The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-02-27
THE CRAZY ENGINEER,

erally about 8 o'clock, but once week ",
were compelled TO wait for the arrival of tn,
steamer from Stockholm. II was the MORN
ing of The steamers arrival that came dowr
from nv hotel, and found that my engineei
had been 50 seriously injured that he could
not run. A railway carriage had run over him
and broke one Of his legs. went immedi-
ately to the engine house to procure another
engineer, for knew that there were three OF
four in reserve there, but | was disappointed
inquired for Westphal, but was informed
that he had gone to Stegen to see his mother.
Gondolpho had been sent to Konigsburg on
the road. But where was Mayne? He had
leave of absence for two days, and had gone
no one knew whittier.
Here was fix; heard the putting Of the
steamer on the Neufahrwasser, and the pas
sengers would be on hand in fifteen minutes.
ran to the guard and asked them if they
knew where there was an engineer, but they
did not. then went to the firemen and
asked them if any Of them felt competent to
run the engine to Eromberg. Not one OF
them dared attempt it. The distance was
nearly hundred miles. What was to be
done?
The steamer stopped at the wharf, and
those who were going on by rail came flock
ing up to the station. They had eaten break.
fast on board the boat, and were all ready for
the fresh start. The baggage was checked
and registered, the tickets bought, the differ,
ent carriages pointed out TO the various
classes of passengers, and the passengers
themselves seated The train was in readiness
in the ong station house, and the engine was
steaming and putting away impatiently IN the
distant fire. house.
II was past nine o'clock.
"Come, why don't you start?" growled an
old fat Swede, who had been watching ne
narrowly for the last fifteen minutes.
And upon this there was general chorus
of anxious inquiry, which soon settled to
down right murmuring. At this juncture
some one touched me AT the elbow. turned
and saw stranger by my side. | expected
that he was going to demonstrate with me for
my backwardness. In fact, began to have a
strong temptation to pull off my uniform, for
every anxious eye was fixed upon the glaring
badges which marked me as the chief officer
of the train. .,,... .H
However; this stranger was middle.aged
man, tall and stout, with face expressive of
great energy and intelligence. His eye was
so black and brilliant, that ! could not, for the
soul of me, gaze steadily into it; and his lips,
which were thin, seemed more like polished
marble, than human flesh. His dress was
black throughout, and not only settled with
exact nicely, but was scrupulously clean and
neat.
"You want an engineer, | understand" he
said 10 low, cautious tone, at the same time
gazing quietly about him, as though he want
ed no one else to hear what he said.
"l do" replied. "My train is all ready,
and we have no engineer within twenty miles
of this place."
"Wel, sir, am going to Bromberg-I must
go; will run the engine for YOU"
"Ha!" UTTERED, "are you an engineerT
~ nsf,. sir---nnr nf the oldest in the country,
and am now on my way to Berlin, to make
arrangements for great improvement have
invented for the application of steam to loco
motion. My name is Martin Kroler. IL You
wish will run as far as Bromberg; and will
show you running that is running"
Was not fortunate! determined to &C.
cept the mans offer at once, and so told him.
He received my answer with nod and a
smile. went with him to the house, where
he found the iron horse in the charge of the
firemen, and all ready for the start. Kroler
got upon the platform, and | followed him. ]
had never seen man betray such peculiar
aptness among 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 TO assure me that he was
thoroughly acquainted with the business, and
| felt composed once more gave my engine
up to the new man, and then hastened away
to the office. The word was passed for oil
passengers to take their seats, and soon after
wards waved my hand to the engineer
There was puff, grooming Of the heavy
axeltrees--a trembling Of the buildihg--and
the train was in motion, leaped upon the
platform of the guard carriage, and in few
moments more the station house was be-
hind us.
In less than an hour we reached Dirsbau
where we took up the passengers that had
come on the Kongsberg railway. Here
went forward aud asked Kroller how he liked
the engine. He replied that he liked it
much.
"But," he added with strange sparkling
of the eye, swat until you get my improve
ment, and then you shall see travelling. BY
the soul OF the Virgin Mother, sir, could run
an engine of my construction, to the moon IN
four and twenty hoursw
| smiled at what thought his quaint en-
thusiasm and then went back 20 my station
As soon as the Konigsberg passengers were
allon board, and their baggage crate attached
we started on again.
AS soon as all matters had been attended to
connected with the new accession OF passen
gers, | went into the guard carriage and sat
down. An early train from Konigsberg had
been thro' two hours before reaching Brom-
berg, and that was at Klein Oskau, where we
took the western mail.
"IIow we go!" uttered one Of the guards
some fifteen inmates after we had LEFT
Dirsbau.
a'rke new engineer is trying the speed"
returned, not yet having any fear.
But ere long began TO be fearful that he
was running little too fast The carriages
began to sway to and fro, and ] could heal
excIamations of fear from the passengers.
9Good Heavens!" cried one of the guard
coming in at that moment, "what is the fellow
doing? Look, sir, see how we are gong!"
looked ut 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 undslinguished
mass, and the carriages now swayed fearfuly
| started to my feet and met n passenger OF
the platform. He was one Of the chief own
ers of the road, and was just on his way I'd