A GOOD STEAM-HAMMER STORY,

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7990, 7 October 1887, Page 4

A GOOD STEAM-HAMMER STORY,

The German papers continue to publish numerous anecdotes of the late Her Krapp. The Vienna Eoctrablatt gives the following interesting incident, which marked the visit of the Emperor William to the Essen Worka : — The Eoapeior displayed great interest in the working of the-steam-hammer, and Herr Krapp took the opportunity_of jpeaking. jn_ high, praise of tbe workman who had special charge of it. " Ackermann has a sore eye," he said, " and can stop the falling hammer at any moment. A band might be placed on tbe anvil without fear, and he wonld 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 watch," 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 inch from tbe watch. When he went to hand it back, the Emperor repliad kindly, "No, Aekermanii, Keep the watch in memory of an interesting moment;" The workman, embarrassed, stood with outstretched ban, not knowing what to do. Krnpp came forward and took the watcb, saying, " I'll keep it for you if you are afraid to take it from His Majesty." A few ruinates later they again passed the spot, and Krupp said, "Now you can take the Emperor's present from my hand," aud handed Ackermann tbe watch wrapped np in a 1000-mark note.