SEVERE WINTER IN EUROPE: A TRAIN ATTACKED BY WOLVES.

Otago Witness, Issue 801, 6 April 1867, Page 5

SEVERE WINTER IN EUROPE: A TRAIN ATTACKED BY WOLVES.

Die Presse, of Vienna (Jan. 19) makes the following remarks on the extreme severity of the winter there, and the in. convenience caused by the heavy snowstorms :—lt: — It is fortunate that most poems on the beauties of winter are written in summer, , otherwise, if the poets invoked their Muse at the time of snowstorms and stoppage of all traffic, she would only make answer— »•" It is disgusting weather to-day." It is a nice simile to compare snow with a ■white sheet (wiegendecke), but it must be admitted the last few days the sheet has been made a little too solid. Our city today was entirely blocked up by a heavy snowstorm, and the provision markets, , owing to the absence of salesmen from the country, were almost empty. If the " sheet" be spun thicker and thicker at the same rate as heretofore, we shall get

on but

poony As yet, the drifts have only impeded the traffic of the railway?, in consequence of Which most trains arrive late in Vienna. The sights to be seen in the streets to-day were characteristic enough. The "Town Streetcleansing Legion" (Stadtische Strasxenauherungs Zegion) turned out early with brooms and shovels, 1200 or 1400 strong, •with 600 snow- carts. There can be no doubt as to the value of the services of this 41 street- cleaning corps," and it is very desirable that the proposed reorganization of it should be carried into effect as quick]}' as possible. On the places where the snow was heaped — for instance, behind the "Votivkirche — there were regular snow towers. Traffic was extraordinarily difficult.

Le Journal dv. Havre (Jan. 20) says :—: — The snow has at last stopped falling. But there is t not the least symptom of a thaw, and although the wind was blowing last night from the south-east, the thermometer fell to 31.12 below zero.

Wednesday night having produced on the Havre line an avalanche of snow a<* considerable as the first, the clearings before effected were nearly useless, and Friday morning everything had to be recommenced. .

_ The Administration were, however, not discouraged, and redoubled their efforts; but, spite of their most energetic zeal, it was nearly half-past two in the afternoon 3before the train due at half- past five in the morning entered the Havre station.

The passage of this train through the cuttings at Beuzeville, which were blocked up with snow, gave rise to a rare display of energy and devotion on the part of the guard. On starting for Beuzeville, he left at that station two other trains, one of •which, filled with emigrants, was to follow him after an interval of forty minutes. But the train had scarcely entered the first cutting outside the station when it became Impossible to proceed. The guard, bravely jumping down, returned towards Beuzeville with the snow up to his waist, and was fortunate enough, by help of his signals, to stop the emigrant train, which was then coming up, and which would, perhaps, have come in collision with the other train in distress. After this act of devotion, which does great honour to him, the brave guard regained bis train, still buried in the snow; then he resolved to go ts the Harfleur station, in order to ask, by telegraph, for an extra locomotive from Havre. He vvas able to effect this also, but at the cost of unheardof trouble and fatigue. On arriving at the station, he was almost unconscious. At last help came, and the train was able to pass.

La Meuse says— Liege, like so many ■Other towns, is buried under snow. Traffic is becoming more and more difficul', and the horses belonging to the public vehicles are frequently seen prostrate on the roads. The birds almost come into the houses to iind food. Larks are even seen on the Boulevards. At Anvers there is snow up te one's knees. Work is suspended in the port. The roof of one house fell in from the weight of snow. La Gazette du Midi remarks that no snow had fallen since Tuesday, but the state of the atmosphere at Marseilles gives reason to_ fear that it has again fallen in the neighbouring departments. Iv one city, owing to the care of the Mayor, sajs this paper, the snow, ice, and mud, have been removed from the principal thoroughfare*. Still, in some of the streets, walking has been very difficult, and on the slope called dv TDepartement, they were obliged to form a sort of balustrade by means of stakes driven into the ground and ropes connecting them, in order that the foot passengers, provided with this support, might be less exposed to falling, ■which was almost unavoidable without precaution.

V Opinion Nationale (Jan. 22) says — A most extraordinary incident happened on Friday night last on the Luxembourg railway.

A train consisting of nine trucks of ore and three open carriages containing sheep and oxen, started at its usual time.

Even in the neighborbooJ of Marheban it met with great difficulties, in conse-

quence of the snow which covered the rails.

Between 'Libramont and Poix, near the hamlet of Fontenville, the snow was bo thick that it threatened to extinguish toe fire.

They were obliged to stop, and the brakesman, Schnoken, was sent to Poix to seek for help.

The men belonging to the train and the Custom-house officer, Dobe, were busy in removing the snow which was on the engine, when they heard a low howling. They turned rouud, and saw eyes of fire gleaming at them a few yards off. Doubt ; was not possible ; they were wolves attracted by the smell of the sheep. There were five of them sitting in a semi- circle watching. . . . The situation was critical. Excepting the fire-irons and the shovels, the besieged had no arms, and could expect no help for three hours at least. What was to be done ? The stoker let out some jets of steam and sounded the whistle of the locomotive, in the hope of frightening the beasts ; they then shook the lanterns — but all in vain. It was at last decided to retreat to the break-van. The engine driver, Flaus, headed the march, the Custom-house officer formed the rear guard, and the head guard | and stoker the centre. The four men glided along the train, followed at a distance by the hungry wolves. Having arrived without obstacle at ibe foot of the van, the three first got in, and Dobe was already on the step, when the tail of his coat was taken off by one of the wolves.

This was, no 3onbt, the signal for the attack, which was immediately made by the whole flock.

The assault was vigorously repulsed ; and one of the wolves, hit on the head with a poker, rolled over to rise no more.

The door of the van was closed, and the men were sheltered in their impromptu blockhaus.

For some minutes the deepest silence reigned around ; but soon it was broken by the cries of terror uttered by the cattle, who crowded together from fright ia their trucks, which were fiercely assaulted. This excited scene lasted more than two hours, and did not end till the arrival of the brakesman with twenty workmen to clear the rails.

After an hour's work the train was able to go on, carrying off the body of the wolf.

Neither the oxen nor sheep were hurt, but the trucks bore traces which, showed the fierceness of the attack.