The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-02-04
Clubbuck Stuck
In the Desert

Conductor w. E. Chubbuck, who
operates the Mackay freight train,
was stalled near mile post number
81, beyond Lost river, from Thursday
until Tuesday. He had part of the
work train, one car of hogs belonging
to E. E. Harger of Lost river, and
three cars of wheat.
The work train carried supplies
and beds, SO the men were well cared
for, and the hogs were fed from the
wheat cars. There was no way to
water them, and they probably suf-
fered from thirst. In their efforts
to find the warmest places they piled
up and three of them were smother
ed Mr.. Chubbuck reported by tele-
phone every day and said the
weather was not very severe, the
mercury going. down only to about
10 below. 1t was very windy most
of the time, or at least there was
enough wind to keep filling up any
places that were cleared. The sup
ply of fuel and water gave out and
they had to kill the engine and drain
it carefully. On Friday relief train
went out, also got stalled, and a
second relief train brought them in
Saturday night. On Sunday they
went out to get Chubbuck, ana an
other train had to go out to get
them back. On Monday they reached
train and brought it to
Cerro Grande where they all got
and only the live engines
could, be moved. On Tuesday fresh
crew of laborers dug them out and
the line was cleared of trains. Since
that time it has been showing and
blowing and no attempt has been
made to open the road. The snow
plows and all available men are be-
ing used in the effort to keep the
main line open.
Experiences of 1890
The winter of 1889-90 brought
heavy SHOWS that blocked the stage
road between Blackfoot and Lost
river, but the stage company kept
up the fight to get thru with the
mails. F. w. Volger was in charge
Of the business and he kept sending
out stages until he had all the avail
able outfits in the desert. Then he
went to sending searching parties to
get them together.
Lew Washburn, one of the regular
driver and very dependable one,
was the first to get lost, and search
ing parties found him covered up in
The robes in the sleigh, waiting for |
clear weather and help. Washburn |
was one of the drivers who never
ost his nerve, but was always ready
TO start out again when he had rest
ed and got a fresh team. The belt
between Taber, then called Root Hog,
and the Big Butte was the hard part
10 get thru, and that is where the
horses generally gave out and the
driver went to bed in the sleigh.
There was no telephone and no way
)f knowing when driver got to the
Butte station or to Blackfoot. Once
when Mr.. Volger had been receiving
reports of conditions along the way
until it became unbelievable to him,
ae dressed for the Arctics, took the
oest team and cutter he could get,
md ''lit out" to see for himself what
was what. He left Blackfoot early
one morning in March, biting big
cigar, and just before sunset he got |
pack to Snake river bridge with
;ired team and much information.
When asked as to the roads, he re-
,lied in a seven-word statement, with
emphasis on every word, and his ex-
preston referred to places where
hey don't shovel snow. But he kept
light on sending out teams and mail
pouches, and by the end of March
hey were able to travel on schedule
lgain, changing from wheels to
Ileighs at places nearly all thru
April. That was the "big winter"
when nearly all the stock died of
a n ,rxyo tioY,