Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-29
On the Icy Submits or the sierras


Six powerful locomotives shrek defiance
10 Inc storm, and we speed away into tie
night ike an arrow. The white drifts are
tossed up over the smoothly rounded mould
boards OF the plough In feathery foam. The
swift wind, accelerated by the marvellous
speed OF our flying train, hurts the Sleet
Keen ana cutting, into our faces and eyes.
FRANK Satterheld, the conductor OF the snow
plough, gives the bell-Tope a couple of QUICK
pulls, and each OF the iron throa ed mon
sters screams out its readiness To rush us
ahead faster. Each throttle valve is wide
open. and the old plough bounds along with
The speed OF n thunderbolt. The train is TuIl
OF show that has drifted in or sliddeu down
from Ine mountains, and the swift apron
strikes il and losses II right and left i'm bill
lowy burrows, that on our right are hurled
500 feet into the canyon. Faster ard sill
faster we go, And YET the speed must he in
creased. Just ahead is where the plough got
stuck TWO years ago and laid all night. Ii
seems impossible that any impediment could
check the onward rush OF the hot breathing
ten wheeled engine behind US. But unless
every pound of steam is being used the
plough will come to a dead halt. We have
reached the regions of the snow slides. 4 bOve
our heads tower the icy SUBMITS of the Ser
fas. Below us Cold Stream Canyon. This
morning an avalanche came rushing down
Just as the snow train was passing
The toys saw the sudden lift along the
rldee, saw the whole face of the mountain
dropping on them, and in another instant
an avalanche OF 5000 tons hurled all its fury
against the train. 1t seemed as If the storm
nends were trying 10 wreak vengeance on
the fearless men and powerful engines that
dared invade their domain. The Old plough
and its train OF engines struggled bTaveiy,
but IL was impossible 10 bore through the
great snow slide. Iron and steel and steam,
brave men, ana plough and engines were ali
locked IN the icy embrace of the avala uche
The face OF the mountain is SO steep that all
The snow which went over the top of the
Train continued Its h 5atlOng plunge into the
cayDon. a man went 10 tunnel 10 aud tele-
graphed 10 Truckee for assistance. Seventy
hVe men came hurrying 10 the rescue with
snOVels and picks and axes, and commenced
digging. IL was O'Clock in the morning
when The slide imprisoned the train, and
oclock found II only partially released. The
passenger engines came up and helped drag
out the buried locomotives; yet with ali the
power Of the five engines aud seventy-fiye
men IL took four hours 10 clear away the
snow and liberate the train. The avail
arches Will be plentiful and unusually terri
bic this winter, A few weeks ago "A slight
snow iell, and after covering the ground
froze solid as ice. On the shppe.y sur
face large quantity Of very damp
snow has fallen. Eight feet of new saOg
has been piled up during this last storm.
IL aslne an area OF nve or ten acres, eight
feet deep, on steep mountain SIDE, suddenly
skating INTO the canyon over u hard, smooth
surface Of ice, and you get some idea of a
Sierra srow-slide. Eagerly We peer out over
the plough TO see IL we are 10 plunge into a
fallen avalanche. AnXiously We look up-
ward TO see If there is any indication OF the
White mass slipping from its foundations. II
we pass this place we are comparatively
safe. Yet why should we Acknowledge any
particular fear, for there Is lady on the
snow plough? Miss Ida MunsOn stanis
boldly on the very top OF the plou gh, as fear
less and uncOncerne1 as the conductor him.
self. When the drifts are tossed over the
plough, she makes no effort TO avoid their
fury. Through all the sleet aud storm and
darkness she has untiinchingly watched the
battle. Ali And it is a battlel A curve
enables us TO look back at the army OF giants
that are straining muscles Of iron and nerves
OF steer 10 hurry US onward despite the wrath
OF the elements. They pant and struggle and
seem 10 De exerting all the marvellous
strength they possess. Their hot labored
breath comes In short, quick, labored pulls
that could be heard for a mile. We are on a
heavy upgrade, and the snow has so filled
the track that IL is almost Impossible 10 pro-
coed. Satterfield again gives the bell-rope a
couple OF quick pulls. The head engine is
like a wheel-horse, always ready TO do what
ever is hidden. Two loud whistle startIe the
echoes along the ridge and In the depths be-
meath us. 1t sounds like demons war cry
Every locomotive must repeat each signal
tnat is given by the head engine, 10 show
that 1t understands what is wanted. There
is marvellous power OF expression in the
voices OF engines. The first is determined
and steady. The second has been straining
every nerve, and evidently has its lever clear
back "around the corner" and the queru-
ious angry screams which burst from its
brszen throat seem to say, $50 faster, If you
can; I'm doing my best already" The third
is perfectly Indifferent about the matter but
is quite willing TO try, and like a sailors
:. o, heave no." Its voice cheerfully responds.
The fourth is utilizing every particle of
steam, and cannot afford to whistle long; so
1t snappishly demands, "More work; less
talk" The fifth gives a half frightened cry
as ifit could go faster, but was almost afraid
to DO SO. The sixth is reckless, whoops like
a drunken Pi- Ute, and gives sudden bound
forward that breaks It's coupling bar short
OF. We are at Tunnel 10, however, and the
mischief can be repaired. When danger is
In the way an engine Will snort SO wildly
that you are startled with horror. Where
n Qeft lie too
engine is running wild" or is disabled, or
In fact when any signal is given, the tone OF
The engines voice conveys full half the
meaning.