The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-29
The Snow in the West.
A PASSENGER TRAIN HELD PRIsoNE

The experience Of the passengers on the
snow-bound train on the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company's Road, is prob
ably without parallel in this country.
The train became fast in the snow on De-
cemher 10th, and tie efforts of more than
1000 men, a score of locomotives, and halfa
dozen snow ploughs have been powerless
thus far to release it. Snow began falling
ON the 10th, accompanied by high wind,
and before night the Columbia and Villa
mette valleys were completely buried. The
west-bound train of the Northern Pacific
came along with about $50 passengers OH
board, and had no great trouble until it
reached the Dalles. though the snow was
three feet deep. At that point a snow
plough was sent on ahead, and the train fol.
lowed. After leaving Hood river the plough
became stalled when about four miles the
other side of Wyeth, and the train was
forced to come to a stand. Every able
bodied man on the train took shovel,
and repeated efforts were made to clear
the track. The wind was high and the
snow dry, and shoveling was found to be
useless. Repeated snow slides from the
mountains soon convinced the conductor
that there was imminent danger of the
train being buried. and he backed up to
a trestle, which had only just been gained
when tremendous slide occurred, cover
ing the engines and baggage cars almost
ont of Cinbt VNb., OF 4
with unabated violence, and the wind,
which soon became a hurricane, was intol-
erably severe. With the locomotive COW
cred and the track ahead of and behind
them buried to depth of forty feet in
snow and ice. it became evident that u
long siege was at hand. There was little
food on the train, and great CONSERVATION
prevailed for time, more especially
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 eleven miles, and 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 inducing any one to make the
journey with them, but at length found
men willing to undertake the errand, and
succeeded in reaching the train the next
day at 2 P. M. with several hundred
pounds of provisions Oh tobaggans. IN
the express cars 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 irregular
allowance twice day. After this the
railroad company organized expeditions at
Cascade Locks every two or three days to
carry food to the beleagured train. The
provisions taken were such only as could
be packed easily and were carried on poles,
man at each end. The sufferings of
these passengers in making the trip were
frequently 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
many in that way, and that all able-bodied
men would he expected to abondon the
train and set out for Cascade Locks on
foot. Twenty-Five started the next morn
ing in a driving snow storm, and all made
the Locks that evening except four. who
had to be left at farm house. Many
suffered from frozen faces, hands and feet.
The next morning thirty-6ve more started
and all made the journey safely, although
some of them were in pitiable condition
The snow was from five to fifty feet in
depth, and much of the way the path lay
along hillsides so icy that a misstep would
ended at the river far below. In 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 and children wept pitifully
when the men left, fearing that they were
to be abandoned to starve and freeze but
the assurance of the conductor that they
would be safely guarded by the train hands
and the men who were thought not able to
make the trip, after a time put them at
ease.
Thus relieved of one-half of the passen-
sengers the transportation of food became
less difficult problem. Several times
during the last two weeks it was thought
that the shovellers and snow plows would
be able soon to relieve the train. but just
as soon as they appeared to be gaining on
the snow and ice little fresh storm would
set In, and then things would be worse