The state journal., 1885-01-24
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PERILS OF WINTER TRAVEL.
Experience of Two Government Inspector
in a Montana Storm,


A dispatch from New York says :;
Alexander NJ Donald. formerly Senator
from Arkansas, and Dewitt Z. Wheeler,
formerly police commissioner in New
York. were appointed commissioners in
November last, by President Arthur to
examine and report on the recently com
pletcd section of the Northern Pacific
railroad, between the Columbia river and
Satas, in Montana. They left this city
on November 20, and have just got back,
after having been showed in twenty two
days on the Oregon railway and naviga-
ton company's road near Portland, Ore
gon. In Seattle, on Puget Sound, they
gathered roses and ripe blackberries and
straw berries on December i.
1t began showing on the 18th, and kept
on showing on the f4th, 10Th and 10Th,
by which time they had returned to
Portland. On the 10Th Senator M'Don-
aid, Mr.. Wheeler, Senator 4. i. Lang
don, of Wisconsin, and General A. An
derson, the chief engineer Of tho Oregon
railway and navigation company, took
possession of the parlor car I Yellowstone,
the private car Of President Harris. The
car was htched 10 the rear of freight
Portland to Wallula, where it connects
with the Northern Pacific railroad. They
passed the MontOnomah Falls, 800 feet
high, and had just passed BONNEVILLE, At
miles from Portland, when the train stuck
in a snow drift 1t could not get ahead
and backed down to BONNEVILLE, which is
only telegraph station. Near by was a
Chinese camp of 100 railroad section men.
The Cascade Locks were four miles east,
and another freight train was showed in
there, while eleven miles further east was
stuck the bound passenger train.
The snow continued to fall heavily all
the 18th, and it was plain that there was
little hope Of getting through for some
days. There were provisions enough for
two weeks in the car, and there were two
servants to look out for things. There
were besides some eight or ten train
hands.
The Cinnamon had run out OF pro-
visions, and locomotive managed to
force its way to the Cascade Locks, where
some hogs were obtained from the freight
train there. Mr.. M'Donald and his COM
panions were unable to leave the car be
cause of the storm, and passed the time
pIdNlUR NulSb dJIu CuSnlC' All CIu ANlutCl
named Perry taught them various games
Of solitaire. A telegram came from
Yakima City saying that the road was
ready for inspection, but it might as well
have been in Calcutta, SO far as the com
missioneTs were concerned.
On the Gath most distressing news was
received from the west bound passenger
train which was showed in at Vienta,
fifteen miles to the east 1t was said that
many women and children were suffering
for want of food. We were full of SYM
pathy, but had no way Of getting to them.
They said they must have relief at once
Lieutenant Carroll, who was in charge of
the Government works at Cascade Locks,
started fifty men on snow shoes for Vi
enta, each man carrying twenty pounds
of bacon or -four This was taken from
the stores of the Government contractor.
The car load of cattle which were in the
freight train at the Locks were slaugh-
tered, and the meat was sent on In the
g1me WaV