The Washington herald., 1910-04-09
WALSH CAME EARLY
TO AMERICA AND ROSE
TO DISTINCTIVE POSITION

Thomas r. Walsh was born IN the
County of Tipperary. ireland, I'm 1851 His
parents were people of the soil, and he
was apprenticed TO a millwright when he
was fifteen years old, after he had OBJ
tanned a rudimentary education in the
public schools.
At the death OF his father. when he was
nineteen years old. the boy. listened TO
the call of the New World and migrated
to America landing ia New York a raw
Irish lad. with a few dollars in his pocket,
a wealth of courage. and the rest of his
assets IN a pack on his back.
When the news of the Colorado pay
streak filtered through the cities Of the
East, young Walsh joined the rush West
ward. and reached Leadville with just
enough money 20 buy an OUTFIT. The day
he took TO the hills 20 pan" for the yell
low dust was the turning point in his
life. and from then TO the day of his
death his career reads like a romance
Gold mining was a crude science in
those days. Walsh followed the methods
OF the thousands who were wandering
through the mountains for a time, pan
ming in creek bottoms and washouts with
varying luck. Unlike most Of the other
miners. he realized nature held the win
ming hand, unless the hunter after her
riches was equipped with knowledge His
first pay dirt went toward buying
books. and he made a systematic study
Of geology. mineralOgy, metailurgy, and
the deposition OF ore bodies
Invests First "Pannings."
In the spring Of 1870 he made his first
big strike in the pay streak and most
of the proceeds were invested in the only
hotel in Leadyille Walsh's popularity
through the mining district grew by leaps
and bounds after the opening OF the hos
tlery. Always ready 10 grub stake
needy but willing miner, he gained
reputation that made him known
throughout the West as a good friend
and a square partner. He entered a
dozen ventures, stalking miners whom he
knew to equipment for prospecting trips
and sharing half the profits when they
struck ore
In 1873 re married Miss Carrie B. Reed,
girl Of the West, who was his helpmate
in good times and bad Existence was
hard in Colorado in the '70's. even for
those who prospered. and Mrs. Walsh
was a courageous and cheerful partner
through It all. reaping her reward when
Walsh's thousands began to grow into
millions and his genius for mining de-
velOped as his purse expanded
He continued to study mining methods,
and gradually introduced new departures
in ore treatment that gave him a national
reputation as mining expert. He bought
and developed the camp Bird mines.
Ouray. Colo, using modern machinery
and methods. almost unknown in the
West
HonOred by Many Societies.
Honors began to flow in with the
millions. Within few years he was
elected to the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences, Washington Academy Of
Sciences, National Geographic Society,
American Association of Mining En-
gineers, and the National Irrigation AS
ISOLATION He was a prime mover in the
campaign for irrigation of arid lands of
the West, believing in her resources and
I
bringing every influence TO bear TO bring
about government recognition. He was a
president Of the National Irrigation Con-
gress.
In 1900 Mr.. Walsh was appointed a
commissioner to the Paris Exposition He
brought his family to Washington and
built the paIatiaI home at 2020 Massachu-
sets avenue, now occupied by them. A
year after the residence was built he re-
ceived one of the hardest blows of his
varied life. when his son, Vincent Walsh.
was killed in an automobile accident at
Newport. r. l., and his daughter seri-
ously hurt.
Mr.. Walsh was member of the fol-
lowing clubs: Denver Club, Denver. Colo. !;
El Paso Club. Colorado Springs. Colo. !;
Metropolitan Club, Washington; Metro
politan Club New York: Cosmos Club,
Washington, and the Washington Board
of Trade and Chamber Of Commerce.