New-York tribune., 1912-02-29
SHEPHERD MAY QUIT JOB
City EmpIoye Talks of Leaving
Central Park Home.
LIVED THERE HALF CENTURY
lanes Conway Would Follow
Friend Who Entered Park De-
partment Month Before Him.

For more than half century James Con-
wav has Teen the city's shepherd. During
that time he has lived in Central Park,
which gives him the distinction of being
one Of the most interesting OF New York's
human landmarks. He now contemplates
requesting retirement on half pay in view
OF the request Of his friend phil Holmes,
OF the Central Park menagerie. to do the
same. Conway has been in the Park De-
partment ffty-three years, and one month
less than HolmeS. who is the Oldest en-
ploye Of the Park Department.
In April. 1859. James Conway entered the
department as a laborer. Central Park
wasn't considered so invaluable then. In
fact. its value was appraised at less than
100000 Now 1t is estimated at more
than $3Oo,Oo0OOO.
After the menagerie was started Conway
had charge Of the monkeys. The simian
collection occupied quarters in the base
ment of the Arsenal building. Early In the
co.'s a well known resident of this city,
Brian Laurens, presented a dozen or more
southdown sheep to the park officials, one
Of whom was Andrew II. Green.
'PhiP' Holmes was really the first shep-
they were kept in a shed on the site now
occupied by the menagerie birdhouse.
The sheep had TO have a proper sheepfold,
however, and a year or so afterward one
was completed on the west side of the
park, near the Goth street entrance The
herd had multiplied in a gratifying way
Sheep need attention at night sometimes,
and so when they were installed in the
new fold the Job of shepherd was held cut
to any one who was willing TO live on the
premises. Conway elected 10 do so. and
from then on became the official shepherd.
While he and his family saw the gradual
surrounding of the park with homes, apart
ment houses. churches and all manner Of
structures 1t was not with the uneasness
OF the ordinary citizen, who looks on help
less and hopeless as the one vacant lot
next door gives way to the tide Of develop
ment. For the Conways there was no
chance of losing either their back or front
yard.
In speaking Of his old chum yesterday
Holmes said that Conway had lost his wife
and four children since occupying the
apartment upstairs in the sheepfold. There
are still several children living. Conway
has had several famous sheep dogs though
none so valuable as Jack, which was pre-
sented TO the department about ten years
ago by ]. Pierpont Morgan.
Jack does everything but talk" said
'Blr' Snyder, acting director Of the me-
nagerie, TO whom Conway had coraded his
determination TO retire some time i'm the
near future. THE dog is worth $500 and
is a pure bred Scotch collie. Conway be-
gan training him when he was a pup, and
a word is sufficient to make him round up
the whole flock in a moment or two"
It was In the first administration Of Com
missioner Clausen, in 1893, that the South
down sheep were traded off for the Dorset
variety. considered more valuable in every
way.
Conway is a reticent man. He prefers
Others doing the talking, but once in q
while he becomes a bit loquacious. and then
is found his range of acquaintance with
park visitors Of prominence. He knows
many artists, who in years past have
sketcned the sheep on the big green which
in the summer is divided between the Dor
sets and the ball players The collie, Jack
likewise, in his ten years in the park has
become we'll known to hundreds Of young
sters He barks at them when they try tC
squeeze the tiny, frisky lambs in spring
time.
The old shepherd has often been routed
out Of bed on a tcmptuous night by the
bleating Of his frightened charges in the
fold. He has been up to greet the stork IN
his many visits to the flock. The sheer
have paid for themselves over and over
again At present there are nearly one
hundred in the fold. Last spring the lambs
and wool brought high prices when the
yearly auction sale took place. Descend
ants OF the park colony are scattered about
through dozens of parks in this country
A number last spring went to big private
estates. Eidders can purchase only lim-
tied number Of the lambs, and butchers dc
not find it profitable to acquire such spring
lamb.
We've been here since before the war;
said Holmes yesterday, including Conway
in his assertion. Il can hardly realize the
draft riots were so many years ago"
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