Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-01-12


Passengers-Stock- Die on Cars
From Erposure-1he Most Com
plete Railroad Blockade Ecer
Kno,on in this Locality-1he Coua-
try Lanes Blockadcd, and Formers
Compelled to Tear Doacn Their
Fences to Get to Ioacn.
The great northwest cannot here
after lay claim to all the billiards.
that have come into existence, and
left in their wake fearful experiences
such as those who pass through them
desire not to experience again. Snow
commenced falling here shortly after
dark last Friday night, and continued
to descend rapidly all night, reaching
what would probably have been an
average depth of from eight to twelve
inches. The snow, however, was ac-
cempanied with terrific wind storm
which prevailed with undated fury
for thirty-six hours, sweeping the
snow from all exposed points, Gin
some places leaving entire fields al
most bare, and emptying the 'beau-
tiful" into the railroad cuts, narrow
roads and lanes, in immense drifts,
varying in depth, from one or two up
to ten or twelve feet: Travel has
been suspended in every direction in
a great measure, except on foot and
horseback, by passing around the
drifts.
On the B. & o. Railroad, the long
cut just east of Charlestown was filled
with tremendous snow-drifts for n
half mile or more, and into these the
mail train due here at 1892 on
Saturday, drawn by two engines,
plunged with little effect, save to
stick fast and remain there. The
train due here from Lexington at 2 40
the same day arrived about an hour
late, also drawn by two engines, and
was side-tracked. There being no i'm
mediate prospect of getting through,
the passengers put up at the hotels
and endeavored to make themselves
as comfortable and contented as pos
sible. Two more engines were
brought up, and track hands were put
to work to remove the snow at the
lower end of the drift, but subse-
quently had to be taken off to work
on the main stem. In the meantime
some of the engines ran out of water
and became dead weight in the way
of the others, so that but little was
accomplished in the way of cleaning
the track on Saturday.
About seven O. clock Saturday night
the Watson House omnibus was taken
out through Hon. Andrew Hunters
field to bring off the passengers from
the lower train. These embraced
Mr.. R. II. Martin, editor of the
Woodstock Virginian, and wife; Miss
Josephine Howard, of Pittsburg, Pa.
Miss Jennie McFail, of Richmond,
Va; Rev. Elias Welty, of Shenan-
doah county, Va; Master Hulst
Glenn, lad of ten or twelve years,
of Staunton, Va; David Sundeimer,
of Washington. D. c.; Ashby Wynn
dali, news-boy; +. G. Shaw, Claim
Agent of the B. & o.; J. w. Keiter,
of Dayton, Rockingham county, Va. :;
and Samuel Koontz, of Mt. Jackson,
Va. A lantern was used to pilot the
team around the drifts, but the lamp
therein was soon extinguished by
the fury of the storm, and the driver
was unable to find his way out. The
vehicle got stuck in 4 drift and broke
down, and had to be abandoned. The
attempt was then made to reach town
en- foot, but the party had wandered
about in the storm and darkness for
several hours, and some of them were
almost persisted with the cold, the
thermometer being nearly down to
Zero and the wind sharp and piercing.
About this time furthur relief party
from town arrived, and with Passen-
ger Agent Dudrow aided in getting
the nearly frozen people towards the
road. Even their efforts must have
failed at this time, however, if the
Carter House hack had not arrived
and helped them out of the difficulty.
This vehicle, in turn, broke down be-
fore reaching its destination, but
fortunately, not until we'll down into
the town. Misses Howard and Nc
Fail were nearly frozen, about the
ears, as was also little Master Glenn,
and Mr.. Keiter had his right hand
severely frosted. Others suffered
a good deal from the cold, and Rev.
Mr.. Welty nearly gave out on the
way. All say the experience was
terrible. and deem it fortunate that