Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-07
BY J. ". FITZ GERALD.

Cattaraugus was a railroad town or
the Erie line. 1t was the ambition OF
most of the boys born and reared there
to learn railroading A conductor in
his natty uniform, an engineer, fireman
or mechanic in work-stained overallS
i, was a common enough sight to the
boys Whereabouts. Still it always gave
them thrill. They hoped to rise that
high in the world themselves some day.
Patrick E. Crowley shared the ambition
OF his playmateS to become f1rst-class
railroad man. He was born IN house
near the tracks of the Erie IN 1864. His
father had worked on the Erie fol
years. He was the station agent at
Cattaraugus and as such was a man
of authority and prestige in the little
railroad community.
The youngster knew the language OF
the railroad almost as soon as he was
able to talk. His ears would tell him
when the putting engines were in neee
of repairs or overhauling before he was
10 years old. He could tell at glance
the condition of the rolling stock as II
passed through Cattaraugus. He was
irlquisitive and friendly with train
crews from the time he was able to get
around alone.
Inclined to Undersize.
He was a wiry youngster. rather on
the smallish size. While he played In
the fields with the other boys he man
aged to spend much time around the
station and in his fathers little office.
He took particular interest in the work
of the train dispatcher.
His mind was made up while he was
in grammar school that he would seek
a Job on the railroad as soon as his
father would permit. In those days the
generally accepted way to learn the
business was to begin young and work
your way up. The boys father thought
that as long as he was so anxious TO
start railroading he might as well pass
up a high school education.
So the lad left school when ne was
IL wears old and went to work as a
messenger and odd job boy. for the
Erie in his home town. Eacn monGn
his pay envelope contained 50. Wnhe
that wasn't much financial incentive
the youngster was satisfied ana prouo
of being a wage Garner. He was learn.
inc the business he liked, getting LOT
of fun out of it and being paid IN the
bargain.
Getting up at $50 in the morning
going to work at 7 o'clock and not mn
ishing the days tasks until O'Clock az
,,ioLt might not seem SC much fun to
boys of the present day. But young
crowley thriyed on the hard grlno
His thin legs carried him over many q
nile in the course of an average oay
work as messenger.
Watched Work at Key.
u,,ep he wasn't on the jump he sat
AoIn VSIH
his work There was something IN the
cIick of the instrument that seemed 10
fascinate the lad. The train dispatcner
Ioting his interest. helped him TO learn
the Morse code. The boy proved 10 oe
. yy,i0l,ty ant pupil. BY the time ne was
Is he was a full-hedged operator.
Most bows would have gone TO PEG a.
soo,, as thew arrived home from such J
hsrd DAVIS work as this youngster pul
in. But not young Crowley. he was va
great reader of history ana tecnnIca
hooks dealing with railroad problems
often he remained up reaoIng un.i
tir,ed the education that was halted
so far as school was concerned, WneI
he finished his grammar school course
Long before he was able 10 vote m
was known as q boy who always wa
on the Job, who studied 1t tnorougn.
until he knew his particular task bettel
than any one else. 1t wasn't so strange
in view of this, that when ne put AZ
mind to 1t he became an expert teleg'
rapner at the age Of 10.
THE Erie sent him to Custer City, Pa.
as telegraph operator. There were onl.
a couple of trains a day at the LITTLE
way station, but it was a start for TIT
bow. He didn't remain there long. Soor
he was transferred to Buffalo and be-
came a train dispatcher at an impor'
tant point.
He continued to be wide reader o.
good literature in his spare moments
burning the midnight oil to improve hi
mind. He worked as hard as re nat
done on hts first job. He was talnlnt
a thorough foundation In railroading
He went with the New York Central il