The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-31
The Crazy mginaer.

| ~ wv """ w Wdll IoI lHt arrival VI INT
steamer from Stockholm.
l. 1t was the morning of the steamers ar
! rival that | came down from the hote
and found that my engineer had been sc
seriously injured that he could not run
A railway carriage had run over him and
broken his legs. went Immediately 10
the engine house to procure another engi,
neer, butwas disappointed.
Here was fix. | heard the steamer
coming, and knew the passengers would
be on hand in fifteen minutes. ran to
the guards and asked them if they knew
where there was an engineer, but they did
not. then went to the fremen and ask
ed them if any one of them felt compe-
tent to run the engine 10 Bromberg. No
one dared to attempt it. The distance
was nearly one hundred miles. Whet
was to be done?
The steamer stopped at the wharf, and
those who were going by rail came flock.
ing up the station. They had eaten break
fast on board the boat, and were all llready
for fresh start. The baggage was all
checked and registered, the tickets were
bought, and the passengers seated. The
train was IN readiness in The long station
house, and the engine was steaming and
putting away impatiently in the distant
firing house.
1T was past 0 o'clock.
Come, why don't we st.rt?; growled
fat old Swede, who had been watching
me narrowly for he last fifteen or twenty
minutes.
And upon this there was general cho.
rus of anxious inquiry, which soon set.
tied 10 downright murmuring. At this
luncture, some one touched me on the
elbow. | turned and saw a stranger by
my side. expected that he was going
to demonstrate with me for my backward.
ness. In fact, began to have strong
temptations 10 pull off my uniform, for
every anxious eye was fixed upon the 6 Of.
ing badge that marked me as the chief Of.
Gcer Of the train.
However, this stranger was middle.
aged man, tall and stout, with face Of
great energy and Intelligence. His eyes
were black and brilIiant--so brilliant
that could not for the life of me gaze
steadily into them; and his lips, which
were very thin, seemed more like polish.
ed marbIe than human flesh. His dress
was black throug bout, and not only set
with exact nicely, but was scrupuIousIy
clean and neat
You want an engineer, | understand,
he said, in low, cautious tone, at The
same time gozing quietly about him as
though he wanted no one 10 hear what he
said.
4 do replied. my train is all rea.
dy, and we have no engineer within lwen-
ly miles of the place
well, sir, am going to BromberS--l
must go, and will run the engine for
you!'
'Ha! | uttered, 'are you au engneer?'
Il am, sir--one Of the oldest in the
country; and am now on my way to make
arrangements for great improvement |
have invented for the safer application
Of steam to locomotive. My name is
Marlin Kroler. If you wish, will run
as far as Bromberg; and | will show you
ruoning that is running
Was not fortunate? determined to
accept the mans offer at once, and so
told him. He received my answer with
a nod and a smile. went with him to
the house, where we found the iron horse
in charge oil The fireman, and all ready
for The start. Kroller got upon the plat.
form, and | followed him. | had never
seen man betroy such peculiar aptness
amid the machinery as he did. He let on
the steam in an instant, but yet with care
and judgment, and he backed up to the
baggage carriage with the most exact
nicely. had seen enough 10 assure me
that he was thoroughly acquainted with
the business, and | felt composed once
mole, aud hostened away to the Office
waved my hand 10 the engineer. There
was a pud--a groanng Of The heavy ak.
letrees, and the train was in motion.
leaped upon The platform of The guard
carriage, and in few minutes more the