Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1912 — Wade Through Huge Drifts for Food [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Wade Through Huge Drifts for Food

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The passengers on a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy train, which became stalled in , the enow west of Lincoln, Neb., went 48 hours practically without food during a recent storm. F. H. Hooper, a traveling salesman, was one of them. “There was not even a fruit vender on the train," Mr. Hooper said, “and no provisions at all, for >we expected to take on a diner at Lincoln. As we approached that town, however, the cuts along the valley of the Platte were deeper and deeper in the snow, until it was a light for every inch. The whole train vibrated with the strain on the engine. The snow was up almost level with the car windows. At last we were stalled. “When we woke up next morning the snow was drifted high above our windows, so we could not Bee out. The train fortunately was fairly well heated. Of course, there was a good deal of suffering for food and persons Were offering all kinds of prices for What was to be had. “I walked through the train and found a sturdy ldoking chap up in the smoking car. I suggested to him that we undertake to walk back to the nearest mnch, a jplle back down the

track, and try and get some food for the passengers. He was willing. “Some places the wind had: swept pretty nearly clean of snow and we had no difficulty at all, but other places progress wag well-night impassable. We floundered in drifts and for hundredth of yards had to walk through snow up to our waists. It was the most exhausting task I ever attempted, and I am something of an athlete. We would pant for breath and sink back in the snow often, but kept at it and finally reached the farmhouse. “We bought every egg and scrap of bread, meat and other provisions to be had and after resting for a time started back. The trip back with our armß full Was even harder than the trip out and we were gone many hours before we finally returned to the train with the food.”