The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-12-13
ON THE RAIL.
Samuel Lauck and Frank Richardson, Of
the A. v. R'y, Interviewed.

the A. v. R'y, Interviewed.
Samuel Lauck, passenger conductor,
and Frank Richardson, passenger en-
gineer, two trusted employees of the A.
V. R'y, were interviewed recently and
a little Of their experience we give
as follows:
Mr.. Lauck has been in the employ Of
the A. V. R'y for twenty-five years,
having worked on the River Division
before the Low Grade was built. His
first narrow escape and his first laugh
able experience on the Low Grade Div.
occurred at Broken Rock, between New
Bethlehem and Red Bank, score of
years ago. 1t was before regular pas
senger train was put on the road and a
mixed freight hauled passengers be-
tween Reynoldsville and Red Bank,
that Mr.. Lauck was going over the
train to the baggage car when he fell
between two box cars. The baggage
master saw him fall and had the train
stopped while Mr.. Lauck clung to life
with one hand on drawhead. Had his
perilous position not been discovered
when 1t was, his life's book would have
closed then. Not long after that the
train stopped at Broken Rock TO let
lusty female passenger get Off, and Mr..
Lauck, who was then brakeman, po-
litely tried to help her off, but there
was no platform there and as the track
was high the old lady made the most
impressing "mash" on Lauck of his
railroad experience as she fell off the
steps upon him. II was as good as cir
Gus" to the few passengers however,
who were spending day getting from
Red Bank TO Reynoldsville.
In the seventies, when A. V. trains
run to Remove, Lauck and VIM. Cum
ningham, with engine so, hauled a fire
engine from Remove to Driftwood,
distance Of 20 miles and made one stop,
In thirty-two minutes. Lauck has a Z.
& f. train order, as a memento, issued
to he and Pat Horn Dec 8, 1875.
Mr.. Lauck is very pleasant accom-
modating conductor who looks to the
comfort of those who ride on his train,
and he also looks well after the railroad
company's interests. Next to an edi-
tor, there are few people who have their
patience tried so severely as a passenger
conductor, as cranks of all kinds ride
on trains daily. Mr.. Lauck says his
thirteen years experience as conductor
on passenger train has been a good
school in which to study human nature.
1t don't take him long to read a man.
Frank Richardson, the non-excitable
engineer who hauls Mr.. Lauck, can get
passenger train over the road on time
with as much case as any man that ever
pulled throttle. Mr.. Richardson, who
has been running an engine on the Low
Grade since 1t was first built has had
his share Of experience in railroading
and is noted for being cool in the midst
OF danger, which is one of the essential
requirements of a passenger engineer
who has so many lives entrusted to his
The travelling public,
generally speaking, give little thought
OF the man who controls the iron-borse.
Most of these men feel the responsible
ity and it is constant strain upon their
nerves while they are on duty. Four or
five years ago Richardson was making a
fast run from Red Bank to New Bethle-
hem and when engine No. struck the
sharp curve near Anthony tunnel the
engine jumped the track and rolled
down the steep embankment to the creek.
Richardson jumped Off but the fireman,
Wilson Hoffman, who could not get off,
went down with the engine, which land
ed at the bottom upside down. How
the the fireman escaped alive Is q mys-
terry, as the hot steam was escaping all
around him when he crawled out OF the
demolished cab. A defective drawhead
was all that kept the train from follow
ing the engine. Conductor Lauck ran
down the embankment with sad heart,
because he thought Richardson was un-
der the engine, but he heard him call
and looking up he saw the engineer
standing on the railroad. When Lauck
got the fireman up the hill and was
congratulating Richardson on his es-
cape, Frank pulled long tobie out Of
his pocket, bit the end of and uncon-
cernedly asked him for a match. Rich
ardson has had other narrow escapes.