Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-06-20
Choife e!slisfellany.
THE CRAZY ENGINEER.

From the Report of Prussian Engineer.
My train left Dantzig in the morning
generally about o. clock, but once week
we had to wait for the arrival of the
steamer from Stockholm. 1t was the
morning of the steamers arrival that /
came down from the hotel, and found
that my engineer had been 80 seriously
injured that he could not run-a railway
carriage had run over him, and broken
one of his legs. l went Immediately to
the engine-house to procure another en-
gineer, (for I knew there were three or
four in reserve there,) but was disap-
pointed. L inquired for Westpal, but L
was informed that he had gone to Stee-
gen to see his mother. Gondolpho had
been sent to Konigsberg, on the road
But where was Mayne? He had leave
of absence for two days, and had gone
no one knew whittier.
Here was fix! l heard the putting Of
the steamer in the Neufahwasser, and
the passengers would be on hand in fif-
teen minutes. l ran to the guards and
asked them if they knew Where there
was an engineer, but they did not. 1
then went to the firemen 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 done?
The steamer stopped at the wharf, and
those who were going on by rail came
flocking up to the station. They had
eaten breakfast on board the boat, and
were all ready for a fresh start. The bag
gage was checked and registered, the
tickets bought, the different carriages
pointed to the different classes of passen-
gers, and the passengers themselves seat
ed. The. train was in readiness in the
long station house, and the engine was
steaming and putting away, impatiently,
in the distant firing house.
1t was past 8 o'clock.
"Come, why do MT we start?" growled
an old fat Swede, who had been watch
ing me narrowly for the last fifteen min
utes.
And upon this there was general
chorus, an anxious inquiry, which soon
settled to downright murmuring. AT this
juncture some one touched me on the ell
bow. l turned and saw a stranger by
my side. 1 expected that he was going
to demonstrate with me for my backward
ness. In fact, began to have strong
temptations to pull off my uniform, for
every eye was fixed upon the glaring
badges which marked me as the chief
officer of the train.
however, lllS SlTuliSeI as liltuuiC-
aged man, tall and stout, with n face of
was black and brlliant--so brilliant that
could not for the life of Inc gaze stead
lily into it-and his lips, which were very
thin, seemed more like polished marble
than human flesh. His dress was black
throughout, and not only set with exact
nicely, but was scrupulously clean and
neat.
"You want an engineer, understand"
he said, in low, cautious tone, at the
same time gazing quietly about him, as
though he wanted no one to hear what
he said.
"I do," replied "My train is all
ready, and we have no engineer within
twenty miles of this place.
"Well, sir, / am going to Bromberg-l
must go-and L will run the engine for
you.
"Ha!" uttered, "are you an engin-
eer?"
"I am, sir-one of the oldest in the
country; and am now on my way to
make arrangements for great improve
ment have invented for the application
of steam to a locomotive. My name is
Martin Kroller. If you wish | will run
as far as Bromberg; and ] will show you
running that is running!"
Was / not fortunate? determined to
accept the mans offer at once, and so [
told him. He received my answer with
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 followedhim, Ihad never
seen man betray such peculiar 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 with the most
exact nicely. / had seen enough to as
sure 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
to take their seats, and soon
afterwards waved my hand to the en-
gineer. There was q puff-a groaning of
the heavy axle-trees--a trembling of the
building-and the train was in motion.
/ leaped upon the platform of the guard
carriage, and in few minutes more the
station house was far behind us.
In less than an hour we reached Dir
sham, where we took up the passengers
that had come on the Konisburg Rail-
way. Here / went forward, and asked
KrolIer how he liked the engine. He
replied that he liked it very much.
hBut, - he added, with astrange spark
ling of the eye, swat until get my i'm
and then you will see travel
ing. BY the soul of Virgin Mother, sir,
/ could run an engine of my construc-
tion to the moon in four and twenty
hours!"
I smiled at what thought his faint
and then went back to my
station. AS soon as the Konigsberg pas
sengers were all on board, and their bag