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23 car windows - having 30 Irishmen on board with shovels - they were set to work and after backing. starting. and twitching about for an hour we were clear again. - reached Mendota which is at the Junction with the Illinois Central road and about 88 miles from Chicago at 5 ½ oclock where we are cooly told that the train will go no farther tonight. as there are already 3 trains frozen up within 3 miles of this Depot - decidedly rich this. - well our motto is "make the best of everything" so we just walk into the Rail Road House owned by the co and probably erected for such occasions as these and registered for a nights lodging. - they have just rigged up a big snow-Plow and are starting off to dig out the Trains. - I am told that all the roads are blocked with Snow. it seems queer to me that a little snow not more than a foot deep should stop the cars. but the reason is it blows for miles across the Prairie and fills up every cut and hollow full and very solid so that it has to be shovelled out. - "What a country" at 6 ½ Oclock took tea. - Scraped acquaintance with a Gentleman who keeps a Hotel at Wilmington Ill who was going to Burlington - seemed to be a a nice fellow - took him for a bed fellow there being no possible chance of getting a single bed - at 8 Oclock we retire to enjoy the sweets of balmy sleep.

Thursday Jany