stolld Mongolian laborers
present mingled their shrill yells IN
the general chorus Of cheers. IL would
be unjust for US to omit to mention
that Walter Robb. during that light.
Ming ride Of three min utes, was at hli
post on tho snow.plow In front. But
IL made little difference whore a maj
| rode on that train. IL was certain
death In front or rear In case OF accl.
dent.