New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-09
THOMAS F. WALSH DEAD
millionaire Mine Owner Expires
at Washington Home.


the result Of an injury received years ago
when Mr.. Walsh was "A miner i'm the West.
Although he had been IN for the last three
months. the end came suddenly and peace
fully. He died in his Massachusetts avenue
nome. where he returned several weeks
ago, after trip through the South in
search Of health. With him when the end
came were his wife. daughter and son-tn-
law, Edward Y. Mclean, and three physi-
clans
The burial viii be i'm Rock Greek Gene
terry, in this city, by the side IF his only
son. who lost his life I'm automobile
accident near Newport several years ago.
At his own request the funeral ceremonies
will be simple. They will be conducted by
the Masonic order and vii! be held on
Sunday afternoon.
Thomas +. Walsh began life as an i'm
migrant carpenter. He became one of the
richest mine owners in America business
partner of King Leopold of Belgium and a
conspicuous figure I'm the life Of Wash
ington and Newport In Tipperary County.
ireland, where ne was born I'm 1851. he re-
ceived a common school education and
lived the uneventful life Of a peasant till
lie was nineteen. Then he came to Amer
lea, his only asset his millwright's trade,
and his eventfUl career began.
The young immigrant for a time piled his
trade in Massachusetts, then through the
influence, Of a brother. who had been a
Union soldier. he went West and settled
in Colorado. His natural business ability
now asserted itself and the young car
penter became contractor. He built a
large hotel i'm Leadville Col and several
houses i'm the Black Hills region. Soon he
had a good sized fortune established. He
started a big hotel in Denver, but before
1t was finished was lured away to South
Dakota. For a time during the great Lead
Vile rush he personally ran the Grand
Hotel in that town. There are many
stories of his generosity to his old COM
panions who I'm those days landed in the
Leadville camp without a cent At Ouray,
Col, where he also kept hotel after leav-
ing Leadville. he gave a big reception twice
every summer and entertained hundreds OF
the Oldtimers from every camp in the San
Juan district.
But all the while the future mine owner
had an eye to the main chance of that new
country. He took up the study Of geology,
mineralogy and metallurgy from a practf-
cal standpoint. He seemed to have an in
nate genius for mine prospecting which he
raised 10 a high degree Of experiences by
close study. This ability he turned to such
effective use in acquiring rich claims at
low rates that by 1857 he announced his in
tention Of retiring.
Then an unfortunate investment wiped
out his fortune and he was obliged 10 be-
gin over again. He mined in Aspen. Grip
pie Creek and Kokomo. Every cent he
made he reinvested. put it back into the
II
him TO handle the Camp Bird mine when he
discovered it at OUray in the San Juan
Basin. The history of this mine is one Of
romance from the time of its discovery
Mr.. Walsh is said to have refused an offer
of $55,000.C0o for its sole ownership. He sold
a large interest in the property 10 an Eng
lish syndicate for $l4O00OoO. but at the time
of his death held a share believed 10 WELD
100000 annually. Mr.. Walsh's development
Of the Camp Bird property followed from
q theory OF his that the best ore bodies
were TO be found at high attitudes. where
the volcanic disturbances which bring min
eTal deposits To the surface have been
greatest. Mining men in the Ouray district
laughed at him when he announced his be-
lief that valuable ores existed In the Carup
Bird region. Experts examined the pros
poets and unanimously agreed that they
were worthless. The difficulties were con-
sidered practically insurmountable Men
were unwilling TO work at an altitude Of
l200o feet. Avalanches threatened con-
stantly to Overwhelm the property. But
Thomas F. Walsh enjoyed overcoming diff
iicuties. This one he mastered In three
years Camp Bird mine produced S3.c0OO0O
in gold. In its development, too Mr. Walsh
did great service TO the mining world by
the introduction of new methods OF ore
treatment.
II was while i'm Paris a the exposition OF
1900 that Mr. Walsh first came in contact
with his royal partner. King Leopold The
monarch then asked the American to I'M
dertake the development of his gold prop
critics in the Congo Free State. Mr.. Walsh.
however, preferred his own territory
Later. however. he did hear from the
King. for the pair eventually became in
terested In several mining ventures to-
eether in Colorado and other American
mining regious.
In 1879 he married Carrie b. Read. of
Leadville, who has contributed so greatly
to her husbands social success. II was in
1900 that the Washes made their real debut
in society. President Mckinley appointed
him a commissioner To the Paris EXPOSE
ton. He occupied extensive apartments
In the Elysee Palace Hotel. There
throughout the summer, he received trav-
cling Americans and many foreigners Of
distinction. They had moved TO Washing
ton in 1897 on account of the health of
Mrs Walsh, which demanded less rigor-
Gus climate. In 1876 they leased a cottage
at Newport for the first time
During. that season. by the way, Mr.
Walsh had two cottages on his hands The
first he had leased through an agent and
found IL not large enough for the social
campaign Mrs. Walsh had planned. He
thereupon sub-leased Beaulieu from Cor
nelius Vanderbilt.
But this social success was due not mere
Iy to Mr.. Walsh's tact and graCiousness
IL must he credited equally To Mr.. WaIsh's
native kindliness and courtesy. He was al
ways most uupretentious in manner and
his personal habits retained To the last the
simplicity Of the mining camp. While the
apartments of his wife and children i'm the
Massachusetts, venue house in Washington
are equipped with the richest hangings, his
own rooms are extremely plain.
Mr. Walsh's greatest sorrow was the
death Of his only son. NinsOn. IN an auto
mobile accident at Newport in 1875. HIS only
daughter. Evalyn. was severely injured at
the same time. hut eventually fully reCOv-
cred She Is married to Edward Mclean.
a son of John X. Mclean.
In 1915 Mr.. Walsh aspired To political
honors as sie mine owners candidate for