Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1917-12-15
Some Heroes Are
Not in the Trenches

The absolute necessity of human
labor and endeavor was never better
emphasized than in the recent fear
som blizzard, which began Saturday
night of last week and from which
we are just recovering.
Those who found the electric city
and inter city service little late but
comfortable and safe little realized
the human endeavor and hardship ne
cessary to render even the delayed
service Emergency men battled all
of Saturday night to soften the blow
of the untowerd elements. In an
atmosphere below zero and in the
dire hours of a fearful night they
hunted, kneedeep in snow for the
leaking of the current. They climbed
poles, looked after the insulation or
mended breaks while the piercing
gale defied all clothing protection.
The rise of drifts in sheltered sec
tions of the road was noted and the
great motor plow was hurried to the
point where the elements threatened
to run against all human endeavor.
Was there leak in the high tension
wire these Norsemen of the hour
waded through drifts Drawing the
arctic gale to hunt, in the binding
darkness, for the trouble. Few people
who enjoyed the cars realized the
cost.
In the steam road service the pro-
blem was equally knotty. Engineers
were called to hurry train load of
coal to the town where human life
was endangered by the frost. With
heavy loads, engines steaming badly
from the arctic weather they wrestled
with the problems of getting over the
hills with what would have been
mans work under good climatic and
track conditions. From the steaming
cab they opened the door on the bitter
gale to make sure of signals set for
them by switchmen who worked in
the zero blast with an eye single to
winning the game.
After the comparatively mild
weather of the two months before the
storm fell with all its fury on the
farmer. If he was a man of good
impulses his solicitude for the well
fare of his stock took him an length
which would be called heroism in the
trenches. Bereft by war of the usual
help on the farm he found himself
sadly behind the trend of events.
But his cattle must not suffer, pa
triotism alone would have urged him
on. He had another incentive. From
two hours before day to the after
hours of darkness he labored to make
his cattle safe and comfortable in
their shelters rendered near unten-
able by the drop in temperature.
Every quart of milk, every pound of
butter was earned at a price which
money does not measure. Most
farmers of the day are progressive
enough to have ample and sufficient
shelters for their live stock. But
food was in the fields yet. Cattle
were in exposed places, they must be
gotten in and the food must be placed
where they could get it under con-
ditions to do them the most good.
The storm was of such severity that
the rural mail service for the time
was suspended. Drifts of uncertain
depths covered the roads and in some
parts of the county the roads were
untraveled for four days. Strong
teams of horses Iioundered through
them from one farm to another and
by degrees the road was opened.
A driver for the Standard Oil Co.
on Monday last attempted to reach a
town 9 miles form this city. Chilled
to the bone, his horses and wagon
fast in a drift, at a late hour of the
day and in sight of his destination
his team gave out. Leaving his team
in near by farm barn he came back
to Newark. The next day he went
back, dug his wagon form the drift
and with a fresh team carried the
needful fuel to the suffering villagers.
There are some heroes outside the
trenches. The man who labors with
heart, brain and hand is among them.