The Placer herald., 1857-01-17

engineer. There was putf-a movement of
the heavy axle-trees-a trembling of the
buiding-and the train was in motion.
leaped upon the platform of the grand car
riage, and in few minutes more the station
house was behind US.
In less than an hour we reached Dirsch-
an, where we took up the passengers that
had come in on the Konigsberg railway
Here | went forward and asked Kroller how
he liked the engine. He replied that he
liked it much
But he added, with a strange sparkling
Of his eye, wait until You get my improve
ment, and then you will see travelling BY
the soul of the Virgin Mother, sir, I could
run an engine Of my construction to the
moon in twenty-four hoursn
| smiled at what l thought his quaint
enthusiasm, and then went back to my sta
ton. AS soon as the Konigsberg passengers
we're all on, and their baggage crate attach
ed, we started on again.
AS soon as all matters had been attended
to connected with the new accession Of pas
sengers, went into the guard carriage and
sat down. An early train from Konigs-
berg had been through two hours before
reaching Bromberg. and that was at Little
Oscue, where we took the western mail.
How we go.' uttered one of the guard
some fifteen minutes after we left Dirscban,
The new engineer is trying the speed |
returned, not yet holding any fear
But ere long | began to be fearful that
he was running q little too fast The car
riaGes began to sway to and fro, and ]
could hear exclamatons of fear from among
the passengers.
Good heavensn cried one of the guard,
coming in at the moment, what is that
fellow doing? Look, sir, and see how we
are goingl'
l looked at the window, and found that
we were dashing along at a speed never
before travelled on that road. Posts, fences
rocks and trees, flew by in one undistinguish-
able mass, and the carriages now swayed
fearfully | started to my feet, and met a
passenger on the platform. He was pale
and excited.
Sir he gasped, is Martin Kroer on the
engineh
Yes told him.
Holy Virgin. didn't you know hmN
know him" repeated. somewhat puz-
what bis name was, and that he WAS an en-
oineer. We had no one to run up the en-
zine and
y on took himH interrupted the man.
Good heavens, sir, he is as crazy as a
man can be- He turned his head over q
new plan for applying steam power. | saw
him at the station, but did not recognize
him, as | was in hurry. Just now one of
the passengers told me that your engineers
were all gone this morning, and that YOU
found one who was a stranger to you.-
Then knew that the man whom | had seen
was Martin Kroler! He escaped from the
hospital OF Stettin. You must get him off
somehow
The whole fearful truth was now open to
me. The speed Of the train was increasing
every moment, and knew that few more
miles per hour would shurely launch us all
to destruction. I called to the guard and
then made my way forward as quick as pos
s,ble. reached the after platform of the af-
ter tender, and there stood Kroller, upon
the engne-board his hat and coat off: his
long black hair floating wildly in the wind;
his shirt unbuttoned at the throat; his sleeves
rolled up with pistol in his teeth, and thus
garing upon the fireman who lay motioness
upon the fuel. The furnace was stuffed till
the very latch of the door was red hot, the
whole engine was quiverng and swaying
as though it would shver in peces
'KroIer. Krollerl' | cried at the top Of
my voice.
The crazy engineer started, and caught
the pistol in his hand. O! how those great
L.. l. bo,
frightened his face looked
.Ha, ha! han he yelled Economically, gar-
inc upon me like a reused lion. They
swore | could not make it. But see. See my
power See my new engine, made it
and they were Jealous Of me. | made it,
and when twas done they stole it from
me! But I've fonnd it. For years I've
been wandering in search of my great en-
gine-and they swore it was not made: But
I've found it, | knew it when I saw it at
Dantzig-and | was determined to have it.
And I've cot it. Ho! no. ho.-we,re off to
the moon, | say! BY the Virgin Mother, we'll
be in the moon, in four and twenty hours.
Down. down! william. If you move I'll shoot
YOU
This last was spoken to the poor fireman,
who at the moment attempted to rise; and
the frightened man sank back again.
Here's Little Oscue, right aheadn cried
one of the guard.
But even as he spoke, the buildings were
at hand A sckening sensation settled up
on my heart, for supposed we were gone
now. The houses flew by like lightning
knew if the officers here had turned the
switches as usual we should be hurled into
eternity in one fearful crash. | saw flash
it was another engne-I closed my eyes
but still we thundered on. The officers
had seen our speed, and knowing that we
could not haul up at that distance, they had
changed the switch, so that we kept right