Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-29
ROSE FROM A WATER BOY
For More Than Forty Years in the
Company's Service.
BELOVED BY ALL EMPLOYEES
Personally Known to Them Where
ever Lines Extend and Regarded
Himself as One of Them.
: Tom Fitzgerald is gone

Tom Fitzgerald is gone
That was the sad word that was
passed from station to station, from en-
CINE to parlor car. along the whole
length of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road yesterday. Although his death was
not unexpected, the announcement
brought many a tear to the eyes of rail-
road men all over the country.
Thomas Fitzgerald until January 1,
1908, was general manager of the Balti-
more and Ohio road. He had worked up
from position as water boy. Almost
every employee Of the road knew him
and loved him. When he had clash
with George L. Potter. third vice presi-
dent of the road. over questions of rela
tive authority a little over a year ago
and decided to resign the deepest regret
was expressed everywhere. He was Of
fered another high position with the
company, but felt constrained to de-
cline.
MIR. Fitzgerald's health had not been
good for a long time. but he bore his al
most constant suffering with that BRAY
cry that characterized his actions
throughout life. The trouble was cancer
of the stomach. and before long it be-
came apparent that he could not last
long. Last Friday his condition became
much worse. and he was taken to the
Union Protestant Infirmary. in Norfolk,
Va. and operated upon by DR.. John NJ.
T. Finney. He appeared better after
ward and started to go to Atlantic City
February Il. but got no farther than his
home in Baltimore.
He died yesterday morning at 5:35
o'clock at the Church Home and In
Urinary, on North Broadway, Baltimore.
His Last Work as Receiver.
Nv 90 &l,o
receivers to handle the affairs of the Nor
folk and Southern Railway Company July
1 last. and it was his work in running this
road with all of his old-time thoroughness
that FASTENED the breaking down of his
health. it is said, and brought about his
early death.
At his bed when he breathed his last
were his wife, Mrs. Sallie *. Fitzgerald;
his son, Thomas Fitzgerald, jr., assistant
ton Company: his nephew. A. P. Fender
grast of Baltimore. and Charles w. Gallo
way. superintendent of transportation OF
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, who had
been an almost lifelong friend of Mr..
Fitzgerald.
The funeral will take place tomorrow
afternoon. Services will be held at the
Marlborough and the Westminster Pres
byterian Church. Baltimore. and inter-
naent will be made in Loudon Park ceme-
terry.
Railroader Forty-Two Years.
Mr.. Fitzgerald was a native of Fair
mont. W. Va, and was fifty-fve years
old January / last. His railroad career
had lasted over forty years.
He started with the Baltimore and Ohio
as water boy on Monongahela bridge.
From 1867 to 1868 he was a telegraph
messenger boy at Fairmont. studying
biography in the meantime and rising to
an operator at different points until 1873.
From March. 1873, until June, 1874, he
was night dispatcher at Camden sta
ton, becoming chief train dispatcher OF
the first division in January. 1879. He
continued to advance until March I, 1900,
when he was made general superintendent
of the Philadelphia and main line divi-
sions and their branches. February I.
1906, Charles S. Sims, who was at that
time the general manager of the Balti-
more and Ohio. resigned, and Immediately
Mr.. Fitzgerald was named as his sue
cessor. Mr.. Fitzgerald had been there
little more than three years. when he.
like his predecessor, Mr.. Sims, it is said.
found that his policies and the policies of
some of the officials did not agree. and he
rendered his resignation as general man
ager. Eventually he was made general
manager and later receiver OF the Nor
folk and Southern. which position he held
at the time of his death.
His Friends Real Ones.
No man in the service OF a railroad
had more real loyal friends than Mr..
Fitzgerald. To the man of the rail he
was plain Tom, or 1T. F. his key signal
when he worked as telegraph operator,
but that familiarity existing between the
high officials and the lowest track walker
never bred contempt, or impaired the
strict discipline that he demanded and
maintained. When he was put over
department he gave the men under him
to understand that he expected them to
work. They, in turn, understood him
thoroughly, and consequently there never
was the slightest friction. and his de-
partments were always found to be in
gilt-edged condition.
While general manager of the Baltimore
and Ohio road Mr. Fitzgerald had his
Offices on the fifth floor of its large office
building. at the corner of Baltimore and
Charles streets, in Baltimore, and it
was there that many of the young men
in the service of the road could drop in
and chat with him upon various phases
of railroad work
Gave His Help Freely.
To the man who was ambitious and
desired to learn he gave advice freely
and in such way to make the listener
all the more ambitious to attain the COW
eted goal that he had set for himself.
Mr.. Fitzgerald married Miss Fannie
Kettlewell, who is the daughter of the
late Samuel and Elizabeth Beauchamp
kettlewell and a niece of the late John
kettlewell, who was at one time sheriff
of Baltimore. The ceremony took place
at the parsonage of Westminster Presby-
terrain Church. and was performed by
Rev. D. c. Marquis February II, 1875.
During Mr.: Fitzgeralds las: illness she
never left his side at the infirmary and
administered to his comfort with devo-
ton that was touching
Fall Through Hold Kills Stevedore.