Omaha daily bee., 1883-02-01
TROUBLES OF TRAVEL.
The Experiences Of a Council
Bluffs Physician in Max
ing an Overland
Trip.
Snowbound Trains, Dead En-
ginee, Freezing Tanks and
Cyclone Winds.
OAKLAND, GAL, January "a.

OAKLAND, GAL, January "a.
70 the Editor Of THs BEA.
When cur train left Omaha on the
18th at noon, the weather was fair,
but some evil predicting prophets at
Fremont promised Us q bad night and
Il came to pass.
The temperature In the car
was several degrees below zero.
It became deserted, and the passen.
,ers went into the small front smoking
jar, where two redhot stoves did the
The work within two feet distance) to
Keep all alive. Although the drink
ing water in the tank, only at eight
feet distance, froze into one solid
the most critical aspect of the
wa the violent northern
gale, which not alone cooled us thor
oughly, but threatened to upset the
entire train. The thought occurred
to us, as the wind at intervals lifted
and let down the cars, what q dread.
full accident 1t would have been. With
the redhot stoves and people
jsmmed around them, it would
only have been merely q
notice and Q sea of flames
would have issued from the upset
train, and made even our escape diff
cult. Being near the station we did
not starve and got an extra supply
Of coal. Towards evening on the IS h
after having westhered the situation
for 173 hours, the wind abated some
In turning slowly to the northwest.
The passengers expressed considerable
Indignation against the division super
for leaving US for such q
to our fate. He was Informed
at 4 a. m, that we were snowbound,
and not until about l o'clock p. m did
he send two engines, which stuck in
The snow at Q short distance from Sid
ney and had to return. About
5 O'Clock at night the snow.
plow arrived, and the swearing;
put as the road was blockaded for all
The distance between North Platte and
Sidney, and several trains were under
he same judgement, and our iocomo-
i've had to 60 and assist tho snow pillow
relieve all the unfortunate, so our
patience was put on q trials till near
midnight. Three miles east was q
.ong freight train snow. bound, and a
lew miles further the Denver express
The snowplow did quickly move and
the main track for the U. P.
exprerr, and on Its return
supplied us with two engines for
A angular incident happened to
he snow.bound freight train east of
The boys found themselves In q
'olid condition concluded to detach
he engine from the train and run it
the nearest station and report, as
hey dared not face for miles the cold
Wind. For q short distance they
the engine through, when the
intense cold wave cooled down the
team, and all the fire and coal could |
lot get up power and oven the fire |
,nder the boiler went out. The fire
nan then started on foot for our train
nd had his ears frozen. When we
rived at Cheyenne In the morning
loaded by two engines, the thermom
ter showed 80 Q below zero. VIZ
moved slowly westward as our loco.
had difficult to keep up steam
Sherman 40 below. Mrs. Rosen
toak, from San Francisco, ventured
o leave the car, but tainted, and 1t
ook some time TO revive her. AT
40 below, at Bittercreek
10 , below, at Evanston 30 Q below.
md at Ogden on the Goth In the morn.
ng 80 , below zero. l suppose it /,
me OF the coolest railway rides pas.
ever experienced.
During the day the Thermometer
'oHe to below zero and we re ioiced
It the extreme comfort.
Inc Central Pacific railroad line had
experienced q similar cold snap. The
lay before we arrived at Catlin the
alcshoi Thermometer at that station
Ihowed 60o below zero, at Reno 40 .
md at Summit as degree below zero.
such cold weather could not be re-.
by the Oldest settlers at
On the road We heard about the
'ccident on the Southern Pacific. the
liant powder explosion, the Cimbria
|isaster, and finally about the stop
ling and robbing of tho train In the
ear of us. We considered o~urselyes
cry lucky to thus escape and get in
afe.
1t was q surprise to arrive at Sacra.
nento in the morning among ever.
,reen eucalyptus, and blooming
lmond trees, sitter passing for miles
through beautiful groves of live oaks.
The Sacramento river was flowing
'eaceable and serene as on a summer
morning, when we rode across the
aud halted at the depot. The
city and country green, as at
une, with the magnificent capital "a
he presiding giant of the valley, was
N imposing sight, and much In con.
rast with the waste of snow and Ice
lelds we for days had been passing.
The journey from Sacramento to the
Jay was q perfect ovation for the pas.
engers and a relief only few outsiders
ouid relish with US. w. p. p.
LosT-A fur cape or collar between
and the Baptist church.
1wner can be found through The