Year: 1872

The snow embargo and discomforts on the
Pacific Railroad are described in the follow
ing from the New York Herald:


The party OF which our informant composed
one lett San Francisco on the 18th Of Janus
ry, and made the usual progress until they
reached Colfax, distance from the above
city Of 1872 miles. Here the first snow was
met WITH although not in sufficient quantities
to materially impede their progress. Little
detention was experienced until the party
reached Rock Creek, where immense piles of
snow were found, and the train was Obliged
to come to a full stop. Twenty four hours
were consumed in going to Wyoming, a dis
tance of a few miles, while not more than
fifty miles ahead the track was comparatively
clear. Upon reaching Laramie the snow piles
had become so high and dense that it was i'm
possible to make further progress, and the
bound passengers were compelled to wait
six days before the track could be cleared suf-
hclentiy to warrant a resumption of the jour
ney. At Laramie the Thermometer indicated
thirty degrees below zero, and the passengers
were nearly all obliged to remain in the cars,
which were heated by steam, to prevent being
frozen. The intense cold and immense drifts
OF snow, however, made it very difficult to
keep the fires in the engines lighted, and tho
position of the engineer was at times almost





ever, devised various means OF amusement to
while away the tedious hours. Glee clubs were
organized, various games INDUCED in, while
number of the tougher ones bundled them
selves up warmly and assisted the workmen
in clearing the track. Some of the passen.
gers, being typos, "went ashore as they
termed it, and assisted the editors of Laramie
in getting out their sheets. The subscribers
were astonished at the improved appearance
OF their paper, and many expressed the wish
that the train might be delayed for the re-
mainder Of the winter. One adventurous in
dividual started out in search of a sleigh He
found the residence of the livery stable keep.
er, as he supposed, and was very cordially
received. Upon stating the nature of his
visit he was surprised to be politely shown
the door and informed that the ow ner of the
house did not traffic in horses but was min
lister of the Gospel. Upon returning to the
train and relating the result of the "sortie" no
further attempts at hiring horse and sleigh
were made in that town. While at Laramie
the passengers Jared very well. They lived
at hotel which supplied them with two meals
day. This was done at the expense Of the
railroad company, who furnished "tickets for
SOUP as they were called, to all so unfortun-
ate as to be passengers on the snow bound
train. At night they slept in the palace cars
and made themselves as comfortable ~ cir
cumstances would permit. OF course there
were many malcontents on the train. Some
INDUCED in launching invectives at the COM
pany for not providing better means of pro-
tecang the road from the storms and sleet
that they must expect to encounter in so ex-
posed country during the winter months.
Others threatened to sue the company for
damages. The majority, however, took the
detention good-naturedly and joined in the
general endeavor to make the time pass pleas
antly as possible. At length, at the close OF
the sixth day, the welcome intelligence was
received that the track was sufficiently clear
to warrant continuation of the journey.