Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-01-23
HELD IN THE SNOW DRIFTS
Reports From the West Announce a
Terrific Snow storm.
Trains showed in and Human Aid
P0werleSs to Assist.
The Worst Storm RailroaderS EX-
ptficnced in Years.

CnICAeo. Jan 20 The blockade in the
West and Northwest is one Of the most
complete ON record Net only has travel
become an mpossibility on the western
divisions OF the Central and Northern Pa
clhc, but the telegraph companies are equal
sufferers and every through wire is down
on both IT these routes, The only means Of
Geographic communication with the paci-
hc coast is by the indirect route of the
Southern Pacific and the amount of busi-
ness transacted is necessarily limited.
Washington and Oregon are shut off from
communication with Che entire world with
the exception of one little Ng-ag wire
between San Francisco and Portland.
When this wire goes down, these two
northwestern states viii be farther away
from New York than China, so far us tele-
graphic communication is concerned
Trains are not running aud the snow
blockade renders II impossible for q tae-
graph force to reach the scene of the
break Western Union repuircrs are
showed up at half dozen points in the
west, and there is little prospect of re-
uewed communication until the railroads
have mastered the elements Western
Union adyiye- are that the snow is still
falling throughout the west, SO that the
prospect ls by no means encouraging.
SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 20. The snow
blockade ON the Central Pacific in the
vicinity Of lruckce and Emigrnt Cap has
become very serious Since Tuesday last
no eastern overland train has been able to
reach point further west than ColfuS
At present the east bound trains are in
Sacramento. CollaX and SHADY Run At
Truckee the dppth of snow ranges from
eiuht fert Ia drifts of twenty feet The
railroad comp9nv has several hundred men
al work shovehup east of the town. 4
plow was only able togoamile when stuck
with ten engines Shovelery were called
to the rescue and after several hours worl,
dug them out No thny cnudreurn. On
the west road Is drift, fl Ia 80 feet HIGH.
pillow with five engines was ON the road
W hours irving 10 reach a tunnel eight
miles from town. The whole crew re-
turned ON foot having abandoned the
train as they became rayenous with
hunger. Anothrs pillow with twelve loco
natives started ont Ia clear The road 10
the summit. hut before they had run two
uile. they we're securely biockaded and
tilA SHOW lHIllHL htGH Oh ttltNl. Iiit'N were
fast in both directions. The pas
sengers are qmriaed at hotels
by The railroad company, Yesterday
afternoon it began howing again heavily
and Che reports from the blockaded trams
ut Emigant gap showed the cleared por-
tons Of the track were again filing fast.
| The railway officials delare the present
| blockade Is the heaviest and longest they
have experienced for over ten ycarS lhf
delay seriously affects the mail facilities
No eastern mail has reached The city since
last Iuesday he Western Union iele-
grapa company has large force OF men
IN the mountains clearing the wires OF
snow The telegraph lines IN some places
are entirely burle under the driits,
The passengers are suffering from cold ana
. iaIee number OF cases 81 llillu'h|a 'le ~
on the California and OREGON road, i'm the