The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-06-07
THE CRAZY ENGINEER.
From the Report ofa Prussian Engineer,l

From the Report ofa yPrussian -Engineer.l
My train left Dantzig in the morning
generally about eight O'clock, but once
a week we had to wait for the arrival of
the steamer from Stockholm. 1t was the
Of the steamers arrival that l
came down from the hotel, and found
that my engineer had been so seriously
injured that he could not run rail
way carriage had run over him, and
broken one of his legs. l went imme-
diately to tho engine-house to procure
another engineer, (for l knew there
were three or four in reserve there,)
but was disappointed. / inquired for
Westpal, but was informed that he
had gone to Steegen to see his mother.
had been sent to Konigs-
berg, on the road. But where was
Maynef He had leave of absence for
two days, and had gone-no one knew
whittier.
Here was fix! / heard the putting of
the steamer in. the Neufahwasser, and
the passengers would be on hand in tiff
teen minutes. ran to the guards, and
asked them If they knew where there
was an engineer, but they did not. |
then went to the fremen, and asked
them if any of them felt competent to
run the engine to BrOmberg. No one
dared to attempt it. The distance was
nearly one hundred miles. What was
to be donei .s..s.
lThe steamer stopped at the wharf. and
those who were going on by rail come
focking up to the station. They had
eaten breakfast OH board the boat, and
were all ready fora fresh start. The
baggage was checked and registered,
the tickets bought, the different carriages
pointed to the various classes of pas
sengers, and the passengers themselves
seated. The train was in readiness In
the long station house, and the engine
was steaming and putting away, i'm
patiently, in the distant firing house.
1t was past nine o'clock. 80
"Come, why don't we startp growled
an old fat Swede, who had been watch
ing me narrowly for the last fifteen
minutes. - kass r. t.-.t''
And upon this there was q general
chorus, an anxious inquiry, which soon
settled to downright murmuring. At this
juncture, some one touched me on the
elbow. / turned and saw stranger by
my side. expected that he was going
to remoustrate with me for my back
wardness. In fact, / began to have
strong temptations to pull off my uni
form; for every anxious eye was fixed
upon my uniform, for every anxious
eye was fixed upon the glaring badges
which marked me as the chief officer of
the train.
However, this stranger was middle
aged man, tall and stout, with face of
great energy and intelligence. His eye
was black and brilliant-so. brilliant
that could not for the life of me gaze
steadily into it-and his lips, which
were very thin, seemed more like pol
ished marble than human flesh. His
dress was black throughout, and not on
ly set with exact nicely, but was scru-
pulously clean and neat. -
"You want an engineer, ander
stand" he said, in low, cautious tone,
at the same time gazing quietly about
him, as though he wanted no one to
hear what Ee said.
II do," l replied. "My traiD is all
ready and We have no engineer within
twenty miles ofthis place"
well, sir / am going to BrOmberg-l
must go-and | will run tie engine for
yOu!"
"Ha !" i uttered, "are you an engi-
neer?'
Il am, sir--one of the oldest in the
country; and am now on my way to
make arrangements fora great improve
ment have invented for the applica-
ton of steam to q locomotive. My
name is Martin CrolTer. If you wish
will run as far as BrOmberg; and
| will show you running that is run
ing"
Was I not fortunatei | determined to
accept the mans offer at once, and so |
told him. He received my answer with
a nod and smile. / went with him to
the house, where we found the iron
horse in charge of the fireman, and all
ready for the start. Kroller got upon
the platform, and l followed him, /
had never seen man betray snch pecu-
liar aptness amid the machinery that he
did. He let on the steam in an instant,
but yet with care and judgment, and he
backed up the baggage-carriage witt
the most exact nicely. | had seen
enough to assure me that he was thor
oughly acquainted with the business,
and felt composed once more. gave
my engine up to the new man, and then
fastened away to the office. Word was
passed for all the passengers to take
their seats, and soon afterwards l "aved
my hand to the engineer. There was a
pnff-a groaning of the heavy axletrees
"a trembling ofthe building-and the
train was in motion. Ileaped upon the
platform of the guard carriage, and in
a few minutes more the station house
was far behind us.
In less than an hour We reached Dirs-
ham, where we took up the passengers
that had csme on the Konigsburg Rail
way. Here / went forward, and asked
Kroller how he liked the engine. He
replied that he liked it very much.
But" he added, with strange spark
ling Of the eye, "wait until Iget my
improvement, and then you will see
By the soul of Virgin Moth
er, sir could run an engine of my
to the neon in four and
twenty hours
l smiled at what thought his faint
aud then went back to my |
station. As soon as the Konigsburg
passengers were all ou board, and
their baggage attached, we started on
again. .t