“I'd Like To Ask Sister White ...”

Sister White, I’d Like To Ride In A Train Sometime.

Rochester, New York, Thursday, January 9, 1868.—Rode into Rochester. Went on board the cars to rest. Friday, January 10.—Awoke in the morning on board the sleeping car. Found the train behind time about two hours. It had been a keen, cold night, and the train had to move very slowly for safety of passengers. Took our breakfast about eight o’clock. Changed from sleeping car to one ahead. The sleeping car was pronounced unsafe. We were delayed two hours on the track by a broken-down car ahead. Missed connection at Detroit. Waited there two hours. Had a weary ride until midnight. ⁶ LASW 106.4

Our curiosity is excited somewhat in seeing mud cabins, adobe houses, and sagebrush in abundance. But on we go. LASW 107.1

From Cheyenne [Wyoming] the engines toiled up, up the summit against the most fearful wind. Two iron horses are slowly dragging the cars up the mountain. LASW 107.2

Fears are expressed of danger, because of the wind, in crossing the Dale Creek Bridge—650 feet long and 126 feet high. This trestle bridge looks like a light, frail thing to bear so great weight. But fears are not expressed because of the frail bridge, but in regard to the tempest of wind, so fierce that we fear the cars may be blown from the track. LASW 107.3

In the providence of God the wind decreased. Its terrible wail is subdued to pitiful sobs and sighs, and we passed safely over the dreaded bridge. We reached the summit. The extra engine was removed. No steam is required at this point to forward the train, for the downgrade is sufficient for us to glide swiftly along. LASW 107.4

As we pass on, down an embankment we see the ruins of a freight car that has been thrown from the track. We are told that the freight train broke through the bridge one week ago. Two hours behind this train came the passenger cars. Had this accident happened to them, many lives must have been lost. ⁷ LASW 107.5