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

This is hard winter story, with
some personal experience attached
thereto, which has kept that winter
pretty fresh in memory, although near
ly third of century has elapsed
since it had the land in its icy grip.
I Memory is prone to be treacherous
when comparing one season with an
other, and the average human is rather
inclined to feel that any especial dis
FcOmfOrture from abnormal metero-
logical conditions is the worst ever.
The present winter is liable to be
remembered for some time for its un-
kindness, and when you come to
think about it, it has been some win
ter, both as to duration and to sever
ity. Yet, this winter of 1866 is not
the only shred of scrap iron in the
heap. There have been others scattered
along the march of time that earned an
unenviable reputation for heavy snow
fall, low temperature and general dis
|agreeableness. Let US bark back to the
winter of 18S4-5, of unpleasant memory
as basis of comparison. That is quite
far away in the heretofore, but even to
this day those who went through the
rough of it have touch of cold shiv-
ers when recalling the occasion. Our
memory of the eventful period was
considerably stimulated this week
from reading an article from the Port
land Oregonian bearing upon an Incl
dent that occurred during the nnnre-
cedented blockade on the o. r. & N,
railroad, in which we took quite an
active part, much to our physical mis-
cry
In the fall of 1884, when we were
publishing daily paper at Spokane
Falls, the head of the household, ac-
companied by three infants, left for
California on a visit. In December
word was received that the family
would return by the way of Portland
about the holidays. A few days before
Christmas we left Spokane Falls for
Portland, expecting to be absent not
more than three days. Up to that time
the winter had been comparatively
mild in eastern Washington, without
railroad people anticipated no diff
Guilty in keeping the roads open.
The next day, when The Dalles was
reached, a general change had come
over the face of nature. If there had
been little snow in far eastern Wash
ington, there certainly had been no
shortage of the beautiful around The
Dalles, and from that point westward.
At that place, and Immediately in the
town, the train ran through parallel
snow banks as high as the tops of the
windows of the coaches. Considerable
delay was experienced. The train crew
waited some hours for orders, and it
became a question whether that train
could get through to Portland at all.
At last the train, made up of an ex-
press and baggage car, day coach, a
sleeper and second day coach in the
rear, loaded with immigrants on the
way to the coast, pulled out.
Progress was very slow and about
half way between The Dalles and Cas-
cade Locks the train came to a stand
|still. The snow was very deep, and a
small slide had blocked the road. A
number of passengers formed them
selves into shovel brigade, dug the
snow out from around the engine and
cleared the track for short distance.
Everybody was cheerful and in good
spirits, thinking that the trouble was
ut an end At the sonorous call of call
aboard, by Conductor Ed. Lyons, who
proved himself prince of good fell
low in the awkward predicament that
followed, the merry crowd swarmed in
to the coaches, little thinking what was
in store for them. Hardly had the en-
gine started again when an avalanche
swept down the hill, almost completely
burying the engine, mail and express
cars. Then the situation took on a SER
ious aspect. Miles from anywhere that
assistance could be expected, fuel
short, without provisions of any kind,
with large number of passengers, in
cluding women and children. snow
falling like blanket, and the supply
apparently inexhaustable
The next day, after being without
food for "a hours, Conductor Lyons re-
ported that there were several cans
of fresh oysters, quarter of beef and
two dressed sheep in the express car
which the passengers were welcome to-
The raw oysters and few threads of
beef were doled out to the occupants
Of the sleeper, and the sheep and the
residue of the beef turned over to the
passengers in the immigrant car. Here
is where the improvidence of some peo-
pie was conspicuously illustrated.
There was no inclination to conserve
resources among the immigrants. Con-
servation of resources is something
that has since come into prominence
in the world. Holes were dug down