Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-15

land mouth full of snow. The fires in the
stoves in the car would rot burn, as there
was no draft while the cars were stand
ling still. By the time We got the engi-
neer Inside, we had about SIX feet OF drift
behind US. 1t was almost over west side
of the car. We had ON board besides the
railroad hands who had been sent with
shovels which we're of no service as no
man could stay out In that storm half an
hour aud not freeze. Capt. Jenkins, Con-
ductOT; Albert Smith, Baggage Master;
Stanley Harmer, Brakeman; Ii. c. Lup-
ton, Winchester, Va; j. II. Bowman,
Harrisonburg, Va l.. p. Stephens, COlum-
bus, o; Chas. Lowenbach, Leesburg, Va;
K. f. Ringer, Baltimore; W. G. Russell
Jr., Woodstock, Va Snyder, Hagers-
town, Md. These in addition to the rail-
road employees making eighteen men in all.
The car soon became very cold down
to zero, and all hands had to put or over
coats, muffers and whatever wraps they
had, and keep in motion to be at all COM
fOrtable-keeping warm was out of the
| question. The passenger car soon be-
came too cold to stay in, 80 we went into
The baggage car and banked snow around
the windows and door to keep out the
wind, and while we did not have to cast
out any anchors, being fast enough, 1--WE
waited for tho day" and long weary
wait it was, the hours like "a wounded
snake dragged their slow length along"
| The sky was heavy with clouds and the
wind like hurricane. The whole crowd
was cold. gloomy and Respondent. Ex-
cept for the wind it was so still and lone
| ly as to be oppressive. One man started
to whistle "The girl l left behind me-"
but the music frsze in his threat, so he
gave it up. much To our relief, for we did
DOT want to feel any worse. After we
had been an hour or two in this fix. our
genial Irish friend. Denny Collins,
Strengthened himself out and gave us the
first com forting word, saying, "Be Gorah'
list kape aisy until daylight, IT'S not tar
to Capt, McCann's, then yell be I'LL right"
About o'clock in the morning Stanley
Harmer and San Evans volunteered to
pe to StephensOns to send telegram to
Winchester. We consented to let them
start With many misgiviDgs. About 4
o'clock Evans came back with the word
that two engines had starie to our RELIEF,
but they like ourselves "gOt stuck" and
we have never seen them. About this
time the clouds began TO break and scrap
lng the frost from the window pane
could see one star. Then l knew how
fair a star is "when only one is shining
in the sky" Soon the neon hogan to
make an effort to break through the banls
of heavy clouds, aud at last she came out
IN all her glory, fl iOding the country with
silver light and throwing bright sheen
over the vast expanse of snow all around
US.
Well, -daylight--like everything else
to the man who waits-came at last, ana
it was welcome sight. The clouds
had vanished and the east began to blush
like the cheek Of a g RI; then came faint
rays of primrose light, changing to golden
bars, through which the dawn glded ont
across the snow. The stars grew pale ana
paler until at last they vanished, sre
presently TIE whole facs OF nature was
bathed 0 golden glow and it was day
and then not half mile away was the
welcome sight OF Capt. McCann's mouse,
and in a few minutes the face OF his son
Charlie was seen inside the door. IRON
his lips came the words, "breakfast 10
readyD Talk about marching to music,
that was the tune to march to, and we
did it through drifts three, and four feet
deep. Bat what of that; once inside the
door of that house, and with the greeting
of Mrs. Mccain. who soon had hot coffee
cakes, and a strictly first class breakfast
before MS to which we paid our best re-
spects-we forgot our troubles.
All day FRIDAY she cooked and cared
I & &C.
able at night. No one could be kinder
and after all our suffering and colo. 10
get to her hospitable home was ike inc
shadow of a great rock in weary Isau
when that crowd makes its calendar oil
saints, Mrs. J. X. Mccain and her STAT 7
will head the list. May the blessing s Of
heaven rest upon them and upon
all good women-so say ana
so cav all of us. Saturday about p. m
news came that the Baltimore and ONO
had sent a sleigh for us. So after nice
syster stew, We once mere formed pro-
cessisn and marched ha.f a mile through
the drifts, to where sad sleigh was walt
ing. We Gro wded in and drove to Win
chester but the way seemed long; the
wind was cold, we had to come throug
fslos and cut wire fences, and take Down
gates shovel the drifts from the horses
, feet, bat about five p. N. we reached the
Taylor HOuse. where not only our crowd
but Is or 80 others from other roads, are
in quarters waiting to 20 on our various
WAYS. All OF them with their faces
] towards home. Our Friend Cartmell Is
equal to the occasion and is making every
BODY comfortable. Oar party owe thank,
0 Mrs. McCaw. Rev DR.. Graham. and
CAPTAIN Sale for the delicious oysters
which they so kindly allowed us to con
fscats; they were very nice aud enIsy
able. "