The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-10

cprnlng the train. " hie at the de-
pot observed a current OF drifting
snow that was continuous IA "A stream
Of water, almost aS uniform. and "a
swift as the wind. The shows OF the
western country are dried out by the
winds and the strongest crust will
not long resis. u stiff breeze and
while this Is the case it is astonishing
how hard the drifts will pack Dur
ing a strong wind il can be imagined
how quickly every depression is filled,
and for this reason the railway cuts
are most rapidly obstructcd. Every
time the snow is thrown ont the
length and height fthe cut is increas
ed and the obstacle soon becomes al
most insurmouutablc. At3p m.the
wind was less violent. and at 1 p. m.
the work train arrived.
The plow made n run for the cut on
Brookings hill and went through it.
We then passed ON to Aurora but be
fore reaching Elkton the piow stuck
in 1900 foot drift. All hands went
forward and the Shoyelers were soon
ongag gea in throwing snow although
the wind interferea greatly with their
operations.
Always having mad a desire TO ride
into drift we asked permission to
get into the cab which was granted
with Il reminder that it was at our
own risk. We made another run for
the drift but % it was up grade We
again stack. The next time We went
through and crossed the State line
About Il mile beyond Il bad drift was
found and after haally getting
through il anl within three mile, Of
Verdi night came on and ~ the wind
was blowing a gale The order was Civ
en- to rc!urn 10 Noiga. We stopped
off at Drookings and again spent the
night at the BroOkings House The
next morning there was bNt very lit
tie wind and when the train arrived
ut : a. IN. we found the bright sun
shine had put every body i'll the best
OF spirits.
There was no trouble until the stop
ping point If the previous night was
passed when our plow stuck in
a drift. The men soon dug the en-
gine out and as was usual the engine
Of the work train coupled on and
helped pull her back. The drift was
on a down grade and the engine had
a splendid ran for it, Backing near
~ mile she started for the drift
making most beautiful picture.
First black smoke from the fresh
heapcd coal rolling like Il cloud from
the stack gradually changing to white
steam from the powerful exhaust
which So repidiy Increased as e,c
rushed on that the intervals between
We're scarcely perceptible. Nearing the
cut the speed became fearful and she
rolled from side as with suppressed
energy. With a shriek Of warning
she plunged into the drift and disap-
pcarcd An immense white fountain
Of glistening snow rising high over
head and for hundred feet on either
side showed the course OF the im-
mense power which propelled it and
formed one Of the most beautiful and
exciting scenes OF q life time. Pow
erful as was the means employed It
was not sufficient TO remove the OBJ
struction and again the men crowded
about TO dig ont the buried engine.
Being Oh Il long down grade and
knowing that splendid rate ofspeed
would be obtained We again received
permission to enter the cab. 4 strong
canvas was drawn tightly over it and
extended back covering the entire
tender
Engineer u. NJ Bonestcel and fire
man j. a. Reed We're in charge, and
their good natured civility nude
us feel at home at once. "Johnny.'
the conductor joined us when ready to
back ont and was Il welcome addition
to the company The rear engine
coupled on and we We're soon going
back for the run. When we stopped,
fully mile of straight track laid
down the grade before us to the
drift Our engine was the d. {. No
I, and was pronounced the best on
the line for snow "bucking' The
iireman shoveled coal into the roar
ing furnace while the Missing steam
escaped from the safety valve and
the guage indicated 130 pounds pres.
sure. The shrill note of the whistle
warned the men to leave the cut and
we were off. We attained motion
with almost incredible rapidjty, and
as we flew faster and faster and faster
au exciting eXhilaration possessed us.
A feeling Of triumph and power and
a desire for still greater speed. When
We reached the cut oir engine was
rolling from side to side. and a. we
dartcd into the drift q hurricane Of
snow battered the cab, forcing its way
through every crevice and entirely
obscIring allexterior view
+ A sudden checking Of speed and
the grinding of the drivers on the rails.
told us of the powerful resistance to
our progress. A sudden gain Of
speed and the cheers of the men out
side told Us that we had conqured
Reaching the clean rails" the gallant
Seven gathered like race horse and
we were soon buried in the next
drift.
To take such ride is to know and
realize the danger which is the lot OF
every engine man. Confined in box
like space he takes his life in his
hand every time he makes such run.
A broken rail, an ice drift or a side
drift may crush him beneath his en-
gine or bury him with coal or pin him
to the earth, where he may be slowly
tortured by steam from his boiler or
fire from his furnace
f, A few more plunges brought us
J into Verdi and We returned to the
caboose and Joined the rest of the