The sun., 1918-11-16
EX,MAYOR VAN WICK
DIES OF INFLUENZA
New York's First Head Under
Enlarged Charter Spends
Last Years in Paris.
HIS CAREER TEMPEsTUOUs
Once Tammany's Foe, Later
It's Idol-Physically Brave
and Defiant of Public.

PARIS, Nov. 15.-Robert A. Van wyck,
who was the first Mayor of New York
city under It's greater charter. died yes
terday in his Paris home, following an
attack OF infiuenge. He was IS years
old. Funeral services will be held on
saturday In the American Holy Trinity
Church.
n. A. Van Wyck was celebrated for
irascibility, physical bravery indiffer-
ence to public opinion and loyalty to
Tammany Hail.. He once plunged into
q river and saved two girls from drown
ing II was he who made the historic
remark that Big Bill Devery was "the
best Chief OF Police New York ever
had" His administration was marked
by a series OF explosive scandals. and
when later he ran for Supreme Court
Justice to vindlcate himself he was SO
badly beaten that the city of his ances-
tors ceased to charm him. and going to
Paris In 1905 he had lived there ever
since.
Van wyek was Mayor when Grocer
was In his heyday as boss. Both en-
deared themselves to the Tammany of
that day, and there are still Tammapy
men who insist that none Of the harsh
was justified he being a victim of Iin-
paralleled Misrepresentation and perse-
cution.
He was of the Van wycks who trace
their line through the Dutch colony and
back to Holland. He was born in the
home OF his lawyer father, William
Van Wyck, a one time President
If the Board of Aldermen, $50 Lex
ington avenue. Through his mother.
a Southern woman. he was distantly re-
lated 10 Senator Hoke Smith Of Georgia.
40 q boy he lived In the South a good
deal and studied In North Carolina and
Virginia. At 10 he entered the Column
bia law school, where he was grad
uated at the head Of his class. Then he
studied in Germany.
Once Was Foe OF Tammany.
Returning to New York he opened n
law once and Joined Tammany Hall.
But in 1880, when Hanc Dck ran for the
Presidency. and Tammany. led by John
Kelly, knitted him here and helped to ac-
complish his defeat, the young lawyer
rebelled, denounced Tammany and was
read out OF the organization. Joining the
County Democracy he ran for ONCE
twice and was defeated. Later he re-
turned to Tammany, which was glad to
get so positive and pedigreed a charac-
ter back. Peace being restored he was
elected Judge of the City Court. this
starting his career as holder OF public
office. In 1895, upon his reelection. his
associates of the City Court made him
Chief Justice. Two years later Croker
named him as the Democratic candidate
for Mayor, and In the election he de-
feated Seth Low and Gen. Benjamin r,
Tracy. In the campaign he made just
one speech, and 1t contained only 1877
words.
Most OF the vast amount Of patronage
provided under the new charter for the
enlarged city of New York went to
Tammany Hall. and the Mayor began
his term on January 1, 1898. as a pop
ular idol What followed was inevitable
considering the conception Of the pur-
pose Of public ONCE held by the Tam
many leaders OF that day and the pres
encs Of an acquiescent Mayor at City
Hall.
In Mayor Van Wyck's second year
the Mazet legislative committee came
10 New York to inquire into police con-
ditions and found material for a series
q sensational exposures.
The appointment of Devery as po-