A GOOD STEAM-HAMMER STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8062, 1 October 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A GOOD STEAM-HAMMER STORY.

The German papers continue to publish numerous aneodotes of the late Herr Krupp. The Vienna Extrabiatt gives the following interesting incident, which marked the visit of the Emperor William to the Essen Works, The Emperor displayed great interest in the working of the steam-hammer, and JHerr Krupp took the opportunity of speaking in high praise of the workman who had spaoial charge of it. " Ackermann has o suro eye," he aaid, " and can stop the falling hammer at any moment. A hand might be placed on the anvil without fear, and he would stop the hammer within a hair's breadth of it." " Let us try it," said the Emperor, " but not with a human hand—try my Wiitck," and he laid it, a splendid specimen of work richly set with brilliants, on the anvil. Down came , the immense mass of steel, and Ackermann, with his hand on the lever, stopped it just the sixth of an inoh from the watch. When he went to hand it back, the Emperor replied kindly, "No, Ackermann, keep the watch in memory of an interesting moment." lhe workman, embarrassed, staod with outitretchcd hand, not knowing what to do, Krupp came forward and took the watch, laying, " I'll keep it for you if yon are afraid to take it from His Majesty." A few minutes later they again passed the spot, and Krupp said, " Now you can take the Emperor's present from my hand," and handed Ackermann watch propped up in a lQOOimark note, j