Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-23
OF CURRENT INTEREST.
RAILRoADtNa IN OREGON.

TRAIN BLocKADED FoR TWENTY-FIVE DAYS
ICE AND SNOW COVER THE TRACK FORTY
FEET DEEP-How THE IMPRISONED PAssEN
GERS WERE FED
PORTLAND, Oregon, Jan. 2.-The expert
ence of the passengers on the snow-bound
train on the Oregon Railway aud Navigation
company's road is probably without parallel
in this country. The train became fast in
the snow December 1G, and the efforts of
more than 1000 men, q score of locomotives,
and half a dozen snow. plows have been pow
erless to release it, Snow began falling on
the 10th, accompanied by high wind, and
before night the Columbia and Willamette
valleys we're completely buried. The west
bound train OF the Northern Pacific came
along with about $50 passengers on board, and
had no great trouble until it reached the
Dalles, though the snow WAS three feet deep.
At that point snow-plow was sent on ahead,
and the train followed. After leaving Hood
River the plow became stalled When about
four miles the other side OF Wyeth, and the
train was forced to come to stand Every
able bodied man on the train took shovel,
and repeated efforts we're made to clear the
track. The wind was high aud the snow dry,
and shoyeling was found to be useless. Re
peated snow-sldes FROM the mountains soon
convinced the conductor that there WAS imm-
nent danger of the train being bur d, and
he backed up to trestle, which bad only just
been gained when tremendous slide occur
red, covering the engines aud baggage cars
almost out of sight. The snow storm contiu-
ued with unabated violence, and the wind,
which soon became hurricane, WAS intoera-
bly, severe. With the locomotives covered
and the track ahead of and behind them bur
led TO a depth of 40 feet in snow and ice, II
became evident that a long siege was at hand.
There was little food on the train and great
CONSERVATION prevailed for time, more es-
pecially among the women and children, of
whom there were many.
The next morning the conductor sent two
train men to Cascade Locks for food The
distance was / miles, aud the trip in the
binding snow and cutting wind was one OF
great difficulty. When they arrived at their
destination the men had much trouble in in
ducing any one 10 make the return journey
with them, but they at length found men
willing to undertake the eTrand, and succeed
ed in reaching the train the next day at p.
NJ, with several hundred pounds OF provi-
sions on tOboRgaus. In the express car were
found a lot of jack rabbits, two quarters of
beef and several cases OF oysters in cans.
These were cooked and served along with the
other rations, each passenger receiving n reg
ular allowance twice a day. After this the
railroad company organized expeditions at
Cascade Locks every two or three days to
carry food to the beleaguered train. The
provisions taken were such only as could be
easily packed, aud were carried on poles, a
man at each end. The suferiDgs Of these
messengers in making this trip were frequent
ly terrible. Several of them were overcome
by fatigue and cold and had to be carried by
| their companions.
After this had been going on for few
| days the authorities notified the passengers
| that food could not be furnished for so nAby
| in that way, and that all able bodied men
would be expected to abandon the train aud
set out for Cascade Locks on foot Twenty
| five started the next morning in a driving
| snow storm, and all made the Locks that even
| ing except four, who had to be left at farm
house. Many suffered from frozen faces,
| hands and feet. The next morning 30 more
| started, and all made the journey safely, al
| though some Of them were IN pitiable con-
| dition. The snow was from five to 80 feet in
depth, and much of the way the path lay
along billsdes so icy that a misstep would
| have ended at the river far below. la some
| places the travellers had to cut holes in the
| icy crust for their hands and feet, and crawl
| along with the greatest care. Some other
| small parties left the train afterward. The
women aud children wept pitfully when the
men left, fearing that they were to be aban
doned to starye and freeze; but the assurance
| of the conductor that they would be safely
| guarded by the train hands and the men who
we're no. thought able to make the trip after
| time put them at ease.
Thus relieved of one-half Of the passengers
| the transportation of food became less Diff
cult problem. Several times during the last
two weeks it was thought that the shovelers
and snow-plows would soon be able TO relieve
/ q eHnN N.ai htnN net aVT ar.41 fn he
gaining on tho snow and ice a little a fresh
storm would set in, and then things would be
| worse than before. The train is surrounded
| with snow, and the track at that place for
| about four miles is covered in many localities
to depth OF 40 feet with solid iOe. During
the high winds the spray from the numerous
falls was blown upon the tracks, aud, freez
ing, formed hills of ice, which could only be
removed by blasting.
In the cars the passengers made themselves
as comfortable as possible Thus far there
has been no sickness though there many
children on board and the opportunities for
exercise are necessarily limited. When the
coal gave oIt the bFakemen went out aud
chopped wood. which was found near by In
abundance. Hundreds Of men have been
working on the track with picks and shovelS,
and there is now hope that the blockade will
soon be raised. 1t has been found that the
only way to make permanent progress With
out destroying the track is to pick the ice Out
in chunks and carry them away. At first
there was plenty of whiskey and tobacco on
the train but when all the travelling mems
samples had been consumed the people who
used those luxuries had 10 do without, for the
men who carried provisions to the train re
fused to be loaded with anything but necessa
ries. Although the prospect that the train
will soon be released is now good, il is to bt
remembered that things have appeared equal
ly favorable several times before during the
past lG days. II we have no more storms ol
severe cold, it will not take long to open the
road The passengers on the train are Al
cheerful as could be expected, but the expe
rience is one which they will never forget.
Most of the men who walked TO Cascade
Locks continued on to Portland in parties o
10 or u, also on foot. The distance is 81
miles, aud much of the route is very danger
Gus. Nearly all of them have arrived here il
bad condition few are laid up at farm
houses on the way. One party took the rail
road track, and by clingng to the telegraph
wires most of the way (the snow bring 81
deep that they could easily reach them), the!
made the trip without much trouble Th'
blockade has cost the railroad company abou
$4,000 day for shovelera and plows, and ha
caused an entire suspension of business b.
the Northern Pacific. Mails now go east b,
steamer to San Francisco.
The above despatch it will be observed
bears date Jan. .. On the Sth inst. wor
came that the track had finally been cleare
and business resumed. This would show tina
the blockade lasted and the passenger trail
was imprisoned one or two days over thre
eks.-ED.
---------------
a Sliding VtIlage---strange Results a
the Great Earthquake I'm spain,
Granada, Spain, cable despatch to tn
New York Herald says; l have Just return
| ed from the Yilapa of Hnaneia whera th