Little pieces of ice in the air
'A U.S. Engineer' would more than likely be referring to the fact that they ride/control locomotives.
Fritz, Ernest, and Jack Robinson
Well, for one, he wanted to give Elpenor a proper burial, as his (Elpenor's) ghost had requested. But also, Ulysses simply wanted Circe's advice about his journey. She gave him good advice. Ulysses would have never made it past the Sirens if Circe hadn't instructed him to put beeswax in his ears.