Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-03
a0aOR THE YICTORS.
REV. MR. GROWDEN DIsC0URsEs ON THE
SNOW BLOCKADE.
The Grand Victory Achieved by Man
Honor to Whom 1t is Due-What
the Lesson Teaches.

street, DelWeeu " dHu W Ilef. a. NJ OlOn-
den yesterday delivered most eloquent
and remarkable discourse on the subject Of
the recent snow blockade in the Sierra Ne
vada, taking for his text the following:
'Render therefore to all their dues; custom
to whom custom fear to whom fear; honor
10 whom honor. Rom. xiii, Z.
Nature, how vastly comprehensive
Sometimes she plays before us, sportive
as a lamb on a sunlit hill. We hear her
voice in the throat of the woodland song
ster; in the low of the cattle; in theroar of
Niagara, as 10000 900 tons of water are
poured into the abyss every hour; in the
wash OF the waves of the Atlantic; in the
music of the babbling brook. Truly she
speaks varying language.
Nature is full OF interest to the obserYant.
David recognized that when he wrote HE
giveth snow like wool He scattereth boar
frost like ashes; He casteth forth His ice
like morsels. Who can stand before His
cold?" And Job: For He saith to the
snow, be thou on earth; and likewise to the
rain" A froHn has passed over the face
of Nature-her laughter was turned into
wrath; even the sun of heaven covered his
face with thick clouds at her rebuke. For
weeks fierce conflict has been raging high
up in the SIerras. 1t was conflict between
man and the elements. The painting iron
horse approaches the scene and pauses;
throbbing engines and nerves of steel bow
and retire before the Storm King. Hun
dreds Of passengers hold their breaths and
pray the unuttered prayer.
Amid that scene of awful grandeur Ma
ture demands total cessation of business.
ers the iron track of commerce with an
impenetrable armor; she hides the habita-
tons of men; she places her hand upon
the operators instrument and declares: "If
l cannot stop its ceaseless ticking, l will
tear down your wires" She bowls hoarse-
ly at terrified passengers: ~ have you all
in my power This is the hour of
darkness and DEATH l shut out the
light of the sun; / cause the mountains to
shake at the breath of my nostrels This
shall be reign OF terror, starvation and ulti-
mate death !" And so it seemed; but look
down in the valley. The travellers are not
forgotten. One thousand men-yes, 1500
are marshaled at the call of duty. They
hasten to the scene, and a fierce conflict
commences; it is life or death; danger is
forgotten; comfort is dispensed with. Man
contests every inch of territory. Men face
death in order to liberste their fellows,
whom, having not SEEN they love-"
Time and again victory seems within
reach, but the furies are again abroad.
Snow-not beautiful, but binding snow
impedes their progress. The partially
cleared track is again obliterated; Natures
white mantle covers all, and despair settles
on every countenance. Listen In that
operators office, on the wire flashes this
message: "Spare no efforts; more men sre
on the way; liberate the passengers at any
COST
Again the glittering enemy is attacked
Again the rotary" dashes the snow high
in air. The remaining 200 feet at Cascade
is growing less and less; but it is at the ex-
pense of noble implement of snow war
fare. The efforts of the iron monster grow
weaker and weaker; a shiver passes through
its iron frame-a crash follows-it is use
less, worn out in the struggle.
Disappointment succeeds disappoint-
ment. But that spirit which gave Califor-
MIA to the pioneers reasserts itself, and men
single-handed attack that snow bank. Cas-
cade's bank, twenty feet deep, must be
vanquished Earnest, unwearying efforts
at last gaiL~tne victory The Snow King
is overcome, and his citadel dismsntled
The trains, with shouts of reclamation,
move East and West
What shall we say of these men who
leave home and comfort to brave dangers
on snowy heights. OF those engineers who,
day after day, amid numerous dangers,
grasped the lever and strove to carry out
orders. OF those operators who, hour after
hour, by day and night, sat by their instru-
ments receiving and dispatching the all
important orders? OF that one who laid
down his life at his post? OF the tireless
Superintendent who, in bodily weakness
and WEAKNESS of mind, took oversight of
all and led to final victory?
Standing between the snow and the ad-
yancipg army on the one hand, and the
anxious, inquiring, sympathetic public on
the other, is the ubiquitous reporter.
Through him we learned of these move
ments; through him we sympathized with
the imprisoned passengers; through him
we were apprized Of their condition, and
assured of their safety.
In thinking of this blockade, and the
storm which is unprecedented, one cannot
but refer to the solicitude displayed by the
Southern Pacific Company on behalf of the
sDowbound. They were responsible for
their transportation not for "the act of
God" which detained them. They were
not legally bound to provide a single meal.
Generously were all those passengers treated.
Every conductor became caterer for their
bodily comfort, and every car dining
room. If the high altitude and mental
worry promotes sickness, DR.. Miner is
there, to administer the healing balm.
Nobly has the golden rule been exempliied
DO unto others as you would have them
do unto you"
The feat of raising the blockade is un-
paralleled in the history of railroadiug.
The generosity of the company and their
heroic efforts will be handed down to pos
terity with just pride by all the good
spirited. The spirit of christianity is the
spirit of appreciation. Render therefore,
to all, their dues; tribute to whom
tribute; custom to whom custom;
fear to whom fear; honor to
to whom honor" There are some in the
world who appreciate nothing but self.
That is the center and circumference of
their horizon. Lack of appreciation and
ingratitude is an infrmity. Let US SYM
pathize with those who are constitutionally
weak. How often are we reminded of
Oliver Twist-"men will ask for more. "
When the noble captain of the steamer
Missouri rescued the passengers of the
Danmark, throwing overheard a part of
his cargo to Accommodate them, finally
landing them safely, some complained.
When a loving heart prompted the break
ing of the alabaster box over the Savior,
some one complained; but the Lord of
Heaven, approaching the motive, accepted
her and rehuked the critic.
To-day lei US give honor to whom 1t is
due. We remember the noble battle
against the elements; the untiring zeal, the
devotion to duty. Is there nothing to ad-
mire in all this2 We owe to these victors
a debt of gratitude. Don't let US wait till
they die-let Us weave chsplet to their
honor; it is due them.
As l think of these scenes and this VIC
tory, am reminded of the words of Christ:
1.-THE children of this world are wiser in
their generation than the children of
light" If the same enthusiasm and de-
Termination could be manifested by the
church, what glorious, victorious scenes
would greet the believers eye Instead of
scattering detschments, vast army, mill
ions strong, marching with solid front
upon the common enemy, and as certainly
as victory crowned the efforts of the engi-
neers on the mountain top, so would the
army of God win the world for the King of
Kings. The hydra-headed monster, Sin,
would be trampled beneath the feet OF
horses on whose brides would be inscribed,
Holiness unto the Lord
A divided state means weakness. We
hear great deal in this city about the
baptism of the Holy Ghost" Now, If