The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-01-30
STILL IN THE DRIFTS
The Blockade on the Central Pacific
Still Continues, Causing
Much Suffering
Passengers Caught in the Storm
Dying From the Exposure
Entailed.


IElN FRlNcIsoo, Jan. 29.-1he rotary plow
which has been makinga big tight in the
Sierra mountains toward raising the block
AIDE on the Central Pacific broke down yes
terday afternoon in the final drift remain
/ ing near Cascade. The plow has been work
/ ing for fifteen days, continually, and il was
thought the big machine would hold to-
gether until the road was cleared, but the
strain WAS too much and il was completely
dis abled when only two hundred Yards OF
the snow bank remained. II was sent back
10 Sacramento and an army of shovellers
remained at work all night under double
pay 10 clear away the remaining snow OBJ
structing the rrack. Five cars of delayed
mail was sent ives, from Reno last night and
will hc the first train through.
John Coughlin, Il telegraph operator at
Cisco, died mt his lonely station in the
mountains four days ago of pneumonia.
Three men. including the doctor. who went
10 his aid on snow shoes, arrived too late Ia
save his life, and he was buried in snow
drift. His body was removed from it's
mountain sepuchre yesterday and taken 10
sacramento ON special train, where his
funeral will occur today.
Mrs. McNoan, wife of Surgeon A. G. Nc
Nean, of Jefferson barracks,d died at Truckee
Monday OF dlphtheria, while on one of the
delayed west-bound trains. Yesterday
/ Lucia Iaretta, the Mexican midget, said TO
be the smallest human being in the world, "a
passenger on the same train, died at
Iruckee from gastric fever.
Information this afternoon shows the
great blockade ON the Central Pacific is
still unbroken. though according TO latest
reports the only portion of the track which
IL now obstructed IL between tunnel No. IL
and Trnckee where the snowslide this
morning covered the truck for short dis
tance. II il expected this will he cleared
IN short time. and II no other slides occur
the railrOnd officials hope 10 have the
blocked trains moving this evening. 4 vio-
lent windstorm commenced in the noun
tnins, however, Inst night and there
IL danger that other slides may occur
any time. Reports received at the railroad
headquarters IN sacramento this moruing
were not encouraging. The fact that the
barometer is falling at Summit and high
winds. are rising and sweeping over the
Hnow-clnd mountains with driving fury ia
, not regarded as n favorable indication.
The wind which arose last night az a fore
; runner of devastation made its power felt.
There IL an unprotected stretch OF track
between Tunnel II and rruekee. which runs
, along the base of the surrounding hills
, The hurricane swept one of these huge
mountain clonks of snow into motion and
the mass fell crumbling upon the track
! covering IL completely. So much trouble
7 has been experienced with the wires that
last night Il was decided 10 make a
! radical move toward repairing the system.
Linemen have been sent out from Truckes
! and other points, but their labor bore little
fruit and the wires could not be relied upon
10 operate satisfactorily. Accordingly a
special train wis made up under the direc
ton OF Supt. Wright, and a number of
! linemen supplied with wires and all ncces-
sary appliances were sent 10 the mountains
this morning Ia locate the weak spots and
make the desired repairs.
The situation in the northern part of the
state on the line of the California A. Oregon
rond remains unchanged and there is no
hope Of opening the road for some time to
come. High winds are reported at various
points along the rond. Near Oroville several
parties have been formed in different por-
tions OF the mountains 10 visit persons liy-
ing IN outlying places. who had not been
heard from since the commencement of the
storm. IN two or three places the people
searched for have been found dying, aud
several were discovered who needed relief.
' II IN feared many DID miners who have
I lived alone in the mountains for wears have
fallen victims to the terrible weather.