The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-27
FIRST IN FOUR DAYS
NORTHERN PACIFIC RUNS A TRAIN
FROM JAMESTOWN TO
FARGO.
GRAND FORKS MANS STORY
SHOWS SOMETHING OF THE HARD
SHIPS SUFFERED BY THE
WESTE3NERS.
GRAND FORKS MANS STORY
DRUMMERS HANDLE SHOVELS
In the Hope That They Might Be
Able to Get to
Hotel,

F. ]. Evans, of Grand Forks, arrived
in the city last evening after having
tried for three or four days to get out
of that city. Each day he was pre-
vented by the blOckading of the trains
MATTERS are getting somewhat bet
ter" said Mr.. Evans to a reporter for
the G o b last evening, land judg-
ing from the appearances of things
alone the line today, the train schedules
will be maintained from now on I'M
less there is another storm. 1 came in
via the Great Northern. There were
three trains coming in at practically
the same time, all No. As. That is
three trains from Seattle were
punched and came in about the same
time. Two of the trains were con-
sOlidated and arrived in st. Paul about
1880 O'Clock, and we followed this train
on the third, about an hour and a half
or two hours behind. The combined
trains represented the coast business
for three whole days. The trains were
stuck between Grand Forks and Minot.
Sunday and Mondays trains were
brought into Grand Forks Tuesday
morning, and the regular Tuesday train
was enabled to come right through
with a delay Of only a few hours. The
passengers on the delayed trains were
mostly bound to Chicago, and they
made quick time at the hotels and went
South on the evening trains
From Mr.. Evans it was learned that
the Northern Pacific also had had a
hard time in North Dakota. The North
ern Pacific sent its first train since last
Friday from jamestown to Fargo yes
terday. The train was four days late,
which shows the terrific obstacles
which were overcome
The Fargo Southern, which Is con-
trolled by the Milwaukee system, has
been tied UP since Frid4y. 1t will prob
ably be opened today or Thursday,
which will make about six or seven
days delay.
You have no idea as to the size and
the strength of the drifts" said Mr..
Evans. Il was on a train the other
day where it required the combined
strength of four locomotives to pull
the coaches. lid you ever go through
the experience cf 5ucktng q snow drift?
Well you are just as well off if you
have not. The four engines were fire.
quently uncoupled from the train, and
then rushed pelI-mell down at the drift
at speed Of thirty miles an hour The
impetus was tremendous and yet the
engines came to an abrupt standstill
1t was dangerous work. The cabs Of
the engines were always provided with
heavy wooden shutters to protect them
from the Ice and snow. often saw the
snow plow ana the head engine run up
on the snow. SO cOmpactIy had 1t
frozen.
And by the way, : cannot under
CAn 14-1o-
keep T. E. Adams as superintendent of
the Dakota division. Adams was one
of the best men on the line. He was
very faithful. During the storm two.
or three weeks ago, he stuck to the
rotary snow plow for an even sixty-two
hours, and did all that man could do
to lift the blockade. I hope to see him
reinstated soCn, as do all the people up
there.
Speaking about hardships, last
Saturday train load Of travelling men
saw something of real life They were
going to Langdon to ST. Paul via
GAINESVILLE on Northern Pacific No. 8.
when the train became stuck in snow
drifts. Time after time the engine
tried to break through, but the drifts
refused to yield. The travelling men
then offered to assist in shoveling. and
Tor seventeen hours they worked at it.
There was no dining car on the train
and it was a hungry and tired lot Of
men who pulled into the station when
the train was finally released
THE snow Is deeper than it has been
IN twenty-five years. 1t is so high
along the railroads that the rotary
pIows are unable to throw it over the
tops Of the drifts. This is the reason
the roads have not been opened. The
greatest trouble Is on the Northern Pa
cific at Valley City, where the drifts
are thirty feet in many places"