Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-04-16
Imprisoned by snow

l
this experience of snow-boundtrain The
englnes-six in number-were all shor, of
wood and water, and it was with great DIFF
ticulty that they could be kept from dying
and leaving US in hopeless condition. No
water tank>o well was near at hand and
wood was very scarce. Snow had to be
shoveled INTO the engines, and i, was s.
very tedious way to make necessary water
The tram men had taken no rest for thirty'l
six tours, and were in o condition 10 per-
form labor. The storm was increasing in |
fury.
Saturday morning found no change for
the better in the weather. The passengers,
Of whom eight were women and children
and fifteen nlen, had by this time become
quite accustomed 10 the situation, and were
doing theif best to keep the train men and
WIN IN good spirits by showing no uE
| reasonable amount ofimpatence. In fact.
all accepted the situation IS bad one,
which conid not be bettered by becoming
discouraged. Jokes were plenty, and many
a hearty laugh followed some questions
asked by passenger of his partners in uis-
llress- Conductor Jones was out IN the
storm ell day long doing all that could be
done TO keep tie SIX engines alive. which
he succeeded in doing. The fury of the
storm was.upon us all day long. To move
the train or engines was an inpossibluy
4 thousand men could not have opened
Inile Ut track long enough to have moved
i the train. The air was full of snow, fail
ing or drifting, and distance of two rods
was about astar. as coulu be seen during
! the'day. Realizing the exhausted condl-
llon OF the employees, the male passengers
began devlsing ways and means for rellev-
. ing them OF night care as much IS possible.
, A plan. fer savsdt.s the. 4ight Ql6 SIX
watches was devised, and u list of guards
and store attendants. was made. :
The coaches had hsen used as sleeping
cars for two nights, and, by the ingenuity
of all, had been made quite comfortable.
1t would have surprised our trit nds at home
70 have looked in upon us and seen the ui-
vision of apartments, spring beds, cover,
lngs, etc., used. The driving snow had
crept in around windows and doors, ana
through the roof, In some way, anu was
melung at all times during Saturday and
the night, making presence which we
should have been exceedingly glad to have
4 dispensed with. All hands were dodglny
c the cropping water; the car floor Was III
worse shape than kitchen floor IN process
e of mopping. Patience was severely trleu
2 but proved strong enough for the occasion,
because it was no use 10 get out OF patience.
r A < )od supply of coal Was near by, and The
Il cars were kept hot. Which vas the only
3, preventive of severe coils. Fortunately
s no sickness was occasioned by the damp
+ ness, change Of diet, or conult'on OF th'
g beds. Five travelling men dld much Il
II prevent encouragement among the passen
e gers by their good-natured JOKES, stUric
& and music. SOue of these gem len-en, rep
q lesenling Chicago firm, dispensed sevela
pieces CT first Glass music from an lnstl U
ment called a 'Zllher, which gave mucl
is satisfaction to all. SoclaDlllty was no
wanting. Sunday morning found no Chang
le in movement Great drlIls OIL snow ten .
twelve feet high were allabout us. Engine
were nearly out of sight. Cuts were lSIc
< full, and The snow Of twenty square mile
seemed to have Ueen gathered b, the W nj
is and cast around us to prevent our 1orwar
g movement. Sixty hours IN drit, 1as test
co patience severely. 1t holds out Yet, bu
q; there Is no knowing how Mucn more can b
borne. II being Sunday, a barber Is /
Ut demand, and no sooner spoken OF, than
travelling man hangs out his shIngle IN ID
baggage car and SHOUTS next"
Our Winnipeg lady passenger has III
e. packed her Berlin WOOL anu already Ia
r finished the crochet work tor hood.
.n travelling man Is holding skeins of wool f
.ir her to wind 1t into balls. lrtparatory ,
.setting up q Jacket. The night watch'
e. are regularly appoin,ei ia botn cars, al
one is reminded OF army days by the reg'
d, la1ity, authority aud precision exercised
m | the guards. how We shall be ahlc 10 o
cupy another day is a puzz.e. Tue natl. +.
bt ", Dlogl Apply, politics and religion OF eat
- passen, ef and lrain-man have been ca
-, | vas ssed.- AT last relief came, and the ira
moved.