The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-02-09
PEOPLE REMOVED WHILE THE
STORM RACED FiERCELY
Peter Swenson, Kasota Livery Man, Was
The Man ct the Hour; Three Trips
Made to Carry Passengers 10 Place
OF Safety; Opening Of Service On the
Omaha; Mail Coming In On the
Other Lines
From Tuesdays Daily.

Conductor Ed Gum OF the Nofln-
western had quite an experience with
the New UIm "Scoot," which came in
to Mankato last evening at six o'clock,
after being stuck in a snow-drift half
a mile this side of kasota for more
than forty eight hours. Twenty pas
q remained all night on the
train in that great storm. Huddled
around a stove in a car, h height OF
ambition on the part of that aggrega-
ton for the time being was to keep
warm until daylight and help came.
Among the stranded passengers was
Miss Katherine Won Ewertson, in
structor in music at Gustavus Adolf
phus college, who was coming to
Mankato to visit friends. After a
time, it was found necessary to Kill
the engine for the sake of safety. In
the morning word was gotten by tele-
phone to Peter Swenson, the kasota
Iiveryman, who made three trips
throuuh the storm to the stalled
train, and managed to take all the
passengers to the hotel in that town.
Mr.. SWenson deserves a great deal
of credit for his heroic labors at a
time when very few people would care
to venture out.
1t was indeed a cheering sight to
watch a real, substantial, tangible
railroad passenger train pull up to
the Omaha passenger. depot last
evening at $50 o'clock, bringing pass
engers, express and mail from the
twin cities. There was quite a gather
ing of people at the depot, waiting
for a chance to boarI the train when
it started on it's return trip from
Mankato to st. Paul.
There was no chance of going as
far west as Lake Crystal, for there
were big drifts between that station
and Minneopa, and a snow plow and
two engines, which had been working
from Lake Crystal towards Mankato,
were reported stuck in n OF them.
Late yesterday afternoon another
snowplow and two engines left Man
kate to work towards Lake Crystal
from the Mankato side.
Reports were heard of snow ploWs
being stuck or off the track in quite a
number of places. Near Sheldon, Ia,
an engine and snow plow of the Oma-
ha were reported to be ditched and
overturned and lying 20 feet from the
track.
The train that should have arrived
at 7:1O last evening from Wells over
the Milwaukee did not come, as the
track had not been cleared.
The Great Western snow pillow,
which went out from Mankato towards
Madison Lake at ten o'clock yester-
day morning, got stuck in a snow drift
at Waters, and the crew set about the
arduous task of digging it out.
Special Train of Coal.
Those who have been worried e
the coal shortage in Mankato. hould
oe greatly relieved on receiving IN
formation of a telegram that Charles
r. TAYLOR got yesterday from J. Wa
gen, general agent of the North
western at Winona, saying that a
special train Of twelve cars Of coal
for Mankato would be run through to
Nankato as soon as the track could
he cleared. and this would soon be
done. if the, favorable weather con
tinued.
Late Yesterday afternoon an an
nouncement was made, adding the
Mankato normal to the now long lls1
of local schools that have had to shu'
down.. and discontinue class work or
account of the shortage OF fuel. 81
Peter and PauPs school has closet
for the same reason, as we'll as the
high school, and the West Mankato
Franklin, Pleasant Grove and Unior
schools.
Bursc Of Applause.
The closing of the high school OF
account of the shortage of fuel wa!
announced Sunday night at the San
don theatre, the statement bein:
thrown on the screen. A great burst O
applause came from n corner OF tn
gallery, occupied evidently by hlSl
school students.
The Hubbard Milling COMPANY ha
had a pretty good supply of coal o.
hand and has generously handed owe
I coal to the Lanpert Lumber compar'
for the use of those who were L
urgent need of it. This coal has bee
distributed to the Bethany cnH""'
the Emmanuel hospital. the Mothe
house and st. Peter and PauFs par1si
Fowler & Pay have also turned owe
a considerable quantity of coal t
the Lampert Lumber company TO
the use of those who were about on