The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-10-07
THE MAD ENGINEER.

This thrilling story is furnished by q
! Prussian railroad conductor. ..-.
My train left Dantzic in the morning
generally about eight o'clock; but once
week we had to wait for the arrival of
the steamer from Stockholm. 1t was
the morning of the steamers 3 arrival that
came down from the hotel and found
that my engineer had been SO seriously
injured that he could not perform his
work. A railway carriage had run ever
him, and broken one Of his legs. Invent
Immediately to the engine house to pro-
cure another engineer, for I knew there
were three OF four in reserve there, but
I was disappointed. I inquired for
Westphal, but was informed that he had
gone to Sreegen to see his mother
Gondolpho had been sent to Konigsberg,
on the road. But where was Mayne ?
He had leaye of absence for two days,
and had gone no one knew whittier.
Here was fix. I heard the putting
of the steamer, and the passengers would
be On hand in fifteen minutes. I ran to
the guards and asked them if they knew
where there was an engineer, but they
asked them if any one of them felt COM
petent to run the engine to Rromberg.
No one dared to att empt it. The dis
tance was nearly one hundred miles.
What was to be done?
The steamer stopped at the wharf,
those who were going on by rail came
fiocking 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 impatiently in the distant
firing house.
1t was past nine o'clock.
"Come, why don't we start % growled
an old fat Swede, who had been watch
ing me narrowly for the last fifteen
minutes.
And upon this there was O. general
chorus of 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. I expected that he was 60
ing to demonstrate 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 the glaring badges which marked
me as the chief officer of the train.
However, this stranger was middle
aged man, tall and stout, with a face of
great energy and intelligence. His eye
was black and brilliant,-so brilliant
that I 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.
E'You want an engir eer, I 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.
81 do" replied. ''My train is all
ready, and we have no engineer within
twenty miles of this place
"Well, sir, 1 am going to Bromberg;
/ must go, and L will run the engine for
you l'
Hal" uttered, ''are you an engi-
neer2"
81 am, sir,-one of the oldest in the
country,-and am now on my way to
make arrangements for a great improve
ment have invented for the application
of steam to locomotive. My name is
Martin Kroller. If you wish, will run
as far as Bromberg; ami I will show
you running that in running"
Was L not fortunate L determined to
accept the mans offer at once, and so I
told him. He received my answer with
nod and smile. I went with him to
the house, where we found the iron
horse in charge of the fireman, and AL
ready for start. Kroller got upon the
platform, aud L followed him. I had
never seen a man betray such peculiar
aptness amid machinery as he did. He
let on the steam in an instant, but vet
with care and Judgment, and he backed
up to the baggage-carriage with the
most exact nicely. l had seen enough
to assure me that he was thoroughly ac-
quainted with the business, and I felt
composed once more. 1 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 afterward waved nv hand to
the engineer. There was a puff,-a
groaning of the heavy axletress,-a trem-
bling Of the building, the train