Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1879 — Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 [ADVERTISEMENT]

TTk | Snow-Bound TrainsMr. ! ’Editor: It seems as though there has been some “busy bodies* or “thick heads,” or, in other words, “Smart Alecks,” talking and publishing that which they know is not true in regard to the snow-bound trains on the I. D. & C RB. Feeling that great injustice has been done myself as well as others, I will give you a true history of each train, of whieh I was an eye-witness and a sufferer of the first. I will start out by answering a question that has been asked me time aud again in regard to the starting of the first unlucky train on Dec. 23d, 1878. 8 p. m, “Why dil not the Gen. Manager go on the regular train, at 11 ;15, a. m., Dec. 23, ’78?” Simply because his business here was very important, and as I helped him to transact part of his business I know he did not get it completed until nearly sun-down, “Then why did not the Gen. Manager remain for tne regular train on Dec. 24, 1878?” This question can only be compre hended by bnsiness men, as “thick heads” can not understand that sometimes a moment’s delay in business may incur a loss of thousands of dollars.

Now, having those questions answered, I tnink to the satisfaction of every sane person, I will proceed to give a brief history of the first snowbound train, of which I acted as special engineer, to take the Gen. Manager from Rensselaer to Monticello on the very cold night of Dec. 23d. 1878. I started from the depot with 120 lbs. steam and front damper closed, and a fireman that had never before fired an engine. Alter running a short distance I seen he could not keep steam with onedainpor opt n. So I tried to open the ether, but found it fast. I sropped the train, got under the engine, and lay there for half an hour, on my back, in the snow, and with a coal chisel cut the ice and raised the damper. Then we proceeded to Monticello without any further trou ble. After turning the engine at Monticello, and oiling, we started foi Rensselaer about midnight, After running a short distance I discovered the pump on the engine was freezing up. I stopped the fain, and with oil and waste succeeded in thawing it out and startingagain with the pump supplying all right. We run but a short distuce when all at once a sudden jerk and crack of the engine told me something wav wrong. I stopped the train again, and on examination found rhe pump froze, the lower chamber Unrated, tho plunger broke, and also the lug from the cross head. "We then returned to Monticello and stayed until morning, Dec. 24, 1878. I was fixing for ,a comfortable ride to Rensselaer in the coach drawn by engine No. 5, David Pettit, engineer When tho tiain was nearly ready to start Mr. Pettit reported his family sick, and did not want to leave. Then there was do other remedy but for me to take tne engine again. Under such circumstances I could not refuse though I were half dc»d. Started again, we encountered no difficulties until we passed Lee’s station, when we stuck in the snow.— Shoveling loose, we again pulled out with one hose bursted, and running with the injector we plowed through snow for some distance, until we reached Thompson’s pasture. I saw the great snow drift ahead when on open track, blew for brakes, and wo’d have stopped the train, but the Ass’t Sup’t being on the seat with me ordered me on, and not to stop. He. occupying the seat behind me did not see the drift as I did. yet I thought I would obey orders and give the engine all she would do, aud into the drift we weni f or about, twenty-five yards, with snow on eaeh side nearly up to the cab windows, and we were fast. Shovels were used with but little success, as the snow drifted in nearly as fast as it was shoveled out, (and“man, oh, man!* cold enough to freeze the tail off a brass mouke f). But finally we sucseeded in fretting back out of the snow drifts, not showing one guage of wafer in theengins, and but very little in the tank. We at once commenced melting snow bin the strainer hrving been left out of the hose a piece of waste was drawn from the tank and fastened around the check valve so tight that it was with difficulty that a half frozen engineer got it loose. It being so odd, the sun gone down, no water in the tiuk, and waste in the cheek valve I that it would not work, I deemed >t prudent to empty the boiler before it* would be damaged; Two days later the weather moderated slightly, the snow was shoveled out, the engine tilled aud fired up and made her trip over the road. So much for snowbound train No. 1. Now for a brief sketch or No. 2:— Jan 2d, 1879. train No. 3 left Rensselaer at about 12;10 noon, being about 55 minutes late. The hardest grade on the road, at Pleasant Ridge, was made without difficulty. Aft>r passing the station aud going downgrade, engine No. 5, with Chas Dean, engineer, struck a snow drift about 200 yards long, and succeeded in pulling part of the train through, but the rear of the train stuck in the drift. It was though! advisable then to ut the train in two and make two trips to Bradford This wa&done, but it was with difficultv that they got to Bradford with part of the train. I was of the number that remained witn the coach, and seeing that we had not coal sufficient to keep firo all night I went back to the school house and employed a Mr. McDonald to haul about 100 lbs. of coal to the coach.— In the meantime a Mr. Gwin came in and stated that he could furnish supper for the crowd, and invited all over to nis house, but it being too cold for many to accept the invitation, Mr. G. was amply paid to bring supper to the coaeh, which he did ou short notice, and every one enjoyed a good supper. The coach was kept comfortably warm all night. Some slept, some talked, some played, and all en joyed a good time generally. After the engine with part of the train arrived at Bradford they took coal and tried to return. After shoveling considerable snow, the freezing and bursting of the lower chamber of the pump, breaking the plunger and lug from the cross head, they finally succeeded in reaching the rear of the train, and then with more shoveling and severe trials we succeeded in reaching Rensselaer at 6 o’clock, a. m., with no water in the tank, and not a sufficient quantity fn the boiler, Every one, except thsse who did the work, seemed to enjoy one cold night in the snow drifts on the Indi anapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad. Any one wishing to know anyt' ing further I will gladly impart informa tion when not busily engaged. THOS. H. HINER, Freight & Passenger Ag’t, Rensselaer, Ind.

Rev. Gilbert Small is exnected to preach in the Presbyterian Church, at this place, Sunday 'January 26th, 1879- A cordial invitation is extended to the public.