The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-12-09
The MAD ENGINEER.

"My train left Dantzic in the morning gem
orally about eight O'clock but once "a week we
had to wait for the arrival of the steamer from
Stockholm. II was the morning of the steam
er's arrival that | came down from the hotel
and found that my engineer had been SO seri-
ousy injured that he could not perform his
work A railway carriage had run over him
and broke one Of his legs. | went immediate
iy TO the engine-house to procure another engi-
neer for knew there were three or four in re-
serve there, bat was disappointed. | had ia
uuired fer Westphal, but was informed that he
had gone to Sreegen 10 see his mother. Con
aoIpho had been sent to Koingshurg, on the
road. But where was Mayne? He had leave
of absence for two days, and had gone no one
knew whittier
Here was q fix. heard the putting Of the
steamer in the Neufahrwasser, and the passen-
gers would be on hand in fifteen minutes | ran
tothe guards and asked them il they knew
where there was an engineer, bat they did not.
then went to the frerncn and asked them if
any one of them felt competent to run the on
gine to Brom berg. No one dared to attempt.
Tie distance was nearly one hundred miles.
What was TO be done J
The steamer stopped at the Wharf, and those
who were going on by rail- came docking up to
the station They had eaten breakfast on board
the boat, and were all ready for fresh start
The baggage was checked and registered, the
tickets bought, the different carriages assigned
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-
,enty in the distant frina-house.
1t was past nine o'clock.
@Come Why don't we start?" growled an old
fat Swede, who had been watching ms narrow
ly for the last fifteen minutes
And upon this there was general chorus Of
anxious inquiry, which soon settled 10 downright
murmuring. At this jun tire some one touched
me on the elbow. | turned and saw sfran-
gar by nv side. / expected that lie was going
to demonstrate with me for my backwardness.
In fact | began to have strong temptations TO
pull off my uniform, for every anxious eye was
fixed upon the gla,ing badges which marked me
as the chief officer of tie traii.
However, this stranger was mialle-aged
man, tall and stout, with face of great ener-
gy and intelligence His eye was black and
hrilliant-so brilliant that / could not for
the life of me gaze steadily into IT. aad his lips
which were very thin, seemed more like polish
ed marble than human flesh, His dress was
black throughout, and not only set with exact
nicaty. but was scrupulously clean an@ neat.
.'You want an engineer, l understand" be
said, in low. cautious tone, at the same time
gazing quickly about him, as though he wanted
no one to hear what he said.
II do" replied. ''My train is all ready,
and we have no engineer within twenty miles
Of this place"
We'll, sir, am going 10 Bromberg l must
,,,l I thp a,,tipa for
cha" | uttered, 'arc you engineer
81 am, sir-one Of the Oldest in the country,
and am now on my way to make arrangements
for great Improvement | have invented Tor
the application of steam to locomotive MY
name is Martin Kroler. If you wish, / will
run as far as Bromberg; and will show you
zunning that is running"
Was not fortunate | determined to ac-
cept the mans offer at once, and SO told HIM
H received my answer with nod and
smile. / went with him to the house, where we
found the iron-horse IN the charge OF the fire.
men, and all ready for the start KrolEer got
upon the platform, and | followed him. had
never seen a man betray such peculiar aplness
amid the machinery as he did. He let on the
steam IN an instant, bat yet with care and Jddg-
uent, and he backed up to the baggage carriage
with the most exact nicely. had seen enough
20 assarc me that he was thoroughly acquaint-
ed with the business, and felt composed once
more, | gave my engine up TO the new man.
and then hastened away to the office word
was passed for all the passengers TO take their
seats and soon afterward | waved my hand to
the engineer. There was puf-a groaning OF
the heavy axle Fees--a trembling or the build
ing, and the trails was in motion. / leaped up
on the platform of tie guard-carriage, and in
a few minutes more the station house was far
behind us
In less than an hour we reached Dirshanl,
where yye took up the passengers that had come
on the Kouigsbcrg railway. Here went ior-
ward. and asked Kroller how he liked the en-
eine. H. replied that he liked it very much
"But, he added. with a strange sparkling
Of the eye, ''wait until get my Improvement,
AMI than you viii see travelling BY the soul
Of the Virgin Mother sir, could ran an en-
gina Of my construction to the moon IN four
and twenty hours y
smiled at what / thought bis enthusiasm,
aud then went back 10 my station. AS soon
as the hcnigsberg passengers were all on board,
and their baggage-carrlage attached, we start
ed on again Soon after, went into the guard
carriage, and sat down. An early train from
konigsberg had been through two hours before
reaching Brombesg, and that was at Little O.-
cue, where we took on board the western mail.
"How we go y uttered one of the guard some
fifteen minutes after we had left Dirsham.
'Thc new engineer is trying The speed"
replied, not yet having any fear
But ere long I began to apprehend he was
running little too fast Tha carriages began
to sway to and fro, could hear exclamations
OF fright from the passengers. !