Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (Sentanka)

He had do fight all odds A man of unbreakable idealism Alone with his ideas A mysterious death at high sea The truth will never be known -------------------------------------------------- Gegen alle Widerstände Ein Mann mit ungebrochenem Idealismus Alleine mit seinen Ideen Mysteriöser Tod auf hoher Sea Die Wahrheit wird niemand erfahren ------------------------------------------------- En lucha contra todas probabilidades Un hombre de idealismo irrompible Solo con sus ideas Una muerte misteriosa en alta mar La verdad nunca será conocida Note: Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel, 1858-1913, was a German engineer and the inventor of the Diesel engine. He spent his youth until 1870 in Paris and surroundings. When being extradited after the start of the German-French-War in 1870, Diesel and his family left for London. He as a child travelled alone to Augsburg, Germany were he lived for five years with his uncle and went to school there. He started studies of mechanical engineering in 1875 in Munich and applied for a patent of a „New and economical power engine“ at the Emperial Patent-Office in Berlin. From 1908 on he developed the first functional model of his engine with the financial assistance of the Krupp company. In January 1898 the first factory for Diesel engines was built in Augsburg, Germany. A Diesel Engine Company was inaugurated by autumn 1900 in London. The first motor vessels with a Diesel engine were built in 1903. Diesel was at a state of bad health due to numerous patent-lawsuits. He was not a good businessman and lost his complete fortune. On September 29th Diesel boarded the mail-vessel Dresden to cross the Channel for Harwich to participate in a meeting of the „Consolidated Diesel Manufacturing Ltd.“ in London. He seemed to be in a good manner when he was last seen on board of the ship. On October 10th 1913 the crew of a Dutch government pilot ship saw a body drifting in the water at heavy sea. As the body was highly decomposed, the crew only got hold of some personal belongings (a pastille box, purse, pocket knife and a spectacle case) which were later identified as Diesel's belongings by his son Eugen. The real cause of his death was never clarified and his dependants never believed in suicide, but in murder to steal Diesel's ideas. So his death is still remains a mystery.