The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-20
SNOW Is DEEPLY DRIFTED.
Engines and Plow Wrecked
in a Bank.
THREE MEN ALMOST PERISH.
Reports of Serious Damage and Loss
of Life Come From Many
Coast Sections.

SACRAMENTO, Feb. ia terrible storm
ragged on the Sierra Nevada last night.
The wind rushed and howled in regular
hurricane order all night, and there has
been no abatement in its fury to-day Ac-
cording to reports received at railroad
ffces in this city, the snow came down in
great flakes, drifted and fled the railroad
cut.
Additional reports are of an Alarming
nature. Over 1000 feet ofs the snowsheds
near tunnel Is, one and half miles west
of TTuckee, were re Orted down, but as
the wires were not working little irf0rma-
ton could be secured. The sheds are also
reported down at Emigrant Gap. The
storm is said to be the worst experienced
in years, and was still raging when the
last reports were received. 1t extends no
farther south than Lathrop.
General Superintendent Fillmore and
several OtheIs of the officials left for the
scene of trouble tonight on a special train.
The big plows at Salt Lake and Truckee
have been sent to the scene OF trouble.
In places snowbanks are as high as the
tops of the cars. Superintendent Wright
has ordered all freight trains out of the
blockade of trains. 1t is expected. how
ever, at the present time. that passenger
trains will be enabled to get through with
the assistance of the snowplows.
A serious accident happened this fore
noon at Cold Stream, station In the
mountain between Truckee and tunnel Is.
A heavy push" pillow, backed by seven
large engines, all running at high rate of
o.I f,,4.
a snowbank at least fifty feet from the
rail.
Three men are missing, and it is not yet
known whether they were hurled into the
snow, where there is a bare possibility of
finding them, or whether they were buried
under the snOw-plow. The missing are:
Conductor E. D. Higgins, Engineer L. E.
Graham and u. w. Terrell. Engineer
Lovelace was very seriously injured in
the accident. All the men were riding on
the snow-plow.
Superin tendent Wright left for the scene
of the accident this forenoon. He was
accompanied by number of doctors and
railroad wreckage crew, with the hope
of finding the missing men. At the same
time a wreckage crew and a number of
physicians left Truckee upon the same
mission. Owing 10 the terrific storm the
telegraph wires are down in several places.
A very heavy snowstorm has been rag
ing in the Siskiyou Mountains, but all
trains are running on time.
The first news received at the railroad
Office here from the wreck of the snow
DlOw, where it was reported four men were
missing and supposed 10 be buried beneath
the pillow and locomotives, came tonight
from Truckee by way of Chicago and Port
land. The dispatch brought the comfort
ing news that the men had all been rescued
and were in Truckee. Only one, Con-
ductor Higgins, was injured to
speak of. General Superintendent Fill
more tonight. with II. j. Small and j. H
Wallace, went to the front to join Division
Superintendent Wright. who is there dl-
recting the work OF clearing the road of
snow and broken sheds.
No wires are working east from Emil
grant Gap to Truckee. About 400 men
were sent up to-day and tonight to shovel
snow. Assistant Superintendent Jones
says it is likely the road may be opened
for travel tomorrow, but he cannot tell as
much depends on the weather.
At Q o'clock this morning everything
was in good running order when 1000 feet
Of sheds were carried away by an ava
lanche, followed by the disaster to the
snowplow. The train for the East which
left here to-day is at Colfax, and tonight
the eastbound train is detained here. The
passengers for Colfsx and way stations
were sent in tonight by special.
The high water about Wheatland has
cut off travel on that branch of the Ore
g6E line. but trains go by way of Davis
vile. Knights Landing and Marysville.
A telephone message to the Rec ord
Union late tonight states that the
Costumes River is higher than ever kuown
and overlooking all bottom lands. Many
families are surrounded by water, and il a
certain levee gives way the houses will be
submerged before morning People are
out tonight trying to save Il, but the
latest news Is that the leyee has given
way. The place is known as Costumes
Postoffice and is In the southeastern part
OF the county.
Word from Folsom is to the effect that
the American River is rising rapidly. and
Mormon Island bridge. in the foothills
east Of Folsom, is likely to be carried
away. The Sacramento River at this
point has not risen, but will probably 90
up several feet in a day or two. Rain
fell here all day and it is still coming
down.