The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20

Wilmir gton, Del, claims the Oldest living
railroad mechanic In the United States. Win
lam Il. Schultz. who is now " years old.
His hair and his short beard are white; his
intellect is clear and his faculties good, ex-
oept for slight deafness. He has lived in
Delaware for about thirty years. He was
born in Bremen, where he learned TO be
general machinist. While working there
be met an American from Baltimore, for
whom he made a small printing press
during his leisure hours. When he was
about 81 years of age he sailed for this
country and landed at Baltimore. He got
employment in the only machine shop in
Baltimore. Early in the '30s he drifted
to Philadelphia and became master me-
chanic for the Philadelphia, Germantown
and Norristown Railroad Company. He
had charge OF all repairs and during his
time he built three locomotives-the Gen.
jackson, the ID. L. Porter and the James
Buchanan. He also ran engines on several
occasions. The locomotive then weighed
about seven aud half tons and Mr.. Schultz
made quite stir at one time by pulling
thirty-ive four wheel chars 10 one train.
He invented the lap valve for locomotives.
and when he first tried the valve his success
was a revelation to che mechanics OF that
time. In those days wood was the only fuel
for engines. and he invented a spark ar
rester In 1889 Schultz was sent to Prussia
TO deliver two locomotives that had been
ordered by Frederick William III. They
were the Prussia and the America, and
were to be run on the railroads.&c. only
one in the country-from Berlin to Pots
dam, a distance of sixteen miles When he
arrived at Berlin O commission was ap-
pointed to examine the engines. They
weighed about ten tons, and had a
single pair Of driving wheels. Mr..
Schultz had old Frederick William as
a passenger on his train frequently. He
was held down 30 one hour fn which TO run
the sixteen miles from Berlin to Potsdam.
but he frequently made better time On
one occasion he made the run in twenty
three minutes. "Oie night Prince Charles
came on the train, )" he said, "and hs said TO
me, Don't run too Slow let the engine
out and made the run In twenty minutes.
was fined for that, but | never gave the
primes away. In those days we used fat
rails Of soft iron spiked down on stringers.
Once a rail- got loose and shot upon the
top of my engine and struck the cars, but
no one was hurt Another time rail was
wrapped completely around one OF the fly
wheels of the engine and had to pry it off.
was paid 1000 year, but / asked for
more. One OF the generals said: Why,
that is more than get TO which replied:
Yes. but you only know about fighting
and you don't know anything about rail-
roads" Mr.. Schultz remained one year In
Berlin and then went TO Russia, Emperor
Nicholas |. having offered him
5000 a year and house
to take charge Of the railroad that
ran eighteen miles out OF st. Petersburg
the only road Ia the country. He remained
there twelve years. the liue from St. Peters,
burg 400 miles being built during
that time. When he was asked to take
control Of all the Russian railroads he was
required TO sign a contract by which he
would have been held responsible for all
railroad accidents, and that did not suit
him. "If had signed that" he said,
laughingly; II would have brought up in
Sibsrian He met Alexander IL father OF
the present emperor, many times, and
knew all ths members OF the royal family