Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-10-05
CARL SpRINGEL,.

I0TInHuy,e lOr u u6eu OF SelI-SRcf1QclnHs
*heroism which is unparalleled ID the:
legends of Rome and Greece, or the an
mails Of more modern chiyalry. 5ss 8 ~
It is not 80 very hard for the soldier
to face the cannon-balls and bullets on
the battlefield, for we'll he knows that,
while there are many chances of death,
there is still some chances for life.
i Carl springel, a poor, lame German
boy, to save many human beings from
an awfut death, walked straight into the
face Of certain death himself, and met it
like hero. 81
On the 10th of November, 1867, ter
rible rain storm swept over Southern
Germany. For twenty hours the rain
poured down in torrents as had never
before been known in hat region, and
ltseemed as if the day were to be the
beginning Of second deluge. Rivers
oyerhowed their banks, and pretty
streams were frozen into rivers.
=, At nine o'clock at night the storm
ragged on with unabated violence, when
Carl springel set out on his crutches,
from the hut in which he lived alone,
to carry an evening repast to his parent,
who was on watch duty at the bridge
over "Devlps Gulch," on the Great South
German Railway.
The DEVILS Gulch is fanciful name
given to an immense cleft in the rocks,
200 feet wids and $50 feet deep, which
had beet spanned by a strong bridge Of
wood and iron, believed by the ehgi-
Of withstanding all possible assaults of
the wind and water.
It was the duty of William SpringeI,
Carts father, to keep guard at the bridge
on stormy nights, and warn the oncom-
ing trains of any lurking danger which
might exist.
Beneath the bridge mountain stream
boiled and dubbed in ordinary times;
ON that night the heavy rains had swol-
len it to furious torrent.
Carl Springel hobbled slowly along
upon his crutches through the almost
Egyptian darkness Of the night, half
blinded by the rain, but brloyed up by
the thought that he was bringing cheer
AMI comfort to his father.
When within hundred yards of the
bridge, an awful crash sounded out up
on the night air, loud above the din of
the storm, and shudder ran through
his brave young soul.
It was the bridge-the bridge that had
been deemed impregnable. The bridge
had succumbed to the fury of the water,
which rushed down upon it's foundati ons
in Irresistible torrents from the noun
tain side.
Hurrying as fast as he could, Carl
reached the railroad track, and 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 in it, and by the
lanterns light Carl could see the full ex-
tent Of the disaster. Every section,
every timber of the bridge had been
swept away, and the yawning gulf and
the roaring food were all that was left.
"Father! father!' cried Carl in his
loudest tones. 'Father! father!'' he
called again, "where are vou?"
But no answering voice responded,
and there rushed across his brain the
terrible certainty that his father had
gone down with the BRIDGE.
Fer moment his breast was filed
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
aiOng WIN llS nVlrg IrclSnL.
No danger signal cleaned from the
watch tower upon the bridge; on they
would come, unconscious of their peril
until it would be too late, and they
would be dashed in moment into the
seething food more than a hundred
feet below.
Wha: was to be done? Forgetting for
the instant the great woe that had be-
fallen him. Carl decided at once that it
was his duty to supply his fathers 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 rambling on toward
destruction, and it must be near, or he
could not hear it above the storm.
He can not run with his poor, Grip
pied legs, 80 he throws himself upon the
hand-car and nerves himselffora mighty
effort.
AS though hiu life were at stake, he
Legins to turn. Slowly at first, then
faster and faster, he drives the car in
the direction of the approaching tram.
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! Ifonly he can get
tar enough off to save the train from
rushing headlong into that horrible
grave!
Around the mountain side, on the cnrv-
ing track, the tram speeds along: The
CLEAN of Its light is now upon the wall
Icy, and the boy knows that the supreme
moment is at hand.
On thunders the engine, and the track
trembles beneath the heavy burden.
Suddenly, around a sharp bend, a hun
dred feet away, full on his sight bursts
the blazing headlight Of the engine.
Ceasing from his labor, Carl Springel
braces himself with one hand, and,
grasping the red lantern in the other,
swings it widely above his head.
THE bridge is down! The bridge is
DOWN. he cries with all his power.
1.-THE bridge is do-!"
The engineer has seen him, but can
not save him. With dull thud the en-
CINE clears the obstruction from the
track, and dashes along-but slower and
slower now. ~
The hand car and the boy were hurled
fifty feet through the air, and when the
boy is found his body is crushed, man
gled and lifeless. But the ,rainis saved
Trembling, gasping, staggering, the
engine halts-haIts not a dozen
yards from the mouth OF
the yawning chasm-and all On board
are saved--saved by the unparalleled
heroism of this crippled boy, who has
given up his life that they may live.
Two years ago in quiet village ceme-
terry in the South Of Germany, 1 saw the
grave in which he sleeps, Upon mod
est tombstone at his head, erected by
the gratitude of those whose lives he had
preserved, in this inscription: .' 49,
s'cARL sPRINGEL,
- ,sss..E. L., Z i Aged I4....4s%. :. :, -,s.ss
He died the death Of hero and mar
tyr and saved two hum r.
/ dred lives" !, ..:a.s1r