The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-02-25
I'll / sffll Il II u .
From he Report of a Prussian Engineer,
The Crazy Engineer.
O'7ceH, ItrmoRt.

Inc Crdly engineer.
My train left Dlntzic in the morning
generally about eight o'clock but once
week, we bad to wait for the arrival of
the steamer from Stockholm. Itwas the
morning of the steamers arrival. that |
came down from the hotel, and found
that my engineer had been so seriously
injured that he could not run. A rail.
way carriage had run over him and
broken one Of his legs. went immedi-
ately to the engine house to procure an.
other engineer, for | knew there were
three or four in reserve there, but l was
disappointed. Inquired for Wes:phal,
but was Informed that he had gone to
Steegen to see his mother Gondolpho
had been sent to Konisburg, on the road
But where was Mayne2 He had leave
of absence for two days, and had gone
no one knew whittier.
Here was fix heard the putting
of the steamer in the Neutahrwasser, aud
the passer gers would be on hand in fiji.
teen minutes. ran to the guards and
asked them if they knew where there
was an engineer. but they did not. |
then went to the tiremen and ask d them
If any Que of them felt competent to
run the engine to Bromberg No one
dared to attempt it, The distance was
nearly one hundred miles. What was to
be done
The steamer stopped at the wharf aud
those who were going on by rail- came
hcckiog up to the station. They had
eaten breakfast on board the boat, and
were all ready for a fresh start The
baggage was checked and registered, the
tickets bought, the different carriages
were pointed to the various classes of
passengers and the passengers themselves
seated. The train was in readiness in
the long station. house and the engine
was steaming and putting away impa.
tientiy in the distant firing house.
1t was past nine o'clock.
Come why don't we start2' growl.
ed an old fat Swede, who had been watch.
ing me narrowly for the last fifteen niu-
utes.
And upon this there was a general
chorus of anxious inquiry, which soon
settled to downright murmuring. AT
this juDcture :, some one touched ma
on the elbow. | turned and saw
stranger by my side. expected that he
was going to demonstrate with me for
my backwardncss. In fact l began to
have strong temptations to pull of my
uniform, for every ANXIOUS eye was fixed
upon the glaring badges which marked
NE as the chief officer Of the train,
However, this stranger was a middle
aged man, tall and stout, with face of
great energy and intelligence. His eye
was black and brilliant-so brilliant that
l could not for the life of me gaze
steadily into it aud his lips, which were
very thin, seemed more like polished
marble than human flesh. His dress
black throughout, aud not only set with
exact nicely, but was scrupuously clean
and neat.
You want an engineer, | understand, ;
he said in low, cautious tone, at the
same time gazing quietly about him as
though he wanted no one to hear what
he said.
/ do l replied. My train is already,
and we have no engineer within twenty
miles of this place
We'll, sir, l am going to BfOmberg-
must 60, and | will run the engine for
you
'Ha ? l uttered, arc you an engiu.
eer2'
l am, sir-one Of the oldsst in the
country; and am now on my way to
make arrangements for great improve
ment have invented for the application
of steam to locomotive. My name is
Martin Kroller. Ifyou wish, will run
as far as Bromberg and | will show you
running that is running
Was l not fortunate? determined
TO accept the mans offer at once, and So