The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-12-02

Last night Col. Roosevelt lectured
before the famous Lowell Institute,
in Boston. 1t was IL p, m. when
Col. Roosevelt left the lecture hall.
Half an hour later he was at the
Park Square station and aboard the
New York express, bound home.
The train pulled out at midnight. At
2 a, m. it came to sudden stop in a
snowbank. Fortunately there was
another locomotive within call, and it
was coupled on. The two engines
worked for another hour. There was
more telegraphing-the wires weren't
all down yet-aud third locomotive
was put on in the hope that it would
get the train to New York by morn
ing.
But il didn't get the train to New
York. All the three engines could
do was to painfully haul the train
within half mile of New London.
Then it came to dead stop, right
the middle of the wooden treslle that
crosses the Thames River at New
London. 1t was then 5 80 a. m
The sudden jolt of the brakes awoke
some of the passengers; the swift
cold that settled down over the cars
awoke the rest almost as quickly. To
save coal the fires had been banked
in the locomotives and all the steam
heat cut off from the cars.
The situation was appalling. Even
the cherry Colonel looked grave.
"What's the matter ?" he asked of
the brakeman who had just come up
the track.
"Block of cars ahead" he replied,
shivering, sand freight off the track
on the other side. l guess we're
stuck"
81 guess we are !" laughed Col.
Roosevelt, going back into the cal
and telling the news with careful re-
assurance 10 the crowd of women pas
sengers.
By this time everybody was awake
and dressed. 1t was bitter cold.
Some of the passengers lay dressed,
shiverIng in their births, with all the
blankets piled on top. Others were
out in the aisles, swathed in newspa-
pers to keep warm.
Anything to eat p queried Col.
Roosevelt, sizing up the situation.
"No, Sir" responded the colored
porter, ''you see, the comp'ny reckons
it doesn't need butfets on night
trains"
"Well," said Col. Roosevelt decis
lively, "we've got to get it r
Finally the young men IN the cal
organized foraging party aud start
ell out to ransack the neighboring
farm houses for food. Two hours
later they came back, white with
snow and almost frozen, but trum-
plant.
When everybody was helped Col.
Roosevelt took the last doughnut and
sip of coffee that was left and made
away with them with great gusto.
Then, while the other passengers
gathered around him, he told stories
of other billiards in which he had
been caught.
With anecdotes, personal, political
and adventurous, the Colonel kept up
the tagging spirits of his companions
in misery for hours. Aud yet Col
Roosevelt was the most disappointed
man in the car He had hoped to
get home for Sunday and make it a
complete day of rest He had invi-
ted big, jolly party to drive over
from Hampstead, and politics was to
be strictly barred. He had been
looking forward to it for week.
AT last, about l p. M, a snow-cov-
cred figure plodded up the trestle and
climbed laboriously into the car 1t
was the proprietor Of the Hotel Win
throp, of this town, who had come all
the way IN the snow to invite New
York's Governor elect and his fellow
passengers in the car to dinner.
Meanwhile the train had managed
to plough on another 100 yards. Then
Col Roosevelt and his carmates all
piled out into a big snowdrift, and
with him at their head, they plodded
their way into New London. Once
inside the warm hotel spirits rose
wonderfully. COL Roosevelt was ct
his best. Seated at the head Of a
long table, the passengers ranging
down on both sides of him, he kept
everybody in roars OF laughter
And SO the dinner passed off mer-
rily. Everybody grew amazingly
fond of the Colonel, who put on nc
airs because he is to be Governor in
a month At 4 p. m. he had given
up all hope of getting home to night.
The train had run into another snow.
bank, deeper than the last. There
were all sorts of reports of wrecks
ahead and blockades. In eight hours
his train had made bat 100 yards.
Shortly after 8 p. m. the lights or
Il