Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-25
AT BAY.
Rain Drives Back the
Snow King.
ROAD NEARLY CLEAR
Two Of the BlOCkaded Trains
Arrive Here.
PASSENGERS ARE JUBILANT
Record Union" Reporters Still Lead
at the Front.
THEY HAVE NOW REACHED CISCO.
Prospect That Other Trains Will
Move To-day-C Cascade is Now
the Only Obstacle.
Record Union Reporters Still Lead
at The Front.
THEY HAVE NOW REACHED CISCO.
Prospect That Other Trains Will
Move To-day-Cascade is Now
the Only Obstacle.

AS was stated in the RECORD UNION yes
terday morning, the back of the great snow
blockade on the Sierra NeYadss is prac-
tically broken.
Orders were sent from this city yesterday
morning to get the west-bound overland
which has been delayed at Blue Canyon in
readiness to start for this city as soon as
the rotary plow made its reappearance on
It's eastward trip.
These orders had to be cancelled tempo
rarily, however, as it began to snow again
heavily The wind sprang up and soon
developed into heavy gale, which tossed
the surface about in great drifts, covering
the tracks again and undoing the work of
days. 1t continued to snow all day.
1t was exasperahng, and toward evening
the great army of snow-fghters began to
despair of ever efectuslly conquering the
belIigerent snow king The blockaded
passengers, for the first time since the
trouble began, looked anxious, and began
to realize that the situation was serious.
1t was supreme moment.
Several of the brave shovelers threw
down their
But what was that which they now be.
held
Rain
True as they lived, it was gradually
growing warmer, and rain had taken the
place of the snowfall.
1t was only light sprinkle at first, but
presently it increased in volume. the tenn
perature grew warmer and they were now
in the midst of drenching rain.
The effect on the snow was immediate.
It began to melt right and left. Drifts
on the track disappeared, little cutters ap-
peared in the sides of the banks and en-
bryo rivers and creeks established them
selves on the roadbed and went tumbling
down the grade
1t was rot long before the passengers
could see a clear stretch of unimpeded
track as far as the eye could reach.
News came up from Towles Alta and
other places further down the track that
rain was falling heavily there. too, washing
the track clean.
Orders were again received from Sacra
mento to get ready-and this time it wa;
for good.
Number move west slowly to Shady
Run, came the orders by telegraph from
Division Superintendent Wright. at thi:
city, and wild shout went up from the
passengers when the engineer proceeded tc
obey.
The train steamed down to the point men
toned unobsructed, and there further or
ders were received to take aboard the mai
and passengers on East. bound train No 8
which has been at Shady Run for the pas
week. The transfer was made as quickly
as possible, and then another dispatch came
to move on westward.
The plan was 70 bring the delayed East
bound passengers back to this city, change
their tickets and send them East via thu
Southern route Ditto the mail.
Alta was reached at 8 30 P. N. withou
mishap, and thence TO this city was al
plain sailing, as it were, the track having
been thoroughly cleaned by the rain.
That the great blockade is now broken
Is evidenced by the fact that all that nov
remains 10 be cleared up is the mile and I
half strip of track at Cascade, where thi
snowsheds we're burned last summer. Th'
track is perfectly clear up to Cascade, witt
the exception of a broken "bucker ploV
which bIockades the track at Emigran
Gap. The strip at Cascade will be dispose'
of to-day by the rotary, and by tomorrow
the other east-bound train at Cisco ma.
move, as well as the west-bound ones a
Truckee and Reno.