Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-04-21
TRAINS DELAYED so HOURS
Biz Slide at Entrance of Slskiyou
Tunnel,

80 hours at Hornbrook, from :23
O'Clock Wednesday afternoon until
8 :25 Friday afternoon, with about 100
passengers ON board. When the
blockade at the north portal of Siski-
you tunnel No. 10 was cleared. four
following trains had arrived at Horn
brook, making five through trains
held at that small station, with ap-
proximately 500 passengers, who de-
veloped ravenous appetites because of
the difficulty with which food was to
be obtained.
Bursting of the walls of a natural
lake was the cause Of trouble. The
warm weather caused such rapid flow
of water into the lake, located at the
head of guloh near the crest of the
Siskiyous, considerably higher than
the summit of the pass under which
the railroad runs through tunnel,
that the water raised above its normal
level and displaced its earthen barrier
at the weakest point. This point
chanced to be up the slope from the
north entrance of the tunnel The
released food of water and debris
came down, covering the track for a
distance of 800 feet, for 200 Of which
it was eight to 10 feet deep, and
which flowed back into the tunnel un
til waist deep. Section men from
along the division were hurried to the
scene to the number Of 1876, and work
ed in relays, as only a limited num-
Der could shovel the mushlike debris
upon car at the same time, because
the point where the track was blocked
happened to be between almost per
pendicular walls near the tunnel en-
trance, and it could only be cleared
from one end, with space too narrow
to us9 steam shovel The lake that
caused the trouble is situated about
half a mile distant from the track and
is said to be beautiful sheet of
water in summer. but there was
hardly passenger on the five trains
who has not formed an unalterable
conviction that it is mud crater
without scenic attraction.
Among the passengers of the first
section were Mr.. and Mrs. A. b.
Keith, Jr., and daughter, OF Butte,
Mont. Mr.. Keith is news editor OF
the Butte Miuer, and has been on the
coast for several weeks with his
family. Trainmen and passengers
assert that Mr. Keith was the good
angel of the train, whose pursestrings
were out for the accommodation OF
less fortunate fellow travellers who
required aid. Mr.. Keith said
"It was bad blockade, and one
that could not have been prevented
by any means, Tor it was beyond The
foresight Ct any man that the lak'
would burst its banks, no simila
trouble ever having occurred. Th'
p railroad company did everything pos
n sible to provide for the comfort Of tn
passengers and keep the coaches cleai
and well supplied with oonyeniences
The people of Hornbrook provide
to the best Of their ability for tn
great number suddenly thrown upo
GO their resources.
g. Happily the passengers were dis
rs posed to make the best Of unfortunat
n conditions. The men got together
engaged the largest hall in the town
as hired some local musicians and ha
N, a ball Thursday evening. Nearly a
'l' Of the passengers looked in at th
p- social event for a few moments an
many participated IN It's pleasures.
We "Tho single gambling g.house {
nd Hornbrook was crushed by the adyer
le' Of two sports from Seattle and Por
'e' land who happened to be ON the trail
X o. A. Danhem, known as Red Dai
oil hem, of Portland and Plunger Lev
on Hen, of the Sound city, combined
lis play the house, and it took but
OF short time 10 break the bank. Thu
ter is not saying so much for the size
ION the game. for it was claimed that Il
me heaviest winnings were carried by Il
The Portlander and amounted to $500.
"The blockade was raised abor
he 3 o'clock Friday afternoon. I'll
ear trains from the north were first a
op' lowed to pass out through the 'oT'
channel made by the feet Of Southe
the Pacific trackmen. Then our ira
by came through, followed as closely
'rk possible to Ashland by the other fo
IN sections that had followed Us in
ISIS Hornbrook. From Ashland wo car
ate through 10 Portland almost ON o
ute regular time, though two days lat
he than we should In fact, some tin
u was made up
.ies Conductor Albert Norman, "
i'h was in charge Of a through freigl
op' that first discovered the blockat
i've was running southbound train VIII
IL was encountered. Returning
up Ashland with his train, he INN
dlhtely went out WltD "oIh hla
Duy While placing torpedos on the ira
Iuc' to warn approaching trains he
seriously injured by an explosi'
Both legs were badly cut by the me
Of the exploding she'll and he v
ees taken to the hospital at Ashland
oi care. While the injury is not q
lie' sidered dangerous, there IL fear
'e" blood poison from such an injury.
ne ne Tho train leaving Portland for
Al " south Saturday morning was delal
'eW until the equipment Of the first tr
'''ei arriving could be cleaned and turn
on' The incoming trains from the sol
'on were running 20 inmates apart 1
anu the last arrived about 9:30 a.
a.. =