Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-04-25
Wild Weather and Tlcklish Travelling.

mountain it was falling IN torrents,
and it kept up without momentsln-
Permission. 1t was not altogether
comfortable to occasionally hear
torrent of water dash down upon the
car roof as the train emerged from
tunnel or passed between high cliffs,
but the trip was made in safety.
Saturday morning when we awoke
in Parkersburg the ground was COW
cred with snow, and the fakes were
falling as fast as they could get down.
The snow fell necessarily all day-not
a timid, hesitating snow such as one
might expect in April, but a regular
midwinter storm that never ceased.
The slush beneath and the clinging
snow above kept most folks at home,
but wherever knot of people gath
cred they talked about the big flood
that was coming down the Ohio. This
mighty river was booming to such an
extent that the people In the lower
part of the town all moved out, en-
failing good deal of loss to the bus
mess interests and much discomfort to
the people generally. The Ohio River
Railroad was put out of business by
the high water and the numerous land
slides that overwhelmed the tracks.
Sunday morning we started for
home, for the indications were that
little delay might mean an indefinite
stay. Sure enough, just outside OF
Parkersburg, where the railroad runs
along the Little Kanawha river, the
trouble began. This stream seemed to
resent being called little, for it had
made itself bigand was spread all over
that part of the country, bearing on
its swift current RATS of splendid logs
and great quantities Of timber that
had broken loose from booms and
were being carried out into the Ohio.
The water had encroached on the rail-
road tracks, but long-legged section
hand walked in front of the slow-mov-
ing train and with pole kept tab on
the track. The danger point was
safely passed and the train sped on
its way, though it was not easy to for
get the distressed looks Of the women
and children who were occasionally
seen in the houses along the river banks,
some of them entirely surrounded by
water and the inmates forced to take
to the second story. There were some
bedraggled looking folks in these
dwellings, but they were sticking to
their homes with tue grit.
All this time it had been showing
Just as hard as ever, and when We got
into the mountain, the snow clouds
fairly enveloped the train at times.
1t was a particularly beautiful sight
to see the forests bending under the
weight of the snow, and the telegraph
wires were like great white ropes fes-
TONED from one pole to another. The
mountain streams were raging and
from the cliffs fell many lovely cas-
cade.
1t was comforting to note that the
B. & o. had an army Of watchmen
along its tracks on the lookout for pos
sible danger. At every curve and u.s.
ually within sight OF each other were
the signal-men with their flags, and
no precaution for safety was omitted.
1t was almost home when We got to
Cumberland, and we began to feel
easy. But the trouble hadn't COM
menced. The Potomac WASH so high
at Cumberland, but when the South
Branch had poured its food into the
river and the other mountain streams
had yielded their contributions the
thing began to look serious, for the
railroad runs right next to the river
for some sixty-odd miles. The water
at many places came up to the tracks,
and it was an angry, furious food that
was hurting itself onward. When we
were near Sir Johns Run the train
stopped, and out Of the gathering dark
ness came crowd of workmen with
faring torches and long poles with
spikes and hooks upon the end. They
got upon the pilot of the engine and
stood upon the steps of the cars on
either side of the train. 1t is need
less to remark that the passengers
were deeply interested in these pro-
ceedings.
The signal to go forward was given
and the train moved slowly on. The
river had reached the tracks and they
were soon entirely hidden from sight
by the water. Then it got a trife
deeper and the chug-chug of the
wheels began to sound like the pro-
pellers of a steamboat Every now
and then the train would stop until
some man could feel for the track or
remove driftwood from the front of
the engine. AS the train moved more
and more slowly the water got deeper
The men on the steps had to move up.
A few rods further, and the water,
which was now a swift current, had
reached the body of the cars. Some
folks thought this was about enough
it was three feet deep-but as it
had not reached the frebox of the en-
CINE the trainmen thought they
would risk little more.
Thumpl A log had gotten between
the wheels of the locomotive. Most
of the lights were taken forward and
through the thick darkness could be
head the sullen roar of the waters,
anything but reassuring sound. Wa
ter was all around and underneath,
and you couldn't get off the train if