The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-24
4 Snow blockade In the West.

SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 20-The snow
blockade on the Central Pacific rail-
road, 10 the vicinity of Iruckee and
Emigrsnt Gap. has become very seri-
Gus. Since Tuesday last 10 Eastern
overland trains have been able 10 reach
a point further West than COlfax. At
present the east bound trains are at
Sacramento. Colfsx and Shady Run,
while those coming West are at Eni-
grant Gap, Truckee sDd Reno. At
Truckee the depth auges from eight
feet TO drifts of 20 feet. The Railroad
COMPANY have several hundred men al
work shoye!Ing, east of the town. The
plOw was only enabled TO 60 a mile
out when it stuck with 10 engines.
The shovslers were called 20 the rescue,
and after several hours work. dug them
out 80 they could return.
On the West the road is filled with
drifts of 10 to 80 feet in large cuts. a
plow with five engines was on .he road
SO hours trying TO reach the tunnel
eight miles from town. The whole
crew returned on foot. having aban~
doned the train, they became ravenous
with hunger. Another plow with. u
locomotives started out TO clear the
road TO Summit, bat before they had
run two miles they were securely
blocked, and the snow falling back on
them, they were fast in both directions.
The passengers are quartered at the
hotels by the railroad company. Yes
terday afternoon it began showing
heavily. and reports from the blockaded
trains at Emigrant Gap showed that
the cleared portions of the track were
sgs in filing fast. The officials declare
that the present blockade is the heavi-
est and longest they have experienced
for over 10 years.
PIows are unable to 90 much on ac-
count of the depth of the snow. The
delays seriously affect the mail faclii-
ties. No eastern mail has reached this
city since LIST Tuesday evening. The
Western Union Telegraph Company has
large force OF men in the mountains
clearing the wires of snow. Telegraph
lines IN some places are entirely buried
under the drifts, notwithstanding the
fact ;hat the wires are strung on poles
1 30 feet high. The report that the snow
/ bound passengers are suffering for want
of food is denied by the railroad Off
cials. Abundance of food is supplied
/ them, and the trains are at no point
/ where 1t would be impossible 10 reach
/ them.
Experienced men on snow shoes are
| constantly on the road between Colfax.
| and the delayed trains, packing fresh
oeet ana other necessaTies, and at 10
time during the blockade has any diff
Guilty been experienced in giving the
/ passengers comforts AID food. The
passengers are not suffering from cold
and a large number of cases Of infiuen
"a are reported, but the sufferers are
| kept warm and receive medical aid
promptly. The situation is equally as
serious OF the California, Il Ogden road
IN The northern part cf the State. The
train which left here Tuesday evening
( tOr Portland is still at Redding. A
force of shcvelers, who were working
south from Dunsmir, returned after a
hours work. One engine was bIoueh
10. Others are showed in without fooC
or water. Another force started on
again with three engines and a plow e
reopen the southwark railroad. Til,
officials state they expect to have boil
the Central Pacific and the Caiiforni,
" Ogden roads open tomorrow.