Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-24
BLOCkADES.
Battles With the Mount
ain Storms.
BLOCKADE BROKEN.
Record,Uni0n Reporters at
the Front.
PASSENGERS SATISFIED.
Splendid achievements Of the Rail-
road Management.
REVIEW Or THE WHOLE SfTUsTION.
Continuation Of the Storm-Trains
to be Moving This Morning
on 1.-The HILL"
Splendid achievements Of the Rail-
road Management.
REVIEW OF THE WHOLE SITUATION.
Continuation Of the Storm-Trains
to be Moving This Morning
on 1.-THE HILL"

The condition of affairs at the scene of
the blockade charged but little during
yesterday. The storm let up slightly in
the morning, but recommended in the af-
ternoon, preceded by heavy wind which
caused numerous slides and drifts. Snow
then fell more or less heavily all day. The
army of snow-fghters made stubborn re-
sistance, and not only did they hold their
own, but they actually continued to ad-
vance upon the great banks in the very teeth
of the storm. The same trouble continued
all day as was experienced on Wednesday,
viz, the constant derailing of the rotary
snow-plow and the driving engines, owing
to the Ice which had formed on the rails.
1t was no fault of the plow itself, whatever,
that caused these derailments. The firmest
and most "sure-footed" engines on the
road experiences the very same difficulty
on an ice clad track.
Another great obstacle encountered was
the fact that the banks on either side of the
"cut' between Shady Run and Towles,
were so high that the rotary could not
throw the snow over them. The result
was that much of the snow tumbled back
on the track and interfered with the pro-
gress of the plow.
But slow as the work was, the sturdy
now-fighters-of whom there were fully a
thousand at work in the "cut'-gradually
fought their way through.
An anxious party waited patiently for
the coming of the rotary, as this meant
practically the breaking of the blockade.
When, about o'clock in the afternoon,
the unmistakable "whir" of the rotary be-
came audible at Towles, a mighty shout
went up from the people, and the scene
was one of much excitement. But though
the rotary could be plainly heard, she was
yet long way from the end of the "cut."
The great rotary, however, was never
working better than she was right at this
time.
The 'whir" became more and more
audible. The people at Towles were all
out, waiting for the first sight of the big
machine. Presently little milky stream
could be seen spouting up out of the "cut"
about half mile distant. This was the
signal for more enthusiasm. The stream
approached nearer and nearer and the
"whir' louder and louder.
Hurrah
The great plow had burst through the
last bank and was now snorting and puff
fng in front of Towles station. The en-
gineers and fremen were the recipients of
congratulations from the crowd.
Brave fellows. they deserved it.
well" remarked one, as he wiped the
perspiration from his steaming brow,
we've punched a hole through the
toughest part of the whole blockade, and
it's all plain sailing now"
True it was. The "cut" between Shady
Run and Towles was considered by many
as absolutely impregnable-bu not by the
gallant railroad people, as the result shows.
But still there was much work ahead.
When the rotary folks breathed for few
minutes, the signal for a fresh start was
sounded. The westward journey was re-
sumed, the idea being TO dispose of the
drifts and other accumulations of snow
which obstructed the track between Towles
and Alta. Once in the latter place, the
road was clear to Blue Canyon.
- 10 -,
the matter of derailments, necessitated
slow speed over this stretch, but the plow
stayed with the work nobly and no serious
mishaps were met with.
1t was now night and the snow was fall
ing again with more or less severity. A
high wind also prevailed which threw up
many annoying drifts. But the snow
fighters had become well used to this, and
now that the great "cut' had been pene-
trated, nothing could impede their pro-
gress.
At 11:20 o'clock last night the rotary
whirled in all her glory into Alts-and the
back of the great blockade was broken.
There was another scene of wild enthu-
siasm at Alta. the people there cheering
the sturdy snow-fghters to the echo, for
their bravery and tenacity.
Immediately upon the rotary reaching
Alta, orders were received to turn around
and retrace the track to Blue Canyon. This
was for the polishing" process. The dis
tance between Alta and Blue Canyon is ten
miles.
1t consumed two hours of time to turn
the rotary and the three driving engines
around, besides coaling and watering.
1t was about 1:3O o'clock this morning
when the plow started Eastward.
With a successful run back to Blue Cam
yon, the road up to that place will be per-
fectly clear. 1t was calculated that the
rotary would reach there about daybreak
this morning.
As soon as she does resch there the first
of the blockaded west-bound trains viii
move, and if nothing unforeseen happens
viii arrive in this city today shortly be-
fore noon.
The rotary will continue on Eastward
ahead of the delayed East-bound train