Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-24
Carl Springel.

Carl Springel is the name of boy
Who is held in remembrance over half
Of Germany; for deed of self-sac-
rifcing heroism which is unparalleled
IN the legends of Greece and Rome,
or the annals of more modern chiv.
airy.
It is not so hard for the soldier to
lace bullets and csnnon-balls upon the
battle field, for he knows that while
there are many chances of death there
"a still some chance for life.
Carl Springel, poor, lame German
BOY, to save many human beings from
nm awful death, walked straight into
the face of certain death himself, ana
met it like hero.
On the 10Th of November, 1867, q
terrible rain storm swept over Southern
Germany. For twenty hours the rain
poured down in such torrents rs had
never before been known in that region,
and it seemed as if the day we're to be
the beginning of second deluge.
Rivers overlooked their banks, and
petty streams were swollen into rivers.
at nine o'clock at night the storm
ragged on with undated violence, when
Oarl SpriLgel set out on his crutches
from the hut ir which he lived alone,
TO carry an evening repast to his par
emit, who was on watch-duty at the
bridge over the Devils Gulch," on
the Great South German Railway.
Ehe Devils Gulc CHI is fanciful name
given to an immense cleft in the rocks,
TWO hundred feet wide and q hundred
and fifty deep, which had been spanned
by strong bridge Of wood and iron,
believed by the engineers who con-
structed it to be capable of withstand
ing all possible assaults of wind and
water.
1t was the duty Of Wilhelm Springol
-Carl's fa'her-to keep guard at this
bridge on stormy nights and warn the
oncoming trains of any lurking danger
which might exist.
Beneath the bridge mountain
stream boiled and bubbled in ordinary
times; on that night the heavy rains
had swollen it to furious torrent.
Carl Springel hobbled slowly along
upcn his crutches through the almost
Egyptian darkness of the night, half
blinded by the rain, but buoyed up by
the thought that he was bringing cheer
and comfort to his beloved father.
When within hundred yards of the
bridge, an awful crash sounded out
upon the night air loud above the din
of the storm, and shudder of horror
ran through his brave young soul.
1t was the bridge-the bridge which
had been deemed impregnable. The
bridge had succumbed to the fury Of
the water, which rushed down upon its
foundations in irresistible torrents
from the mountain side.
Hurrying on as fast as he could
Carl reached the railroad track, AID
his worst fears were realized. Upon
the track, some ten feet away from
where the entrance of the bridge had
been, was his fathers hand-car, with
his red lantern burning dimly il it,
and by the lanterns light Carl could
see the full extent of the disaster.
Every section, every timber of the
bridge had been swept away, and the
yawning gulf and the roaring flood
were all that was left.
Father, father - cried Carl, in his
loudest tones. Father, father he
called again. "where are You"
But no answering voice responded,
snd there rushed across his brain the
terrible certainty that his father had
gone down with the bridge.
For a moment his breast was flled
with unutterable anguish. But it was
only for moment. Quick as thought,
it flashed upon his mind that it was al
most time for the last night train from
the great city above to come rushing
along with its living freight.
No danger-signal cleaned from the
watch-tower upon the bridge, and on
they would come, unsuspicious of their
peril until it would be too late, and
they would be dashed in a moment
into the seething flood more than a
hundred feet below.
What was to be done? Forgetting
for the instant the great woe that had
befallen him, Carl decided at once that
it was his duty to supply his father s
place, and warn the train of its peril in
time to save it, if possible. But what
could he do?
The tempest increased in its fury,
and the rain poured down as though it
could never stop. Hark, the train is
coming ! Already he hears it rumbling
on toward destruction, and it must be
near, or he could not hear it above the
storm.
He cannot run with his poor, crippled
legs, so he throws himself upon the
hand-car, and nerves himself for a
mighty effort.
As though his own life were at stake,
he begins to turn. Slowly at first,
then faster and faster, he drives the
car in the direction OF the approaching
train.
On, on, dashes the mighty iron
horse; nearer and nearer it comes. Oh,
if he can only warn them while there
is yet time to stop the train If only
he can get far enough of to save the