The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12
COLORADO SNOW BLOCKADE
EVERE sTORMS DEEAI' TRAYEJ ON
THE RAILROA. rs.

bhNNEhs NEbs Wy ANih WV
passed through Colorado In the last tive
weeks will have unusual tales OF sno " block,
AIDES to relate when they finally req, VI theii
destination. As q rule there is little danger
Of delay In crossing the main range III Colo
RADIO during the winter months. Ger eralIN
the snowslides do not occur until late n the
spring and are quickly removed. This " lntel
has been the exception. Trains have Seer
buried by avalanches. passengers have eer
caught between great slides and kept for d WI
within the cars. and the railroad manage V'
have had greatdiflculty In breaking the bloc. 4
adcs on the mountain roads.
The worst place in Colorado this winter has
apparently been in South Park and along the
Blue River. and the towns of Jefferson. Como.
Breckenridge. Kokomo. Dillon and Wheeler
have been cut Off from the rest OF the world
for days. A relief train last Saturday finally
bored its way through the drifts and slides
into Breckenridge and was met along the
mountainside in its descent from Boreas Pass
by almost the entire population of the camp.
who were trying to dig their way out to obtain
food and supplies. TIT horses in camp were
being fed on rolled oats from the grocers'
stocks. so hard pressed were the people to ind
forage. The slides continued with a high
wind and the train could not return TO its
headquarters in Como in South Park.
lnere were SeVenIy-nNe consecutive uHyN OF
snow and storm between Como and Leadville
on tho South Park Railway. and a high wind
carried the dry. powdery flakes along until the
snow lodged in gulches and behind great rocks
on the sides Of the mountains. Being at n
high altitude. the few hours of sun shine failed
to melt the surface sufficient for the snow to
become incrusted at night. and the wind had
plenty OF opportunities during this long period
to build up great drifts ana start tremendous
slides down the steep slopes. Snowslides at
this season are caused by the weight Of the
snow packed in drifts Of unprecedented size
and height. Gathering momentum as they go.
picking up additional, masses of snow. rocks
and timber. they sweep a clean path before
he'd Of a stream in the valley beneath or in the
canon along which the railway runs. To
break through these slides, When they rest on
the railway a rotary snowplough is OF no avail.
Tor the knives OF the great screw cannot out
into broken timber and boulders imbedded in
men, with shoyels. In the teoth OF a tinging
WIND, ne ar lllled with fine particles Of snow
very difficult. Short shifts must be emit made dss ana
the men must return often to the rsiief train
following them to warm their hands and feet
10 feet high, ilIed with broken timb1r, aud
encountered frequently, and to get over the
range from Como to Breckenridge has been a
On the main railway lines the trouble did
not begin to assume serious proportions until
last Week. For twelve days the snow fell
II stood from seven to ten feet deep on level
places. while on the mountain slopes it packed
away and the slides began to make work for
railway officials. The storm centre scanned
then 70 be in the vicinity OF. Leadville. and
Iears began to be entertained Of n coal famine.
The railway managers quickly rushed coal
trains up, to the great mining camp to prevent
before the extra supply of coal could be deliv-
cred the snow had gained the victory and many
The Colorado Midland was the first road to
meet with trouble. a tremendous slide came
down the mountain near the Hagerman tunnel, |
behind 2 passenger train. Several days elapsed
before the train was released. On Jan. 30 the
Grande Railway was running along up the
canon OF the Grande in the teeth OF Ii binding |
a sharp curve. saw a Slide rolling down the
just ahead. Calling to his fireman
to Jump; he applied the brakes. The engine
struck Inc slide, with 1orce sufficient to smash
the cab. while the fireman was caught by the
snow mass and buried in the tender. He re-
Seiyed no injury. though; 1t required three
hours to shovel the train out OF this slide. |
When the train reached the Leadville yards it
eight hours getting up to the station :
IN that evening a miner, walked into Lead
vile from near Robinson. having made seven
condition of the snow In the mountains
the citizens of Leadyille. and rescu-
49, "Ni' u u Dhtt bcUI OuI WlIn Drove !
Ions to small camps where supplies must he
short. ihe railway managers realized that
hurried men and tools to the mountain d2,
Ssslon to Keep the roads open. At the outset
enorts were made u keep, the feeder lines
alter one days effort, IN the face of n terrific
the branch lines were abandoned
and all efforts were concentrated on the main
ines. On the branch to Kokomo three Dem
yer and Rio Grande locomotives were caught
between slides and the trainmen had to abanE
Ion Them and walk through tha StnrTu hunL 70
They did not abandon the strug-
iie; however until two Of the locomotives had
)uried in the drifts. One fireman in walking
1ack gave out and had to be carried by his
house was reached. There he rename s1G until
relief train brought him out to a hospital.
lbated. but that night a Denver and Rio
jrande express, west bound. ran into q snow
i I'd 7 ear Glenwood Springs. The engineer
vas seriously hurt. though mai, express. and
,agsage cars we're damaged. The passenger
iding, and then the workmen went forward
. Giear the wreck and remove the snow and
the nrst. but i was OF small force. though
n0ugh TO alarm the workmen., After several
Iorea a thlrd slide came rushing down. bury
1Hg the WreckinR, train under a mass Of snow
'sre caught ana carried q distance OF 30 feet,
.hen they fell INTO the torrent Of Eagle River,
I'M WHICH they escaped without Injury
Vorkmen were tossed and tumbird In ai di.
ections. but most OF them were ca rried along
n the slide and escaped with slight bruises
me n stood firm and Nas simply
the fireman was thrown against the boiler
ead and when he wasdug out, after two hours'
'ork. one hfp. was broken. a knee was badly
urned. and the other hip islocated. Out OF
no mass three bodies were taken and four
len were seriously hurt.
Meanwhile tremendous efforts we re- being
lade 10 release the passenger train buried in
ne shoW nehr Hagerman tunnel. on the Colo
ado Midland, The. employees OF the i'm
rbimd train broke into 3 freight 4 pin stalled
nowbound passengers. and they we're becoIn-
~ quite used TO their narrow quarters when
icy were, alarmed by great masses OF snow
,hich broke, into the coaches through the
nattered windows. Instead of a I,ew slide.
o p"tT ,,n it wnS the rotary sgowpl9u On boring
now hurled from IL had broken the car win
owsI The passengers followed the plough
ITO Leadville after six days delay. On. u west
train on this rond which was lost for
Ia Gay Copey Island" The actors ia red wei
q section house. and. not having TO 10 to re-
earsals; they managed to pass the enforced ,
without much complaint. A minstrel
I'M nAnV hn1 haitian ln,ly II -, -