Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-02-03
THE BLOCKADE BROKEH.
The First Train from Rutland Saturday
Night-Bow The Work Was Done

y
Night-Bow The Work Was Done.
The blockade on the Rutland division
resulting from the big drift in Shelburn,
which began Thursday night was not
broken until Saturday night. This rec
ord is probably without a parallel IN this
vicinity. A few persons from this city
visited the scene Saturday and the
sight was an interesting one. For a dis
lance of fully 40 rods extends chan
mel varying in depth from eight
20 IA feet, and its depth is still further
magnified by the great banks of snow
thrown up on either side. The drift is in
the cut about four miles and a half from
this city and half mile or so north OF
what is known as OGrady's crossing and
It Is at this point that the greatest diff
Guilty is experienced every winter on that
division in this vicinity
The blockade began Thursday night at
10 O'Clock with the stalling of the train
from Montreal about half mile south of
Shelburn depot Early Friday morning
Master Mechanic Brownell started to go
TO their aid, taking the Burlington aud
Rockingham, "Saulsbury," Rutland
and Colchester" No difficulty was eXpe-
rienced till the big drift was reached. The
first time the snow pillow was driven in
about 90 rods and only about 10 or 10 rods
remained, but the force was spent aud the
wheels became clogged. The snow pillow
aad all but one Of the engines We're buried
so that it was impossible to get them out
hut the Colchester which was last, was
lacked out and returned to Burlington
tor more help, The Colchester" returned
TO the scene with ,rt the Hartford
reached the drift the channel had filled
mp completely and some of the engines
were covered up 50 that they could not be
seen. 1t was necessary To shovel 60 rods
sefOre the fresh engine could be attached
10 those buried, which were reached
about 8 O'Clock Friday night. The "Rut-
Land" was hitched to and in pulling the
draw casting between the Hartford" snd
time the storm had become So
furious that it was found necessary to
leave all the engines in the drift except
the Burlington With this engine the
party started for this city at 10 O'Clock,
hat o much time was spent in shovelliuu
that it was II o'clock Friday night before
burlington WAS reached.
On Saturday morning at o'clock Mr..
Brownell started again with the "Burling-
ton taki,A about 30 men Opposite
Howard PAX a large drift was encouu-
tered, which it was impossible to
break through, so that it was necessary TO
return and telegraph to St. Adams for
more help. superintendent FOss respond
ed in person, bringing the big snow pillow
and the MoLul engines "JacoO Edwards"
and "37." by the aid of these the dlitt Mt
Howard park was plOWed through with
cut difficulty, but opposite l. :. DreW's
farm drift 80 rods long and from six to
nine feet deep was encountered through
which which II was necessary to drive
She plOW fire or six times, be-
ginning with the wings partly closed
and spreading them out wider each time
1ll the track was clear. The snow was so
hard that the surface would hold man
anywhere, and 1t was grand sight as the
plGW dashed into the drift, scattering huge
blocks OF snow like chaff. 1t was about
mile from this drift to the buried engines
6ut 40 drifts OF consequence interviewed
When the spot was reached it was found
shat the channel ploughed out twice
already had filled almost to the surface
again, and the pillow as well a5 a large
force OF men with shoyels worked "A large
portion of the afternoon. 1t was found
necessary to shovel the snow from the
bottom to Il bench in the side of the drift
A mother force of men threw the snow
from this to the surface and still Others
showed it back from the edge of the cur
A times the fine snow flew In such clouds
feet distant. The snow filled the coat
collars of the laborers continually, melt
lng and saturating their clothing in A
manner anything but agreeable. In one
place the cut in the drift was measured
and 1t was found to be IA feet deep.
The buried engines were reached about