There is no standard rule by which a traction engine can be gotten
out of bad places upon the road, as one rule would not apply to all
situations, though a few suggestions on this subject may be beneficial.
When the engine is in a bad mud hole, or on a very sandy road, and the
driving wheels will not take hold, but simply turn around, the best
way to get out of the fix is to hitch a good team of horses to it and
pull it out with what assistance the engine can give. Though in many
cases, if a quantity of straw, stones or brush, as may be most handy,
is placed under the driving wheels and the power applied, the wheels
may get a footing and the engine will come out all right. Old boards or
rails placed in the same manner will produce the same result.
It should be understood, however, that if the driving wheels do not
take hold, but simply turn around in the sand or mud, the engine should
be stopped at once and some of the aforesaid remedies tried. If you
continue to work the engine under such circumstances, it will become
more difficult to get out of the mire, as the wheels sink deeper in at
every revolution.