The San Francisco call., 1896-07-06
AN UNLOOKED-FOR DEATH
George Wallenrod's Friends Can
Scarcely Realize His
Suicide.
Some of His Old Associates Speak of
Him and Desire to Help
His Widow.

The death of George Wallenrod in such
tragic manner, coming so UNEXPECTEDLY
has thrown all his friends in this City, and
they are many, into sad thoughts as to
what could have caused "the old man." as
he was familiarly called, to take his life.
Jovial and bright at all times, even in
the face of crucial tests in business affairs
he took the optimistic side of life, philo-
sophically smiling at rebuffs and inviting
every one to celebrate events if they were
propitious.
That he should have gone down into a
dimly lighted cellar and blown his brains
out passes the comprehension of the peo-
pie with whom he associated for years.
II can't understand it in the least" was
the statement from Robert White, who,
for many seasons, filed the box-office at
the Alcazar.
THE old man was not;the kind to COM
NIT suicide, so far as 1 could see his
nature. l have seen him when money
poured in almost faster than we could
count it, and, again, have seen him when
he was $1,000 loser in two weeks. 1t was
all the same apparently, so far as his
&C tlons indicated any feeling in the matter.
HE used to come in and ask me: Bob
how's she coming3 would answer
| Rotten and he would nod his head, say
ing: All right; she'll come better after
a while.' Then we would have a drink
and that was all. Care seemed to pass
away from him like water off a duck
back
L. r. Stockwell, one of the merriest OF
comedians. stepped on the sta of the
! California Theater last night with a heavy
heart. Better than any man in the pro-
fession he knew Wallenrod. Whether
agreeing IN business matters or not it was
always the same with these two old-time
friends. They had been associated fol
years when the Alcazar first opened, and
they coined money together at that time
Their success in theatricals led them tc
venture into speculation on the stock
market and it was there that they both
lost all their sccumulations of years and
more too. Stockwell quit the market and
went back to the stage, while Wallenrod
ceased his managerial career and stuck tc
the mining market
Alf Ellinghouse, who is managing the
California Theater at the present time
knew George WalleDrod as well as any one
For years he was in Waienrod's s employ
and was friendly adviser. In speaking
OF the old gentleman's death last evening
he expressed great sorrow, saying:
There is nothing that | could that
wouldn't do for mis- widow. If her husband
was improvident and speculated, it was
always that he hoped to make more
More meant that his wife and children
would be better provided for and his purse
would be wider open to his friends.
know he dealt in stocks and he was moi
unsuccessful for a time, but, suppose
like so many others who have gone before
him, the day OF reverse must have come.
However, | do not see how he could
have delved very heavily of late. His posi-
ton as agent of the Alcazar building
hardly gave him much more than living
income, say $50 or 500 per month. He
may have had other means do not know
OF with which to speculate. But, leaving
all this aside, did not think that Wallen.
rod would take his own life. He was 9
big-hearted. good, iovial man. Full o.
charity Tor others, he stood on his owr
basis and asked no favors. l think thai
the theatrical profession could do worse
than to meet and do for his widow some
thing In return for the many good thing.
he did for item. l am willing"
George Wallenrod was a member in
good standing OF dozen fraternal organi.
cations, principal among which are the
Elks and the Theatrical Mechanics Asso
citation. These organizations will decids
to-day In regard to the funeral services.
In the meantime the body lies at the
Undertaking parlors of Porter Il Co., or
Eddy street. No autopsy. but an Inquest
| Will be held by the Coroner this morning