Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-08
THE MAD ENGINEER.
BIZ A GERMAN CONDUCTOR.

generally at 8 O'Clock, but once Weet
we had to wait for the arrival OF tn,
steamer from Stockholm. 1t was or
the morning of the steamers arriva
that I came down from my hotel, and
found that my engineer had been 81 Sc
riously injured that he could not run.
One of the railway carriages had run
over him, and broken one Of his legs.
/ went Immediately to the engine house
TO obtain another engineer-for knew
there were three or four in reserve
@here--but I was disappointed. l In
Quired for Westfall, and was informed
-that he had gone TO Sreegen TO see bis
mother. Gondolpbo had been sent TO
Konigsberg, on that road. But where
was Wayne? He had leave Of absence
for two days, and had gone no one knew
where.
Here was fix. heard the putting
Of the steamer in the Nenfahrwasssr.
and the passengers would be on hand
in fifteen minutes ran to the guard
and asked il they knew of an engineer,
but they did not. | then went to the
fremen and asked If any of them felt
competent to run an engine to Brom-
berg. Not one of them dared TO at
tempt it. The distance was nearly
one hundred miles. What was to be
done?
The steamer came to the wharf, and
those who we're going on by rail came
flocking to the station. They had eat
en- their breakfast on board the boat.
and were all ready for fresh start
The baggage was checked and regis
tered, the tickets bought, the different
carriages pointed out to the different
classes of passengers. and the passen-
gers themselves we're seated. The
train was in readiness in the long sta
tiou house, and the engine was steam
ing and putting away in the distant firing
house.
"Come. why don't we start7" growl-
ed an old fat Swede, who had been
watching me narrowly for the last 6f-
teen minutes. And upon this there
was general chorus of anxious inquiry
which soon settled into downright mur-
muring. At this juncture some one
touched me on the elbow. turned
and saw stranger by my side. / ex.
pected he was going TO demonstrate
with me for my backwardness. In fact
began to have strong temptations to
pull of my uniform, for every anxious
eye was fixed upon the glaring badge
which marked me as the chief officer
OF the train.
However, this stranger was q middle
aged man, tall and stout, with face
expressive Of great energy and intelli
gence. His eye was brilliant-so bril-
liant that I could not for the soul of me
gaze steadily into it; and his lips. which
were very thin, seemed more like pol
ished marble than like human hesh.-
His dress was OF black throughout. and
not only fitted with exact nicely, but
was scrupulously clean and neat.
"You want an engineer, under
stand" he said in a low. cautious tone,
at the same time gazing quietly about
him, as though he wanted no one else
to hear what he said.
al do" l replied. "My train is all
ready. and We have no engineer within
twenty miles of here"
"Well, sir, am going to Bromberg,
1 must 90. and if you can find none
other. will run the engine for you"
"Ha" l uttered. "are you an engl-
neer?"
al am. sir; one Of the oldest in the
country; l am now on my way to Berlin
to make arrangements for a great i'm
provement. l have invented the ap-
pIication Of steam to Locomotives. NV
name is Martin Kroler. II you wish l |
will run you as far as Bromberg, and 1 !
will show you running that is running"
Was l not fortunate? l determined |
to accept the mans offer at once, and
so l told him. He received my an
swer with a nod and a smile, and then
proposed to go and get TIE engine. l
went with him to the engine house,
where we found the iron horse in charge
Of the fireman, and all ready to start.
Kroller got upon the platform and |
followed him. l had never seen a man
display more peculiar aptness amid the
machinery than he. 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 the engine up to my new man,
and then FASTENED away to the Office
The word was passed for all passengers
to take their seats, and soon afterwards
Iwaved my hand to the engineer
There was puf--a movement Of the
heavy sxeltrees-s trembling Of the
building-and the train was in motion.
/ lesped upon the platform Of the grand
carriage, and in few moments the sta
ton house was behind us.
In less than an hour we reached
Dirschan, where we took up the pas
sengers that had come in on the Konigs-
berg railway. Here went forward
and asked KroIler how he liked the en-
giDe. He replied that he liked it much.
"But," he added with a strange
sparkle Of the eye, "wsit till you get
nv improvement, and then you viii see
travelling. By the soul of the Virgin
.o-ll .r, - o.,~;,a of