SEVERE SNOWSTORMS AT HOME.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 241, 18 March 1875, Page 3

SEVERE SNOWSTORMS AT HOME.

The Home News of January 23nd gives the following account of the severe snowstorms which had visited the northern portions of Great Britain : The recent snowstorms proved very disastrous to the Scotch railways. Between Tynehead and Fallahill siding there were three cuttings where the snow had drifted to a depth varying from four to fourteen feet, and in one of these a goods train was embedded. On the south slope of the incline, however, matters were much worse than on the north side, so far as the passenger trains were concerned. No fewer than four passenger trains were blocked up at the skew-bridge, nearly a mile from Falahill siding. The passengers (about 600 in all) suffered much from the cold. The searching character of the drift was somewhat extraordinary. Although the doors and windows of the carriages were seemingly quite close, the snow came sifting through. The sufferings of the women and children were extreme, and a curious effect of the cold and exhaustion, combined perhaps with anxiety, was that many women and even men got sick and exhibited all the symptoms of mol de mer. Matters began at length to take a very serious turn, and a last effort was made to clear the line back to Galashiels. A band of surfacemen, assisted by the constable at Heriot, and a few of the passengers, worked heroically with spade and shovel for a time, seemingly to no purpose, for the snow appeared to drift faster than they could clear it. Eventually, however, the ordinary Hawick train and the Carlisle express had a passage made for them, and a pilot engine going on before, they were slowly backed to Heriot Station. A rush was made from the, train by cold and hungry passengers, and a little shop in the village was perfectly besieged. Everything eatable was soon bought up, and a demand was thereafter made for candles—not to eat, but to afford some light, for it was by this time quite dark. Several women and children, blue and stiff with cold, were carried into the stationmaster’s house, and the house of the village constable, where the goodwives did all that kind and sympathising hearts could for their unfortunate sisters. The children were put to bed, and had warm drinks administered to them, and by-and-by all were out of danger. After a stay of two hours, the two released trains were joined, and the line having been found by means of a pilot to be clear to Galashiels, they were sent back to that town, which was reached at 9 o’clock. The passengers not belonging to Galashiels, were provided with lodgings, and everything was done to make them comfortable. Two trains, however, yet remained blocked up in the snow. Long before this, the engine lires had to be damped out, as the supply of water in their tanks had become exhaust! d. When the line was cleared sufficiently to allow the Hawick and Carlisle t ains to be run back, it was believed that all the passengers snowed _ up could be conveyed back to Galashiels ; and, accordingly, those in the special and the Galashiels midday train, were asked to leave their carriages and to find their way into those of the back-going trains. Though several refused to do so, the great majority of the 300 people who were in these trains jumped out, and sought places in the others. This was, perhaps, the most unfortunate part of the afternoon’s proceedings, for nearly every carriage in the Carlisle and Hawick trains was already crammed to excess, and no room could be found for the unfortunate passengers from the other trains. The latter accordingly had to wade through several feet of snow back to their own carriages, Their quarters had previously beeh

comparatively warm, but during their bootless journey to the other trains the snow had drifted into the carriages and rendered them anything but a comfortable or inviting retreat, Shivering in the cold, damp carriages, the horror of the situation was increased by finding their clothing, wet with melted snow, freezing upon their backs, Still the pitiless snow and wind beat upon them, and in the darkness it looked as if many of the more delicate passengers would be frozen to death. All the stimulants in the train were speedily consumed, and here and there might be heard the wailing of hysterical women, the groaning of those who were sick, or the low muttering of the numbed. The railway officials exerted themselves to the utmost to rescue the unfortunate passengers, and appear to have behaved most humanely. Women were carried through the snow to Old Fala Inn, occupied by the families of the surfacemen, to the hut at Falahill siding, and to the station agent’s house, near the railway, Mr Dunn, farmer, Falahill Farm, hearing of the serious state of matters, sent carts down to the trains, and into these were carried about thirty poor people, who were all but unconscious from the cold and exposure. They were conveyed to the farm house, where they were revived under the most humane treatment, and provided with food and warm drinks. Mr Dunn also kindly sent down to the train a supply of whisky for the use of those not so overcome with cold. About eleven o’clock a special train despatched by the company, with provisions, brandy, and whisky, arrived from Galashiels, and probably to this timely succour was due the preservation of some lives. Dr Macdougall, Galashiels, accompanied the train, and he at once directed all his energies to relieving the worst cases. Going from carriage to carriage, he, with great assiduity, rubbed the halffrozen, cheered the down-spirited, judiciously administered stimulants, and altogether did a world of good. Two ladies were very ill, and much concern was felt for their safety. One, named Miss Mary Ann Miller, said to belong to Galashiels, was hysterical ; and the other, Miss Katie Anderson, St Andrew square, Edinburgh, was very sick. Both were carried to the station agent’s cottage, where they were put to bed and attended to by Dr Macdougall, and it is satisfactory to state that, though weak and ill, they were able to be removed home. The passengers who could not be accommodated in the surfacemen’s huts or in the few scattered houses in the neighborhood were content to spend the night in the first-class carriages. With cushions doors and windows were barricaded to keep out the snow drift, and a wonderful degree of warmth was by and by attained. Some attempts were laudably made to raise the sinking spirits of the depressed by several young men, who endeavored to sing. It so happened that among the belated travellers were the members of a quadrille band from Edinburgh, which had been at a ball at Selkirk on the previous nigl.t, and they attempted to cheer the downhearted by scraping a tune or two on. the violin, but the cold and miserable surroundings proved too much for even the light-hearted musicians, and soon a moody silence fell on all those left in the train. A weary night was passed, but with the rain, which at length came driving through the wind, hopes were entertained of a speedy release from their awkward plight, and in the end these hopes were realised, for all reached home in safety, though sadly distressed and overcome by their night’s adventure in the snow.