National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-26
WAITING FOR DEATH.
CONDITION OF Ex-MAYoR wALLAcH.
Sketch OF His Life-A Biography Woven Into the
History ofthe City-Companiens of Youth
Who Hare Since Won Distnc.
Observation-Disclosures.
Ex-Mayor Wallach's condition was last

! EX-Mayor Wallach's condition was las
night somewhat easier than for several days past
although no hopes of ultimate recovery are enter
tanned either by physician or friends The dis
ease to which he must soon Succumb is muscula
| paralysis, resulting from hardening of the spiHa
marrow Death is inevitable when the brain il
! touched. Mr. Wallach has been suffering fo
about two years, but for the past six weeks ha:
been very i'll.
Mr. Wallach was born in Alexandria, Va, then
in the District Of Columbia in 1915, at the resi-
dence of his grandfather, Colonel Simms, of revo-
lutionary fame, and one of Washington's pail
bearers. His mother was a daughter of Colonel
Simms his father, Richard Wallach, esq, promi-
nent lawyer, being from Boston. Tho fathers resi-
dence was in Washington at the time of the son s
BIRTH Mr.Wallach ST. lived on Sixth street, between
street and Pennsylvania avenue, on the site now
occupied by part of the National Hotel
When quite a boy Richard Walach matrcu-
lated at Columbia College and graduated
with honors He then entered the law Office OF
Joseph Bradley, ST. his fellow students being Phil
Barton Key and General George c. Thomas, now
of Georgetown. He was admitted to practice by
Judge Thurston, of the Circuit Court, being ex-
amined in company with the two gentlemen
named, Henry May, afterward N. C. from Balti-
more, and Charles Lee Jones, son of the famous
Thurston said: You are lawyer by inheritance,
Mr.. JONES'" and the gentleman addressed an
swered promptly with one of the fundamental
maximS of the law, memo est hEreS uirenti.'
Mr.. Wallach at once commenced to practice law,
and was very successful. He was, however, an
ardent Wing politician, and. being a very elo-
quent speaker, was soon plunged into the fascina-
tons of politics. He was a remarkably handsome
man, and famous for the possession ola magnetism
of character which made all his acquaintance his
friends, whether politically opposed or not. He
speedily elected to the councils of the city to
represent the old Third Ward, and when that was
subdivided into Third and Fourth he was long
the Wing leader OF the latter. In 1919, when only
thirty -four years old, he was appointed Marshal of
the District Of Columbia by President Taylor,
which Office he held until the inauguration of
President Pierce. Subsequently he was chosen the
Wing candidate for mayor against Colonel James
G. Berret the Democratic candidate, the strongest
and most popular man on that side, and after
very exciting and stormy campaign, the bitterest
Washington has ever seen, he was beaten by
very small majority, about 20, in total vote OF
nearly 4GC0. In the spring of 1861 Colonel Berret
was sent to Fort Lafayette and Mr.. Wallach elected
mayor by the board of aldermen. He was there
after elected four times successfully by the people.
and served nine consecutive years as mayor, de-
was successful. popular and beneficial.
Mr.. Wallach was one of the earliest as we'll as
one of the most energetic and Jealous fosterers of
the District public school system. He organized
the public schools of the District the Metropolitan
police, and the fire department, and was member
of the first board of commissioners, both of the
police and the fire department. He was also
Regent Of the Smithsonian. He began the system
of building large and elegant school buildings the
first of that kind ever erected being that on the
cornerof Eighthstree southeast and Pennsylvania
avenue, which was named after him. He
took a trip to Boston to study the public
school system of that city, and upon
his return purchased the grounds and
had built the Franklin school, corner Thirteenth
and K streets. 1t was common habit of his, in
which he was after joined by President elect Gar
field, to visit the different schools and examine
the pupils. Mr. Wallach married late in life Miss
Rose Brown, daughter of his lifelong friend and
Marshall Brown, esq, and has by her
six children. Prior to his marriage he was noted
for the number and the elegance of his bachelor
For years he and: Walter Lenox, formerly mayor
Of the city, kept bachelors hall in the Lenox man.
sion, on Louisiana avenue, near Sixth street. and he
afterward lived in his own house on Louisiana
avenue. nearly opposite the City Hail. one of the
genial and fascinating hospitality as ever held out
he latch string. An anecdote of one of
hese dinners is worth relating The
ate Hon. John J. Crittenden, Senator
rom Kentucky, and the present Attorney Gen
eral, DevenS, were among the guests. 1t was dur
ng the exciting time of the Sims fugitive slave
case in Boston, and Mr.. Deyens was Uuited States
marshal for Massachusetts,. During the talk Mr..
Crittenden said: "Deyens you had better go
nome, or they'll get that negro from you" That
hight Mr. Devens was informed that about the very
lour Dir. Crittenden made the remark quoted
bove Sims was actually taken away.
Mr.. Wallach is a Unitarian in religious faith, his
ather, who died in 1874 being one of the original
members of that society in Washington, and one
# its most prominent organizers.
Itis work of supererogation TO speak of Dick "
good qualities as a man and gentle |
nan. He entered public life at very early age !
vas constantly before the people, did his duty
thoroughly and well on every occasion, and had |
carcely an acquaintance who was not friend |
ngularly generous, kind hearted, and genial he |
the respect and affection of all who |
NEW him. As citizen he was enterprising ener- |
,ctic, liberal, laboring zealously and faithfully
or the city, which appreciated his efforts on her
,ehalf He has been land mark of the District /
or many years, and his death will be as sincerely
nourned by large host of people as that of any
mans that has hitherto occurred in this CITY,
Mr.. Wallach has but one living brother, Major |
;uthbert Wallach, pay director in the navy His |
ldest brother, w. D. Wallach was long identified |
With the StdT, and a younger one, Charles s. Wal |
ach, died some years ago.