The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-02-18

and the meat barbecued in a rough and
ready fashion. The bones of the sheep
were picked clean and the quarter of
beef entirely consumed at single
meal. H
AS there was no provisions for
cooking the occupants OF the sleeper
managed to dull the edge of appetite
with few raw, frozen oysters. We
have always had weakness for this
succulent bivalve, but it was long
after this enforced raw oyster diet be-
fore our friendship for the salt water
luxury returned, and even to this day,
the boneless, slippery, fabby mollusk,
In its natural state, reminds us of the
time when our stomach felt it was be-
ing imposed upon in trying to sustain
its functions on straight oyster pad
ding, a trifle more frigid than stone
cold.
AS another night passed and day
dawned without relief the situation
grew more serious and alarming. Peo-
pie commenced recalling grewsome
stories Of shipwrecked mariners, when
lot decided who was to supply sustin-
ance for survivors. But a resort to the
last extremely was happily averted by
the appearance of squad of men
looming up out of the snow with packs
on their backs. This was relief party
from Cascade Locks, where the gov
arnnaAnt .-A'.>.--~.srry ts-5-ss,us vNte.>--
sive improvements. Most aof these men
were strapping, husky Swedes, and
some idea of the fearful condition of
the weather, and the difficulty of travel
can be understood when it is stated
that these men struggled for hours to
make a distance of about ten miles in
order to reach the marooned passen-
gers, and could carry ony 20 pounds
of provisions strapped to their backs.
Moreover, two members of this rescue
party fell in the snow, utterly exhaust
ed, when within sight of the train, and
we were with the party of passengers
that went out and assisted the exhaus-
ted men to warmth and shelter All of
the party were completely tagged out
by the tramp. This relief was timely,
and as hand sleds containing provision
were hauled to the train from The
Dalles all fears of starvation were re-
moved.
But the storm continued and there
was no prospect Of the blockade being
raised. At general conference Of the
passengers it was decided in order to
reduce the number Of people to be fed
that all the able bodied men should
walk to Cascade Locks. AS few were
prepared in the way of raiment or foot
wear to encounter such weather Con-
ductor Lyons gave those passengers
who were to make the hike permission
to cut up blankets in the sleeper for
footcoverings, and even the bell rope
was used to fasten the coverings to the
feet On the third or fourth morning
after the train was stalled large num-
ber of anything but cheerful pilgrims
left the train and started on the hard
tramp, which proved to be more Sc
we're than any man in the party had
ever experienced up to that time. A
big, powerful foreigner took the lead,
breaking path through the snow
followed by long, struggling process
sion, single file. The snow was up to
was floundering and not walking, and
often members of the party fell and
had to be pulled out of the snow by
the nearest companion. At last, one
young man, of light physique, became
entirely exhausted, and sitting down
on fallen tree refused to make fur
ther effort. That was not heartless or
selfish collection of men, bent solely
upon their own salvation. Against his
protest the young man was taken be-
tween two of his companions and half
led and half carried. When they be-
came exhausted, others came to their
relief. At dark, after indiscribable la
Dor, the lights of Cascade Locks, the
houses almost buried in snow, came
in view, and no storm tossed mariner
was ever more devoutly thankful for
glimpse of beacon light guiding him
to safety than that crowd was to see
the DULY illuminated windows at the
Locks.
Anxiety FOR our family at Portland
determined us to walk to that city, a
distance, if our memory is not at fault,
of 55 miles. Expressing our intention
of going on, three of the passengers, a
young man from Portland, on his way
home, whom, We afterwards under
stood, died from the effects of the ex-
posure on that fearful trip, genial
Irishman from Pendleton, and a stock
man living near The Dalles, expressed
their determination to make the jour-
|ney.
The cold was intense, the wind
reaching the very marrow, fine snow
cut the face like flying particles of