Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-27
DIREorING THE BArrLE.
Something Which is Visible at tn
DeDot

Something Which is Visible at the
Depot.
Persons who have had occasion to be at
the depot to any extent during the
great snow blockade in the Sierras are well
aware as to the manner in which the great
battle against the snow-king was con-
Quoted, and also as to who directed the
movements of the army of snow-fghters.
The two thousand and more men who
were sent TO the mountains to do battle
with the snow-king would have been use
less without the aid of directing hand
like an army of soldiers without General
to direct their movements.
The directing hand in this case has been
Colonel ]. B. Wright, Superintendent of
the Sacramento Division, and he in turn
vas ably assisted by his lieuteDants, Thos.
r. Jones and Henry B. Breckenfeld.
For eleven days and eleven nights Su-
perintendent Wright has not seen a bed,
nor has he even had an opportunity to go
to his home lone enough for a change of
clo'hiqg. He RS s.t constantly, day in
ano .-4y out at the elbow of his chief tele-
grapher, counseling his men in the noun
tains and receiving at the same time con-
slant stream of reports as to the manner in
with what success they met.
1t is easy to conceive what terrible
strain this must have been on his nerves.
but still he stands up nobly under it, and
as he expressed it himself, is good for
another week"
Messrs. Jones and Breckenfeld both look
tired and worn, too, but still they have
been fortunate enough to get in couple Of
hours sleep during the long stretch-but
they would not have taken this had they
not been driven to bed by the Superintend-
ent.
Mr.. Burkhalter, another of Mr.. Wright's
able assistants, left a sick-bed in order to
help out, and insisted upon doing MS
share of the work, when he was not physi-
cally able to do so. Yesterday, notwith
standing the protest of his colleagues, he
took a train for the scene Of the blockade,
intending to personally see that Mr..
Wright's orders were obeyed during the
wlnd-up of the great battle. His strength
failed him, however, after he had been in
the mountains few hours, and he was
forced to return to this city.
When it is taken into consideration that
this blockade has been the most stubborn
as well as the most replete with disap-
pointments and exasperating accidents that
has ever been known, the wonder is that
these gentlemen have been able to keep up
under the strain. The road would, after
mighty struggle, be about cleaned up and
the prospects bright for an immediate
raising of the blockade, when the elements
would turn loose again with increased fury;
great ayalanches of snow would break
from the mountain sides, and bury the
track for miles deeper than before; plows
would break down, engines would be de-
rallied and hundred and one other mis-
haps occur which were, in themselves,
enough to severely test the patience of Job.
And now, on top of all this trouble-when
the fight is about over in the mountains
the elements change the base of their OPP
erations to the valley, and the roads are
washed out and travel impeded on every
division.
Oue of the train dispatchers aptly re-
marked Yesterday: at anybody thinks a
railroad man has got pudding, let them
come down here and watch it for while"
Mention should not be omitted of the
obliging manner in which Mr.. Wright and
his assistants have furnished thenewspaper
correspondents with facilities for getting all
the news. The local papers had access to
ali dispatches received from the front, and
those who desired to go to the front were
assisted in every possible manner