The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-04
fredericksburg and Potomac Rail
road.

|
The snow.Seorm Along the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Rail
road.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.j
RICHMOND, January 2, 1877.
| may say I "was out" in yesterdays
snow-storm. left Richmond by the 8 A.
N. train on the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac railroad for Alexandria, the
weather being bracing, cool, and only
puts it. At Ashland the sky was overcast
and leaden. AS we paused s'tive minutes
| for refreshments at Milford, the snow
! storm, rushing from the south, overlook
us. 1t came on like ten thousand old wo-
men. picking eider-ducks for wager, and
| in its binding whirl enVeloped the train till
| I left it at Alexandria at P. NJ. -.
Snow, snow, nothing but snow, all the az
nernoon, and when / stepped aboard the re-
turning train at P. n. it seemed to be
coming down faster than ever, and was
tossed into heavy drifts behind ditch. banks,
and around house-corners. But the cars
were snug and warm, and it was COM
Portable reflection, as settled down into .
seat, that in five hours 1 should be under
the antiquated but cheerful gas-lamps Of
Richmond. Between Alexandria and Guam
tico there are no deep " cuts" and we ar
rived at the latter place only some twenty
minutes behind time. Here we expected
to change engines, and then hasten
homeward speedily and safely over
one OF the best equipped and
best managed roads in the country,
with no horrid iron Howe-truss bridges to
haunt our imaginations and make us afraid.
But we quickly learned that we might have
detention il not dangers to encounter. The
dry snow having drfted heavily in the
many deep cuts between Quantico and Mil
ford, two engines, with a snow-ploW, had
been dispatched to clear the way, and our
train was to await their return. Twohours
passed and brought no news Of the en-
gines. Then the telegraph announced that
thev had left Milford at S:25 P. NJ, but had
not reached Fredericksburg. Somewhat
later we learned through the same agency
that they had passed Fredericksburg, and
were moving to our relief. All this time
we sat in the cars and listened to the
dash Of the wind and Snow, and discussed
the chances Of getting 4 start before morn
ing. Major Myers telegraphed the con-
ductor, Captain Stratton, to make the pas
sengers comfortable. There was hotel
two hundred yards Oft, but we all preferred
to stick to the good fires and comfortable
quarters OF the train. At midnight the
locomotives reached us, and thinking that
the trouble was now ended, / threw myself
back in 4 sweet frame OF mind and dropped
to sleep. Waking with a start at early
dawn l caught sight through the window
OF what thought was the Richmond Fair
Grounds fence, but what to my Sadeamaze-
ment turned out to he the same old snowy
! do of n,,o no
thing.my eyes rested on the night before.
The whole night had been spent by the
conductor and engineers in fruitless en-
deavors to turn the engines around, take in
wood and water, and make q start. The
snow lay deep on the track, the switches
were tight frozen and couldn't be budged,
and all inanimate things were obstinately
perYerse-especially one OF the tenders,
which, when matters were nearly arranged,
managed to jump off the track.
The sun rose without cloud; indeed, it
was lovely day to those in frame OF mind
to enjoy the beauties OF nature. But our
thoughts were otherwise occupied. When
were we going to get out Of this scrape
The officers OF the train must be nearly
exhausted, having been at work all the pre-
vious night and day, and Richmond seemed
farther of than ever. There sat that tough,
obdurate old tender of the track, barring
the way to home and friends. Our imme-
diate and most pressing anxiety was soon
relieved by the announcement that Captain
Stratton had ordered breakfast for all hands
at the neighboring hotel, and we lost no
time in getting to it. And q mighty good
and comfortable thing it proved to be. Mr..
Hayes, nephew Of Hon. Rutherford B.
Hayes, the gentleman who came so near
being elected President, keeps this Quantico
Hotel, and though never expect to put
my legs under. his mahogany again, and
therefore cannot be suspected OF fishing for
a free treat will say he is as clever q little
fellow, as efficient q host, as is to be met
with in a days railroad travel. ,it =
After breakfast we learned that relief
would be sent us from Richmond,
and that that was our best hope.
We took the announcement more quietly
than might have been expected.
We had found good quarters and
thoughtful friends, and were getting re-
conciled, and it did not decrease our acqui-
essence in things inevitable to discover that
| the railroad company was paying our hotel
bills. Mr. Hayes gave us nice parlor and
big fire, and about O'clock an acceptable
dinner. An hour later, after persistent
| efforts, our train was got into starting con-
dition. We slept aboard, and were landed
at the Byrd-Street depot at 6 o'clock last
neutrality-suspicious. hours behind time; !;
but all well,' cheerful, and joyous. The
officer and employees Of the train,; especially
the conductor Captain Strattonl, deserved
| and had the thanks Of all the passengers for
prompt and efficient attention to their cons
fort. There were several ladies among the
passengers who bore the inconYeniences
OF the storm without Q murmnr, and added
by. their presence to the cheefulness OF the
snoW-bound party. 5t. apssacr ,4.ss y
PREcAUTIoN WITH LocoNoTIvEs.-The re-
cent dreadful railroad accident at Ashta-
bula, Ohio, by which SO many lives were
lost, is creating some apprehension as to
danger on other railronds which are COM
PEELED to use two locomotives, as was the
case at !Ashtabula. The Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad officers have adopted a wise pre-
caution in this regard. In such weather as
is now prevalent they have, OF course, to
use two locomotives at certain sections OF
the road, but Whenever q train thus drawn