The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-08
BURIED UNDER SNOW
8uCKING A BIG DRIFT WITH AN OLD
FASHIONED PloW.

l 'St liNiNGD FGS"s
A Scene ON the Railroad Lines ON
| the Plains of Dakota DurIng q
| Blizzard Before the Rotary snow
| killers Came Into Use.
In paper on saowplows in st. Nicho-
| las George f. Walsh describes the work
| Of clearing away snawdrifts on a Da-
| kota railroad with wood faced. steel
sho1 pl0w, before the rotary steam pillow
was invented.
1t was hardly dusk before the order
| was Issued to got ready few Of the
| lighter snuwplows. These were always
| run out first and nearly always were
\ stuck h! the s!tow. II the storm proved
mild one. they would keep the tracks
clear for ordinary traffic but if the bliz-
| zard was correctly reported-and the
worst was cXpected-the largest plows
| were called into service.
The welcome word to attack the snow
| finally comes. and the plows leave the
yard for their various destinations. On
the main line the heaviest plows are
used. One of these towers up almost to
the top OF the engine stack, so that it can
tackle the highest drifts that may be
met. The engineer in his caboose cannot
see ahead well, and the conductor has to
direct him from his position on top Of
the cab. where small cupola has been
built. Behind the two engines driving
the snowplow come the drag out and 4
train of Ours loaded with provisions,
clothing. extra coal and q crew Of shoy-
elers. The drag out remains at re-
spectful distance behind the snowplow
and has an easy time of it.
Out Of the yard the procession moves.
Then it reaches the plains, and as the
snow has drirted of the track on the
level the ploWs have Et,le difficulty in
clearing them Of what remains. A 20 or
~ mile gait is strack, and the snow flies
on either side OF the plow as il shot out
from q cannon. Ii no stalled trains are
reported in this section and 10 serious
cuts are met with, the snowplow goes
merrily along, and the men Join in the
enthusiasm of the great inanlmatc ma
chine that seems suddenly endowed with
life. But after long run the plows cut
the snow less swiftly, and the speed of
the train is slackened.
huge DRIFT has packed across the
track ahead. The train is stopped short
of it, and the superintendent walks
ahead to examine it. IL he thinks the
pillow can go through il without the aid
of the shovelers, the train backs UP q
mile or two, and then, under d thunder
ing headway, it comes down upon the
drift with an impetus that fairly lifts
the huge engines from the track. The
first impact into the showdrift gives a
dull thud and jolt to the train. Then all
is darkness as the engine dives into the
drift and bOres its way through. The
speed is slowly reduced, although the
throttle of the engine is wide open, and
for a few moments there is some anxiety
as to whether the powerful engines will
get through the mass before their head.
way is stopped entirely. 1t is moment
Of intense suspense as the train gradual
ly slows up and comes almost to q stand
still. Then suddenly light shoots out of
the darkness ahead. the speed of the
putting engines increases. and in another
moment we are clear of the snowdrift.
There is a sigh of relief from the half
smothercd conductor overhead and u
shout of glee from the trainmen.
Another run across the country is then
made, and in the crisp morning air the
journey is exhilarating. But there is a
dangerous cut ahead, and the engineer
slows up instinctively. This cut is u
natural receptacle for snow. aud there is
no Likelihood of its being open this time.
The great snowplOw pokes its nose close
up to the beginning of the cut, and then
the superintendent again runs ahead to
make examination. This time he decides
that il is too great 4 risk to attempt to
force the pillow through the densely pack |
ed snow. There is danger OF the pillow
leaving the track and causing a general |
wreck and tangle. So in no uncertain
voice he orders the two hundred or so
shovelers out Of their car, and under his |
direction they undermine the great bank |
of snow. The science Of engineering is
displayed here. for the drift must be
honeycombed in such q way that the
plow will be enabled to pass clean |
through it. Trenches. holes and tunnels |
are cut in the deepest places. Then the |
two engines, with the snowplow, back |
up probably two miles to get under suffi-
cient Roadway. The plow is examined
and found to be IN good condition. Then.
with piercing whistle, the engines start |
forward.
This is the most picturesque and awe
inspiring run of any. The throttle is
thrown wide open. and the engines rush
forward with mad impetuosity. Before |
half the distance is covered you are
swinging through the mir at 40 miles an |
hour, and by the time the cut is reached |
the speed has increased to 90 or 20. To |
be hurled against a gigantic snow wall |
Mt this rate of speed is m experience
sufficient to daunt the stoutest heart. The |
conductor crouches down in the caboose, |
the windows are tightly closed and the |
snow curtains drawn. There is moment |
Of sickening suspense, then q dull thud
and shock, and then complete darkness
and a sensation that you are being whirl- |
ed downward by some mighty and ire
sistible power. 1t is only the mighty
snowplow pushing its way through the |
snow, but the queer sensation makes you |
hold your breath.
To cap the climax the engines stop.
ou open the snow curtains. All is dark. |
You are buried ten feet deep in snow. the |
engines are stalled. and the magnificent |
snowplow is overcome by the force of the |
tons of snow. There is nothing to do |
until the snow shovelers have dug you
out. Then. with the help Of the ten wheel
drag out engine. the plOw is pulled back |
from her bed of snow. Again and again |
the operation is repeated until the cut is |
cleared.
Outside, the scene Is even more pictur- |
esoue, for the force of the snowplow |
sends the white crusts in the air as IL a |
huge mine had been exploded. For 100
feet on either side the snow falls in |
showers of diamonds. burying out Of sight |
any who may venture too near the track. |
Sometimes the shock of striking the |
snow ut 90 mile gait smashed things
generally in the cab and knocked every |
one down. The snow few into the ca |
boose, and that and the escaping steam |
nearly suffocated you. The fight went on |
in this way day after day until the line
was cleared.
The advent of the rotary snowplow
robbed the western roads of much OF
these old time terrors. but 1t also abol- |
ished picturesque and exciting warfare |
between man and nature in her toughest. |
widest mood
They Drove There.
A couple OF members Of the Blue Pencil |