Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-21
BECOMING SERIOUS.
Further Details of the Snow blockade on
the Central Pacific.

lBy telegraph TO the Dispatch.l
SAN FHavcTsco. January 20-rhe snow
blockade on tho Central Pacific railroad N
the vicinity Of Truckee end Emigrant Gap
has become very serious. Since TUESDAY
last 20 eastern overland trains have been
able 70 reach APPOINT further west than Col
fax All the east-bound trains are AZ Sacra-
mento. Colfax. and SHADY Run. while those
coming west are at Emigont Gap, Truckee'
and Reno. At Truckee the depth OF snow
ranges from eight feet TO drifts OF twenty
feet. Therailroad company has several hun
drad men az work shovelling snow east or
town. The pillow was only enabled to get
mile out. when it stuck with ten engines.
The shoycllers were called to the rescue,
who. after several hours work, dug them
out so they could return.
On the west the road is filed with drifts
of fifteen 20 thirty feet in large cuts. Inc
plow with five engines was on the road
thirty-six hours trying TO reach the tunnel,
eight miles from town. The whole crew
returned on foot. having abandoned the
train. AZ they becdme ravenous with hun
ger. Another plOX with twelve locOmO-
tires started out to'clcar the road to sum
init, but before they had run two miles
they were securely blocked, and the snow
falling back on tho track they were last
in both directions. Tho passengers are
chartered at hotels 10y the railroad COM
pany. Yesterday afternO0ni it began snow
ing again heavily, and reports from the
blockaded trains at FmIgraut Gap showed
that the cleared portions OF the track we're
again filing fast. Tho officials declare
that the present blockade IS the heaviest
and longest they have experienced for over
ten years. The plOws are unable 10 DO
much on account Of the depth OF the
snow.
Tho DELAYS seriously affect the mail
facilities. No eastern mail has reached
this city since last TUESDAY evening.
The Western Union Telegraph Company
has n large force Of men IN the mountains
clearing tho wires OF snow. Telegraph
lines in some places are entirely buried un-
der drifts. Notwithstanding that the wires
arc strung on poles thirty-iiye feet high.
Tho report that thesnow- bound passengers
are suffering from want Of food IS denied
bv the railroad officers. w abundance OF
food is supplied them and trains are at no
lioint where II would 10 impossible 10
reach them. Experienced men on snow
rhoos aro ON tl.o road between Colfax and
the DELAYED trains. carrying fresh peer aud
other necessities. and at no time during the
blockade has any difficulty been expert
euced in giving passengers comfort and
food.
4 LARGE number of cases Of influenza are
rouorted. but the sufferers are kept warm
md receive medical aid promptly. The
situation is equally as serious on the tal-
fornia and Oregon railroad in the northern
part of the State. The train which left
here Tuesday evening for Portland IS still
AL Redding. The force of shovellers which
were working from Duusmuir returned
after forty-eight hours work. An engine
was brought in. Others are scowed with,
ont fuel or water. Another force started
out again with three engines and plow
TO open the southwark railroad. Inc Qih 1
Pacific and California and Oregonraiboads
open tomorrow.