The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-23
A SIERRA SNOW PLOW.
A MIDNIGHT TRIP ON THE CENTRAL PAcIFIC-l
TRAIN BURIED IN AN AVALANCHE.

A MIDNIGHT TRIP ON THE CENTRAL PAcIFIc--A
TRAIN BURIED IN AN AVALANCHE.
fCorrespsndence Sacramento Union Record
TRUCKEE, Jan. 4, 1876.
Six powerful locomotives shrek defiance to
the storm, and we speed away into the night
like an arrow. The white drifts are tossed
up over the smoothly rounded mold-boards
Of the pillow in feathery foam. The swift
wind, accelerated by the marvellous speed OF
our flying train, hurls the sleet, keen and
cutting, into our faces and eyes. Frank Sat
terfield, the conductor of the snow pillow,
gives the bell-rope a couple of quick pulls.
and each Of the iron-throated monsters
screams out its readiness to push US ahead
faster
Each throttle-valve is wide open, and the
old pillow bounds along with the speed Of
thunderbolt The track is full OF snow that
has dritted in or slidden down from the
mountains, and the swift apron strikes it and
losses it right and left in billowy burrows that
on our right are hurled 500 feet into the can
yon Faster and still faster we go! And yet
the speed must be increased. just ahead is
where the pillow got stuck two years ago and
laid all night. 1t seems impossible that any
impeachment could check the onward rush of
Us. But unless every pound Of steam is being
used the pillow will come to dead halt We
have reached the region of the snow slides.
Above our heads tower the icy SUBMITS OF
the Sierras. Below US is Cold Stream Canyon.
This morning
AN AVALANCHE
came rushing do xn just as the snow train was
passing. The boys saw the sudden rift along
the ridge, 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
fiends were trying to wreak vengeance on the
fearless men and powerful engines that dared
invade their domain. The old pillow and its
train Of engines struggled bravely, but it was
impossible to bore through the great snow
slide. Iron and steel and steam brave men
and plow and engines were all locked IN the
lev embrace Of the avalanche. The face Of
the mountain is 50 steep that all the snow
which went over the top of the train continued
it's headlong plunge into the canyon.
man went to Tunnel IL and telegraphed
to Truckee for assistance. Seventy-fve men
came hurrying to the rescue with shovels and
picks and axes, and commenced digging. 1t
was o'clock in the morning when the slide
imprisoned the train, and o'clock found it
only partially released. The passenger en-
gnes came up and helped drag out the buried
locomotives; yet with all the power Of the
five engines and seventy-fve men it took four
hours to clear away the snow and liberate the
train. The avalanches will be plentiful and
unusually terrible this winter. few weeks
ago slight snow fell, and after covering the
ground to the depth Of three or four inches,
froze solid as ice.
On this slippery surface q large quantity of
very damp snow has fallen. Eight feet OF
new snow has been piled up during this last
storm. Imagine an area Of five or ten acres,
eight feet deep, on steep mountain side,
suddenly skating into the canyon over hard,
smooth surface of ice, and you get some idea
of Sierra snow.slide. Eagerly we peer out
over the pillow to see if we are to plunge into
fallen avalanche. Anxious'y we look up
ward to see if there is any indication OF the
white mass slipping again from its founda-
tons. If we pass this place We are compare
lively safe. Yet why should we acknowledge
any particular fear, for there is
LADY ON THE SNOW PLow.
Miss Ida Munson stands boldly on the
very top of the pillow, as fearless and uncon-
cerned as the conductor himself When the
drifts are tossed over the pillow she makes no
effort to avoid their fury. Through all the
sleet, and storm, and darkness, she has I'M
finchiugly watched the battle. All! And it
il a battle! A curve enables US to look back
at the army of giants that are straining mus
cles of iron and nerves OF steel to hurry US
onward despite the wrath of the clements.
They pant, and struggle, and seem to be ex-
erting all the marvellous strength they pos
sess. Their hot, labored breath comes IN
short, quick, labored putfs that could be
heard for a mile. We are on heavy up
grade, and the snow has so filled the track
that it is almost impossible to proceed.
ho hall. q NnnnlQ
of quick pulls. The heod engine Is like
wheelhorse. always ready to do whatever is
hidden. Two Loud determined whistles
startle the echoes along tue ridge and IN the
depths beneath us. 1t sounds like demons
war-cry Every locomotive must repeat each
signal that is given by the head engine, TO
show that it understands what IS wanted.
There is marvellous power Of expression IN
the voices of engines. The first is deter
mined and steadT. The second has been
straining every n1Tve, and evidently mas us
lever clear back "arounl the corner, and
the querulous angry screams which burst
from its braZen throat seem to say, 10 las
ter 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 sailors
"Yo, beave ho, It's voice cheerily responds.
The fourth is utilizing every particle Of steam,
and can not afford to whistle long; so it snap
pshly demands, "More work; less talk.
| The fifth gives hali-frightened cry. as if it
could 60 faster, but was almost afraid to do so.
The sixth is reckless, whoops like drunken
Piute, and gives a sudden bound forward
that breaks its coupling bar short Oft. We
are at Tunnel ID, 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 When there is fire or
| fha snaaA IN tho great or an engine is running