The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-03-27

usual, we should he hurled into eternity in
one fearful crash. | saw a flash-it was
another engIp-I closed my eyes but
still we thnnderel on The officers had
seen our speed, and knowing that we
had changed the switch, so that we went
on. $
But there was sure death ahead if we
did not stop. Only fifteen miles ahead
was the town Of Schwartz, on the Vistula,
and at the rates we were going We should
be there in a few minutes, for cacl, minute
carried us over mile. The sllrcks of
the passengers now rose above the crash of
the rails, and more terrific than all else arose
the delnoniac yell OF the mad engineer.
"Merciful heavens" gasped the guards
man, "thcr's not a moment to Iovsc, Schwartz
is close by. But hold" he added, lets
shoot him."
at that moment Il tall. stout German stu
dent come over the platform where we
stood, and We SAW that tue mad man had
his heavy pistol aimed at us. lie graspcd
Il heavy stick Of wood and, with a steadi-
Hess OF nerve which could not have com
manded, he hurled it Will, such force and
precision, that he Knocked the pistol from the
maniacs hand. | saw the movement, and
on the instant that the pistol fell, sprang
forward, and the German followed me. |
graSped the man 10y the arm, but l should
have been nothing i'll his 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 stick Of wood which lie caught as
he came over the tender.
krollcr settled down like 4 dead man,
and on the next instant shut of tie steam
and opened the valve. As the freed steam
shrlekrd and howIed in its escape the speed
begun to decrease, aud in a few minutes
more the danger WIS passed. AS settled
back, entirely overcome at the wild emo
tlons that had ragged within me, we began
to turn the river, and before was fairly re-
covered, the fireman had stopped the train
in the station house at Schwartz.
Martin kroler still insensibIe. was taken
from the platform anu, as we carried him
to the guard room, one Of the guard rccog-
nized him, and told us that he had been
there about two weeks before.
"llc came" said the guard, '.and swore
that an cugnc which stood near here was
his. He said it was one he had made to
go to the moon in, and that it had been
stolen from him. we sent for more help
10 arrest him, and he fled"
"Wc!I," replied with shud,ler, 81 wish
he had approached me in the same way
but lie was more cautious at Danizic.'
at Schwartz VIC found an engineer to
run the engine to Bromherg; aud having
taken out the western mail for the next nor
thern train to take along, we saw that Krol
Ter would be properly attended to- and then
started on.
The rest of the trip we ran in safety,
though could see that the passengers, were
not wholly at ease, and would not be until
they were entirely clear of the railway. A
heavy purse was made up by them for the
German student, and he accepted it for the
current of gratitude to him may have pre-
vented a far different current, which might
have poured upon my head, for having en-
gagged a madman to run a railroad train
But this is not the end. Martin KroIler
remained inSenSibe from the effects Of the
blow upon the head nearly two weeks, and
when he recovered from that lie was sound
again-his insanity was gone. ] SAW him
shout three weeks Afterwards, but he had
no recollection Of me. He remembered no.
thing of the past year, not even his mad
freak on my engine.
But | remembered it, and remember
it still aud the people need never fear
that | shall be imposed upon again 10y a
crazy engineer.