The morning call., 1893-07-21
is WASTING AWAY
Sconchin Maloney Near
the Grave.
A FRIEND OF SHAKESPEARE.
San Francisco's Political Orator Walk.
ing in the Valley of the Shadow
of Death.

Alas! Poor Sconchin!
James John Maloney, better known as
"Sconchin" Maloney. is reported to be
dying at his home in Oakland.
His disease Is puzzling The physicians.
for while there is no apparent organic
trouble, the once powerful form of Soon
chin is slowly wasting away and he can
not survive much longer.
That the senatorial contest could be in
progress at the Palace Hotel, or that Vice.
President Stevenson could be entertained
at the Baldwin without the presence of
Sconchin to lend enthusiasm and D oise to
the occasion. has caused the politicians of
both the great parties to marvel at his alb
sence during the past few days.
The disappearance of the well-known
politician and official of the law depart
ment of The Southern Pacific Company
from the streets and hotel corridors leaves
a vacuum even time can scarcely fill.
sconchn Maloney has long been a
familiar figure in San Francisco. While
his fame is not so widespreadsand d national
in its character as that of some who have
been before the public, he is we'll l-known
in California. and as an attendant tevery
political convention held in the State for
fifteen years. he has become personally
acquainted with nearly every political as
pirant. and at least Is known by sight to
every conven tion delegate.
Last summer MalOney went East, and
after attending the Chicago convention.
where he worked enthusiastically for
James G. Blaine, he proceeded to New
York. In Gotham his oratOry and Shakes
sperean quotations attracted the attention
of the political loungers at the hoffman
box N, o6 ot ,Iorr of
500 week to stump the State for the
Republican ticket.
Maloney returned from New York on
February last a changed man. His happy
R0-lucky manner had disappeared and he
seemed morose and melancholy. He was
evidently suffering from some unknown
disease and gradually went into decline.
Recently his limbs became so wasted away
that he could span the leg above the knee
with one hand.
His last appearance in public was few
weeks ago at the funeral of the late Sena.
tor Leland Stanford. to whom Sconchin
was deyotedly attached. lie went down to
Pao Alto with tears in his eyes, and sat
with the reporters in the quadrangle. his
head bowed upon his breast, with his
hands crossed upon his knee. He spoke
never q ord. and those who saw him be-
side the bier of the dead Senator could
scarcely imagine that the fading form was
that OF the once robust and powerful
Sconchin Maloney.
Sconchin's S life passion has been the great
bard of Avon. He knew Shakespeare
from the cradle to the grave, and could
quote from the famous poet by the hour.
Some two or three months ago when the
Corbett theatrical combination was In San
Francisco, Manager William A. Brady,
who has known Maloney for several years,
and who met him in New York last fall,
went to Sconchin and offered him a fair
salary TX he would travel at the head OF a
dramatic company and portray the charac-
ter of Hamlet In Shakespeare's great his
tOrical play. The generous proposition of
Brady was treated with contempt by
Maloney who. it is said. looked upon the
offer Ss sn ;p suit to his povarty and his in
telieence.
Mr.. Maloney came of good old Irish
stock. He has never married. but has
lived happily and quietly with his mother
and four brothers in q pretty cottage
across the bay in Oaklan d. One of his
brothers is in the United States customs
service and the others hold political posi-.
tons in this city.
Although \ professional politician.
Maloney has never held political Office
other than minor positions for brief
period He was an applicant for the
United States marshalship at Yokohama,
Japan, during the administration of Pres
ident Harrison, but Jailed to receive the
appointment, although every prominent
man in California recommended him for
the Mace