Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1879-02-15
ACROSS THE MISSOURI BY RAIL
THE FIRST TRAIN CROSSES
OYER Oy TINE ICE.
SnOrting and SneexinE, the First
Iron Steed Paws tho Sacred q round
ID OF Morton County---The Bridge
Builders Arrive and the Extension
Advancing Rapidly. s# 54
THE CROSSING.

THE CtOSSlNcf.
A party of about twenty of Americas
prominent business men, inspired with q
greed for fame and relish for notorlety,
jumped aboard Chief Engineer Rosser's
car Wednesday noon and started west
ward to take the first trip across the Mis-
souri, river ON Northern Pacific railroad
tram. The newspaper fraternity was
largely represente the @. NJ. department
U. s. A., ranking next, followed closely by
the American Express company, the city
judiciary, and steamboat men. The rails
were strung upon the tiesaacross the Ice TO
the sand bar, and as the engine neared the
ice a shout went up from the side track
where the observation car, containing the
party, was stationed. The pioneer engine,
No. 81 with George Eastwood al the
throttle, observed the danger to which
| human kin was subjected while opening
| their mouths to shout, with mercury
ranging between Is ? and 2Oo below, and
began to blow its own bazOo boisterously.
! Its Joyous hurrah echoed and re-echoed
from shore to shore, falling upon the ears
of the soldiery at Fort Lincoln, and the
civilians at Bismarck.
With all the modesty apertalning to the
rules Of etiquette, the
! ENGINE BACKED UPON THE ICE
with two flat cars of railroad iron in the
! rear, and as she left the bank the frozen
ca,tll on either side smiled grimly as it
thought of the feasibility OF such a per-
tormance two months hennc. The dense
| ice, three feet in thickness. wore a look Of
| satisfaction as it pondered over its crea-
ton and its usefulness. Man had worked
years on the big bridge at St. Louis,
| but Nature had made a bridge at Bis
murck in two months which stands un
rivalcd in the history ofebridge build
ing.
| The flat cars having been nnloaded, the
engine returned for the observation car.
and in few moments a train Okssix cars
! was glil over tile Missolsfi sdss spite the
raging water underneath, WhrS.ta rushed
on to carrytthe news to New and
| Port Eades. aF@ ~
The train reached the sand bar on the
west side of the river andlthc party de-
scended from the Car. Then it was that
each became. conscious that Bismarck
could no longer boast Of the terminus OF
the Northern Pacific.
THE ART OF RAILROADING.
| About thirty men are at work on the
extension, and the work is progressing
rapidly. The rails are loaded on small
hand car which is drawn by a horse. Ev-
cry man knows his place, and the most
perfect discipline prevasls. The rails are
taken off al the front end of the Car and
.alu loose upon the ties. thus forming
more track. The car is closely followed
by men with spikes. drivers wrencles
etc, and the rails are made fast Thus il
will be seen that the track is being bull,
almost as rapidly as a horse can walk, ex-
cept when the car is in the act OF loading
up. - sn.m.a .. -s:.
| Great credit is due Gen. Rosser, who so
successfully manages the operation. 50
much interest did le take inthe crossing
Of the river Wednesday, that he was out
with the men in the severe cold all day
AT night he ascertained that lie had frozen
his nose and cheek slightly. but expressed
himself highly pleased with the days
events. $40 8gs
M+ VIEWS TAKEN. aEE a2
Mr. FL. Haynes, the pioneer photo
grapher of Moolhead, Mimi, took several
views of the men at work from different
s,andDoints, one as seen from the west
shore, another as seen from the east bank.
and one representing the train crossing
the ice
THE BOARDING HOUSE .g j
being erected on the west sidc,fOr board
| ing the railroad laborers, is nearing cora
pletion rapidly. it row being. encl9F ed.
Svcral other buildings are also being
erected, and quite town viii be 4siblc
next week. $t, %@@
| THE FRIDGE BUILDERS.
| P.,B. Winston and T.. A. Js1Iay, the
bridge contractors. arrived this morning
and will be ready to begjsl work next
week The machinery, timber, etc, for
their operations arrived this morning and
no time will be lost in getting to business
regardless Of the cold weather.
| Rene Denial.
| After waiting s. me time Mr. Reno cone