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

gers told me that al your engineers were
gone this morning, and that you found ODE
that was stranger to you. Then knew
that the man whom had seen wac Mattin
Krollerl He escaped from the hospital at
Steftin. You must get him of nome how"
The whole fearful truth was open 70 me.
The speed Of the traif wss increasing every
moment, and knew That q few miles more
per hour would launch Us all into destruction.
! called 10 the guard, ana then made my way
forward a. quick as possible. reached the
after platform Of the after tender, and there
stood Kroller upon the engine board; his hat
and coat of; his long black hair floating wild.
ly In the wind; his nhirt unbuttonsd At the
throat; his sleeves rolled up; with a pistol. In
his teeth, and thus gIaring upon the fireman,
who lay motionless upon the fuel. The fur.
nnce was stuffed up till The very latch Of The
door was red hot, and the whole engine was
qnivering and swaying as though Il would
shiver in pieces. }H4 yft'
"Krollsr! Kroller r. cried at the top ofmy
voice.
The crazy engineer started and caught the
pistol in his hntd. OIL how those great black
eyes glared, and how ghastly and fnghtful
the face looked IN .e.ls
"Iin! bal hal" he yelled Economically, g!aring
upon me like reused lion.
"I'hey swore could not make ri! Ilut seel
see! See my new power! See my new
engine made III ] made t!-and they were
jealous Of me. made it. and when twas
done they stole Il from me But have found
it. For years have been wandering in
search Of my great engine-and they swore it
was not made But I've found III / knew
il when saw It this morning at Dantzig---
and wns determined to have It. And I've
got it! Ho! no! hol-we're of to the moon,
| say! BY the Virgin Mother! we'll be in the
moon In four and twenty hoursi Down, down,
villain Ii you move I'll shoot you.r i'.i
The last was spoken to the poor fireman,
who at that moment attempted to rise; and
the frightened man sank back again.
"Heres Klein Oskau right ut handw cried
one of the guard. Ff
Bnt even as he spoke the buildings were ut
hand. A sickening sensation settled upon
my henrt, for supposed we were gone now.
The houses few BY like tightening. Iknew
il tie officers here had turned the switch rs
usual, we should be hurled into eternity in
the fearful crash. ! saw fash--it was
another engine-I closed my eyes-but still
we Numbered on. The officers had seen our
speed, and knowing that we could not haul
up in that distance, they had changed the
switch, so that we went on.
But there was sure death ahead II wc did
not stay. Oply fifteen miles ahead was the
town of Schweriz, on the Vistuln, md nt the
rate we were going we should be there in a
few minutes, for each minute carried rs over
mile! The shrieks of the passengers now
rose above the crnsh of the rails, and moro
terrific than all else arose the demoniac yells
of the mad engineer.
"Mercifu heavensl'' gasped the guardsman,
, "there's not moment Of lime to lose; Schw.
ertz 10 close by! But hold!" he added, "let's
/ shoot him !"
At that moment tall, stout German stu-
dent came over TO the platform where we
!, stood, and we saw that the mailman had his
= heavy pistol aimed at US. He grasped heavy
Q stick OF wood from the tender, and with q
/. steadiness of nerve which could not have
/, commanded, he hurled it with such force and
| precision, that he knocked the pistol from the
maniac's grasp. saw the movement, and on
the instant that the pistol fell, sprang for.
ward, and the German followed me. Igrasped
, mere infant in bis mad power, had been
alone. He would have hurled me from the
PLATFORM had not the student at that moment
struck him upon the head with n stick of