The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-29

Fred II. Peterson's Exp~rfsnees In the
California SNOW Blockade.
Mr.. Fred II. Peterson, wife and child,
who were nowboand At Sims, Cal. for
eight days, arrived home on the WaIia
Walia yesterday. Mr. Peterson. xhen seen
ny Posr-IsrxtIis sacFH reporter, stated
that they left San Francisco By rail on
Tuesday. Jan. "a, At ~ r. m, for Port
lard. The trip WAS devoid OF interest until
g:35 O'Clock the NEXT morning. when Delta
Was reached. The snow Was then falling
fast and the train bad sons difficulty in
making regular tine. The road runs
rapidly upgrade, and fifteen miles further
north a lonely station called sims
the snow was all oil three feet deep.
The conductor wanted to side-traek
~ this station but received teIe-
graphic orders that the train must
be pushed through. because Colonel Fred.
Croker with his private car were with the
train. So the conductor ordered the train
on and with three engines in the lead All
effort was made TO get through to Portland.
None Of the engines were provided with
anything in the way OF snow piow and
after several stops and starts succeeded in
pniIing the train on 10 q curve into the
snow. two miles north of Sims. and rs the
snow Vas falling heavily IL was but short
time before the train was stuck so that II
could not be moved either way. The pas
sepgers were willing and anxious to go
hack bat the railroad officials announced
that IL was their policy never to 30 back
ward
We stayed in the place where the train
first stuck" said Mr.. Peterson. from
Wednesday morning until Saturday even
ing following. when we were moved one
and one half miles further north, the snow
having been dug away by loo men sent
from Reddins for that purpose. But the
snow was falling all the time. and the
railroad men had to aceede 10 the demands
Of the passengers and dig away south.
On Wednesday evening. the I'D inst, the
train pulled out OF the snow and We re-
turned TO San Francisco Thursday morn
ing. We took passage on Saturday morn
inR by boat for home.
There were about It's passengers on the
train. which consisted OF two Pullman
coaches. two first-ciass cars, one second
class car and tourist car. besides Colonel
Crocker's private car. The Pullman cars
were provided with bullets, bat the sup
plies lasted only two days. In our car,
the Reno, the oil and coal soon gave out.
and not warm thing could be had for
any price. The car was cold. and when
wood was used II filled the car with smoke.
The wood finally gave out. too. There
wsre no provisions 10 be had except at q
store two miles and half up the bluff,
and Ne had TO cross two high and long
treaties 10 ret there. The snow was be-
make the trip WAS extremely fatiguing. be-
IL 1~.fS h.. tus<. -
the store soon gave out. and famine stared
us In the face. We were several days with
but . few crackers and a little cheese.
Early on the morning of Sunday. January
10, my child began crying for something
To eat went to Colonel Croker and told
him Of the starving condition We were in. |
said that was willing To take my chances
with the rest. but that must have some
thing for the child Colonel Croker said
he was about out Of everything, but he
gave me two slices of bread and piece of
chicken. which the baby ate greedily.
Passengers in the tourist cars Jared
somewhat better. for they had made partial
provision for the trip, and in their car was
a stove that could he used for cooking.
The engines should have been provided
with snow piows. and not having the means
To clear the track IL was tile companys
duty to take us back 10 san Francisco and
not experiment with our train, To see II IL
could I've gotten through. The company at
last made an effort to distribute supplies.
but that was something like two crackers
and q piece OF cheese a day. IL is my op!n
ion thatif Colonel Irocker private car had
not been with us We would have been yet
in the blockade. IL is very likely that two
weeks will eiapse before the road will he
open. Snow fifteen feet on the level was
reported from sissons and Dunsmuir-.
Take IL all through. we had rough ex~
perienee in California and shall be well sat
isiied 10 stay at Seattle hereafter.