Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-03
NEARLY FIFTY YEARS
VIM. A. TALLIFERRo' SERVICE
AT THE CAPITOL.
Ironsmith and Engineer, but Skilled in
Other ccupations-Noted
Politician.

A familiar figure about the United States
Capitol for nearly fifty years was William
A. Talliferro, one of the colored employees
of the Supreme Court, who died recently at
the age of sixty-seven years He was six
feet tall, weighed over two hundred
pounds, had snowy white hair, and, being
very light In color and having a distin-
gushed bearing, was often mistaken for a
person of note by strangers. 1t is said
that Talliferro had the best memory of any
man in the building and could recall al
most verbatim portions. of great speeches
made in the Senate and House of Represen-
tatves in the stirring times before the
great civil war. Justices of the Supreme
Court, senators, representatives and visit
ors used to delight in listening to him re-
late stories of the PASTOR he was an ex-
cellent talker.
Everybody around the Capitol was sorry
to learn of his death. During his illness
several of the Supreme Court justices FREE
quently inquired after his condition, either
through his fellow employees or by sending
special messengers to his home at 42l 4th
street southeast.
By trade he was ironsmith and an en-
gfneer. In 1876 he took charge of the heat
Ing OF the court room and had two engines
under his care. When, about eight or nine
years ago. electricity installed in this
portion of the building and his steam ap-
paratuS went out of use, it seemed as if
Talliferro would be left without a lob be-
ing succeeded by his son, who is an expert
electrician But the veteran had proved
himself too faithful to be discarded, and he
was continued on the roll the ma! in
charge of regulating the temperature. His
one duty was to hang around the court
room and watch the thermometer and the
barometer. Nobody, it is said, knew as
much about the heating of that room .le
did. 1t is considered one of the hard. in
the building to keep in proper condition.
but he had made a study of it for years
and knew what he was about
Enters Public Service
Talliferro came to Washington with his
parents a lad, ten years of age, from
Fredericksburg, Va, and before he was
twenty entered the employment of DR..
Blake then commissioner of public build
ings, who had an Office in the Capitol.
This was in President Buchanan's admins
tration, when things were beginning to
warm up for the civil war. The young
mans duties included the running of lit
tie pumping engine used in this portion OF
the building. Later he was employed in
the same office under Maj. B. B. French,
the noted commissioner of public buildings
of LinconS time. During this administra-
ton he had charge, in the capacity of Jan-
itor, of the old House Of Representatives,
now Statuary Hall.
After he was transferred to the engine
room of the Supreme Court, in 1876, he re-
manned on the court list without interrupt
ton until his death
He was always very popular with his
race. During Governor Shepherds time no
was elected twice to the territorial legisla<
ture from the 18th district in South Wash-
ington He was commonly called by mems
bers of the legislature the watchdog Of
the treasury on account of the way he
fought all appropriation measures that he
thought were unnecessary. 1t is stated on
pretty good authority that he locked horns
in debate with the governor himself on one
occasion, and did not get the worst of 1t,
either II is said he could speak in a pub,
lie gathering with great effect and seldom
failed to carry his point or sway his party
Although stanch republican, he had many
friends among the democratic members and
was universally popular.
Talliferro was in good health and robust
but a short time before he died. His death
was caused by blood poisoning, brought
about by the cutting of one of his toes.
The r ember was amputated. but this DID
not prevent the poison from carrying on its
deadly work in his system.