The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-06-08
THE CRAZY ENGINEER
From the Report of Prussian Engineer.l
Conclusion.

From the Report OF frusslan bhglneer.j
Conclusion.
As soon as all matters had been attend
ed to connected with the new accession
of passengers, went into the guard car
riages and sat down. An early trair
from Kouigsburg had been through two
hours before reaching Bromberg, ant
that was at little Oscue, where we took
on board the western mail.
"How we CO." uttered one OF the guards
some fifteen minutes after we had left
Dirsham.
"The new engineer is trying the
speed" | replied, not yet holding any
fear.
But ere long began to be fearful he
was running little too fast. The car
riages began to sway to and fro, and
hear ordinations of fear from the pas
sengers.
"Good heaven" cried one the guards
coming in at that moment, "what II
that fellow doingi Look, sir, and see
how we are going"
looked at the window, and found
that we were dashing along at speed
never before travelled on that road
Posts, fences, rocks, and trees, flew by IL
one undistinguished mass, and the car.
riages now swayed fearfully. started
to nv feet, and met passenger ON the
platform. He was one of the CHIEF
owners of our road, and was just on his
way to Berlin. He WAS pale and excit,
ed.
"Sir," he gasped, sis Martin Krollel
on the enginei" ..E.'
eyes," l told him. -.
"Holy Virgin! didn't you know himF
"KnOwwI l repeated, somewhat puz
zled. "What do you meant He told
me his name was Kroller, and that he
was an engineer. We had no one to rur
on the engine, and"
"You took himf" interrupted the
man. "Good heavens, sir, he is as crazy
as q man can BET He turned his brain
over a new plan for applying steam
power. Isaw him at the station, but
did not recognize him, as was in q
hurry. Just now one OF your passen'
gers tsld me that your engineers were
all gone this morning, and that you
found ons that was stranger to you
Then knew that the man whom l had
seen was Martin Kroller. He had es.
caped from the hospital at Settin. You
must get him off somehow" ar
The whole fearful truth was now open
to me. The speed of the train was in.
creasing every moment and l knew that
a few more miles per hour, would
launch us all into destruction. Icalled
to the guard and then made my way
forward as quick as possible. Ireached
the after platform of the after tender
and there stood Kroller upon the en-.
eine-board, his hat and coat of, his
long black hair floating wildly in the
wind, his shirt unbuttoned at the throat
his sleeves rolled up, with pistol in hi'
teeth, and thus glaring upon the hire
man who lay motionless upon the fuel
The furnace was stuffed till the latch Of
the door was red hot, and the engine
was quivering and swaying as though II
would shiver in pieces.
"Kroller! Kroller!" cried, at the toI
of my voice. b. -,
"The crazy engineer started ant
caught the pistol in his hand. Oh, how
those great black eyes glared ant
how ghastly and frightfuithe face look
ed. 80 elt
. "Hal ha, hap he yelled, Economically
glaring upon me like q reused lion.
"They swore that could not MAKE
it! But see! see! See my new power
See nv new engine! l made it and they
are Jealous of me. ] made it, and whe,
it was done they stole it from me! Bu
have found it! For years ! have beer
wandering in rearch Of my great engine
and they swore it was not made. But
I have found 10! knew it this morning
when I saw it at Dantzig, and l wa
determined to have it. And Eve got 1t
Ho! no! ho!-we're on the way to tht
moon, l say! By the Virgin mother
we'll be in the moon in four-and-twenty
hours. Down, down, villain! If you
move I'll shoot you"
This was spoken to the poor fireman
who at that moment attempted to rise
and the frightened man sank back
again.
Here's Little Oscue right at hand
cried one of the guard. = -
But even as he spoke the buildings
were at hand. A sickening sensation
settled upon my heart, for I supposed
that we were gone now. The houses
few by like lightning. knew il the
officers here had turned the switch 9
usual, we should be hurled into eternity
In one fearful crash. / closed my eyes
but stili we Numbered on. The oftocrl
had seen our speed, and knowing that
we could not head up In that distance
they had changed tho switch, 30 that we