The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-28
A Train in a snnd.ssorm.
pIscoNToRTs AND PERns or TIE xoJAvE
DESERT.


fSan Francisco Examiner, Jan.'3J
The southern overland train which
should have reached this city on Monday
afternoon only arrived az $40 last night,
having been delayed at Sumner by a terri
tic sand-storm that ragged through the Mo-
jaye Desert and spread out over portion
of the surrounding country. The storm
began In the early morning, and when the
train reached sumner, In Kern county, had
become irregular simeon. The wind swept
across the sandy wastes with such violence
that the train swayed and rocked under the
violence OF the blasts, and seemed ready to
plunge from the track. The moon had be-
come overcast in the early part Of the night,
aud the journey was contiiued In n dark
ness that rapidly increased until The day
began in stygian gloom. The passengers,
who had been aroused from their sleep by
the fierce assaults of the wind and the DASH
ing Of the sand against the windows Of the
train, looked anXiously for the appearance
Of the sun. but no CLEAN Of light relieved
the forbidding darkness OF the east.
Night maintained her sway, and the black
ness OF the heavens grew intense with the
morning, until the strong headlight OF the
locomotive almost failed TO pierce ii. The
small portion OF the desert which was'ex-
posed 10y the engines fights only served TO
discourage the travellers. The track was
lost under the pillows Of sand that were
being tossed across the rails by the angry
storm. The desert moved like n sea, and
when the waves OF sand struck the SILVER
ing sides OF the train they scattered Ike
spray and filed the air with dust, which
made free breathing impossible.
= L -. 4 4.
sand-driit were soon realized. After
leaving sumner, which is 3l4 miles from
san Francisco. the train moved cautiously
for 10 miles through the shifting waite and
then stopped with crash. The alarmed
passengers hardly dared 10 face the driving
storm to learn the cause Of the unpleasant
halt The few intrepid persons who yen-
tured into the binding SIMEON found that
their express train had run into freight
train which had stopped in an impossible
sand-drift. The slow rate 1T which the eX-
press was moving enabled the engineer 10
stop the train in time 10 prevent q serious
accident, and the collision was only sufli-
cient TO cast the locomotive from the track.
The passenger ears remained on the rails.
II was then 10 O'Clock, so slowly had the
express proceeded through the binding
storm after leaving Sumner. The dark
ness OF the night had only increased, and
nothing was visible except within the TO-
Gus of the trains lights. For five weary
hours tho passengers were compelled to re-
main on the detached train while relief was
being obtained from Sumner. Assistance
having arrived, the track was cleared OF
sand sufficiently toenable q relief engine
to pull the express back 70 Sumner, where
the passengers found slim Accommodations
until the storm blew over. Toward )
O'Clock in the AFTERNOON the darkness be-
gan TO disappear, but the simeon maintained
its yigOr until nightfall. Yesterday morn
ing the unfortunate passengers proceeded
on their Journey. the remainder OF which
was made without sensational incident, rs
gangs Of Chinese had been at work all
night and had cleared the track OF the ac-
cumulated sand-drift. At Tulare the eX-
press, which was due at 2:i0 i. NJ. yester-
dav. overlook the bclated and weaiher-beat-
en- express, having passed with slight dis
comfort through the tail OF the SIMEON.
The breaking OF a piston-Tod delayed the
first express still further at Lathrop, and
the two trains came simultaneously TO Oak
land wharf. the first over thirty-hours be-
hind time and the second over six. All
hands. however, arrived safe, and in the
comforts Of their hotels soon forgot the
mpleasantncss OF their adventure and
laughed over II.