The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-09-10
THE CRAZY ENGINEER.

NV train left Dantzig in the morning,
generally about eight clock but once
week we had to wait for the arrival Of the
steamer from Stockholm. 1t was the NOR
ming 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-a railway carriage
had passed over him and broken one of his
legs. I went immediately to the engine
house to procure another engineer, but
could find none. Three or four were al
ways kept in reserve there, but this NOR
ming they were all missing.
Here was fix | heard the putting of
the steamer in the Neutahwasser, and the
passengers would be on hand in fifteen
minutes. l ran to the guards and asked
them if they knew where there was an en-
gineer, but they did not. l 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 done
The steamer stopped at the wharf, and
those who were going on by rail came
focking up to the station. They had eat
en- breakfast on board the boat, and were
al ready for q fresh start. The baggage
was checked and registered, the tickets
bought, the different carriages pointed out
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, impatiently, in the distant
firing house.
If most pipa n 'clOol-
"Come, why don't we start ?" growled
an old Swede, who had been watching me
narrowly for the last fifteen minutes.
And upon this, there was general
chorus Of anxious inquiry, which soon set
tied to downright murmuring. At this
junctuTe, some one touched me on the ell
bow. | turned and saw a stranger by
my side I expected he was going to re-
monstrate with me for my backwardness.
In fact, began to have strong temptations
to pull off my uniform, for every anxious
eye was fixed on the glaring badges which
marked me as the chief officer of the train.
The stranger was a 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 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, l understand" !"
he said, IN low, cautious tone, at the same
time gazing quickly about him, as though
he wanted no one to hear what he said.
81 do" replied. ''My train is 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"
"Ah~ [ calculated "are you an en-
gineer ~
II am, sir-one of the Oldest in the coun-
try, and am now on my way to make ar
rangements for great improvement 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 some running"
Was I not fortunate | determined to
accept the mans offer at once, and so told
him. He received my answer with nod
and a smile. l went with him to the
house, where we found the iron horse in
charge of the fireman, and all ready to
start. Kroller got upon the platform, and
1 followed him. [ had never seen a man
betray such peculiar aptness amid the ma
chinery as he did. He let on the steam
in an instant, yet with care and judgment,
and backed up to the baggage-oarriage
with the most exact nicely. / had seen
enough to assure me that he was thoroughly
acquainted with the business, and I felt
composed once more. l 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 afterwards waved my hand to the
engineer. There was puff-a groaning
of the heavy axle trembling of the
building and the train was in motion I