Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-01-02


thing was going TO happen on that day
last winter. when he ran the pay cal
out of the main station for the last time
II had been showing and blowing
with great fury for some hours, and
there was every indication Of severe
weather. The snowplows had been
put in order and were already at work
on some divisions where the storm wa:
fercest II looked az If there would
be plenty of work and worry for the
dispatchcrs from stalled" trains,
dead" engines and a general disar-
rangenent of the regular schedule.
Engine Q. with the pay car, had or.
ders TO run wild to Mineola and re-
port" Mineola is a junction and a
ousy place, even in winter. A branch
railroad running through farming dis
trict terminates there, and some fifteen
or twenty trains a day run over It,
making connection with the trains on
the main line, most Of which stop.
One ordinarily finds there two or
iiirce freight crews, who lie over wait
ing for connections.
When John Swinton, after a hard
struggle with the elements, pulled up
alongside the station and ordered his
fireman to give Engine 0 drink from
the water tank. there was scene of
great confusion. Passenger train Is,
going east, was snow bound. West
bound freight No 2 was in drift two
miles east of the station, and there was
report that the branch road was
filed In full of snow where the cuts
we're the deepest.
-Four or five extra engines, steaming
and blowing, we're awaiting orders on
the siding, and the platform and sta
tion were crowded with passengers and
train men waiting for something to be
done.
A report came after time that a
snowplow was working west, down the
branch, and that the road was likely
to be clear by afternoon.
II was the custom to pay off employ
ees engaged on that division first before
going east over the main line, so the
pay car stood awaiting orders to pro
ceed.
A gang of men were busily at work
digging out freight train No. 2, and
1t was expected that the main line
would also be clear before evening
Snow was no longer falling, but the
wind blew with much force. The win
try sky foreboded continued cold
weather and clustering night.
The day wore on The snow bound
passengers had grown tired of asking
questions as to what were the prospects
of raising the blockade, and had dis.
tributed themselves among the neigh
boring restaurants in quest of some
thing to eat. The newsboys had long
since sold out their supply of peanuts
and candies, so that edibles from that
source were no longer to be obtained.
Engines were blowing of steam, the
chill winter wind whistled about the
cars, and the weird gloom of short
day drawing to a close had settled
down.
At last n report came over the wire
that IA snowplow from up the branch
had succeeded In working its way
through the huge drifts, and was near
ing the junction. Soon there was n
shrlll whistle, and the great plow,
forced along by six powerful engines
covered with ice and snow, came dash
ing by the station. Every one knew
that the track was clear.
To railroad men long In the service
the sight was not unusual but TO one
unaccustomed TO such scenes there are
few things grander. The belated passen-
gers set up shout, glad that relief had
come and impressed with the mag
nillcent sight.
Then came orders for Engine 8, with
pay car, to proceed up the branch.
Everything was Astir. John had
lighted the headlight and had thor
oughly oiled his engine. 1t was grow
ing dark, the rear signal lamps on the
pay car We're displayed, and every prep
aratlon made to get over the road in a
hurry, so that the regular trains should
not be interfered with, and in order
that an early start might be made In
the morning To pay off the men on the
branch, coming back.
"l can't pull out till the relief train
following the snowplow comes up"
John said to his conductor,
'There are no orders about n relief
train, F" was the reply,
Perhaps not, John answered; but
do you suppose the boys have been
aboard that snowplow all these hours
without bite or two TO keep them upl
tell you there must be relief train
following them down the branch, and
we can't 60 ahead till it comes In"
BY the light of his lantern John read
the order over again.
Engine o with pay ear win run 10
.. Il. regardless and report"
That was plain enough. 1t gave him
right of way over everything ON the
road; but for further assurance, both
men repaired to the telegraph Office.
There the order was confirmed.
John was half doubtful still, but
there was nothing TO do but obey.
He mounted his engine. There was
a stroke OF the bell, a sharp blast of the
whistle and they were off, with the
rcd tail lamps ON the pay ear disap-
pearing around the curve In the driv-
Ing snow John was evidently letting
her out" little, for the bystanders at
the station could hear old Engine Q ex-
hanst as though she would blow out a
cylinder head, In spite of the shrill