News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-02-08
NEWHALL HOUSE MEMORIES.



\ FnN0rite Resort fer OIti-Timerr i'll Politics
and Business.
\ letter from Milwaukee, says: The
Newhall House was a favorite with the
Old politicians, and the professional and
business men Of Wisconsin. It was their
headquarters. \ great many Of them
would almost as soon have gone to the
police station to stay, as to any other
hotel. They knew it was fre-trap and
believed that some time OF otherit would
go up in fire and smoke; but they
stopped there Just the same. They
could be seen any evening sitting or
walking in its spacious corridors. Old
ALilwaukeeans, wishing to renew old ac-
qUaintances or talk over Old times, would
drop in evenings and find some kindred
spirit. They were n very solid and sub
stantial lot. They enjoyed their tobacco
and the glass OF companionship, and
sometimes took a hand Ill a social game,
in a building adjoining the hotel on the
north. For many years there was a
gambling house in the second story of
this neighboring building. Its patrons
were among the wealthiest and most
prominent of the older men Of the COM
munity. Governors, Senators, Congress-
men, Mayors, Superintendents of Police,
and visiting notables of every degree
have known this pleasure or sorrow.
There was an entrance from the street.
but, as there was always more or less
trouble III getting i'll that way, a door
was cut through the north wall of the
Newhall, and through this the old boys
came and went undiscovered and Unsus-
pected by most people. This door was
50 arranged, that unless a person knew
it was there. he would never find it.
One Of the frequenters Of this gam
bling house, and the proprietor at one
time, was Russell Wheeler. He was a
professional sporting man Of the Old
school, He made a fortune in the bust
ness. Once, many years ago, having
been arrested for some Offense committed
in New York, his old home, he was being
taken to Buffalo by steamer in custody.
Watching his opportunity he jumped
overheard in Lake Erie some fifteen miles
from land, and SWAN ashore. The Off
Ger supposed he was drowned, and never
came after him again. Many other illus
trations of Wheeler's strength and nerve
are given by his friends. Socially an
outlaw, almost, he was at times the asso-
ciate Of the most prominent men Of the
State. Thus it happened that when one
a few years ago, he crowned
his long life with the murder of Iheo-
dore Henderer, these rich and influential
men came to his assistance and by the
lavish use of money secured his acquittal.
Henderer was shot in the NewhaII House
bar room end fell mortaIly wounded ut
the foot of the elevator shaft up which
the flames mounted so fmio1lsly on the
of the fire This event was
called a piece of "had business" by a
great many OF the old timers, and after
thew gyt wheeler WI cat CI II GIyN
dropped him.
Even the barber of the house was q
politician of Statewide fame. He was
Democrat. named Goetz. His principal
tousoYiaI rival, DR.. Flickc, was Il RepJb-
Iicn Warwick. When the late Senator
Carpenter had an important business on
hand Barber Fricke was always at the
fore He was very distinguished ap
pearing man. Once at Madison, when
a Senatorial contest was in progress, the
late Gov. c. G. Washburn ventUred to
ask a friend "whO this Dr. Fricke" was,
and was thrown into paroXysm of dis
gust when informed that he was a Mil
waukec barber Dr. Friclle was content
ed for many years to be the associate
and servant Of great men, but when, one
day, he developed an ambition for Office,
and became too persistent, Il GOODNESS
grew up between him and Carpenter.
Goetz was a Democrat. He kept him
self well posted on political matters at
home aud abroad, and condescended to
shave only the old politicians who in
sisted on his serving them. He never
cot the itch for office, and, consequently,
retained the good will of his political
friends to the last. There We're other
odd characters about the house, who
had been there for a generation, and
whose faces were very familiar to the
public, and many of whom perished in
the flames.
Daniel Newhall, the builder of the
hotel, was IN early days the most prOmi-
nent business man in the Northwest.
He dealt largely in wheat and owned
many vessels. 1t was his ambition at
one time to load Il vessel every day for
Buffalo His transactions were enormous,
and would be regarded as such even at
this day. He practically controlled the
market for many years, and became very
wealthy. In 1870 he built the NeWhaIl
House, which was, at that time, the
finest hotel i'll the United States outside
of New York City. The building cost
more money than he intended to put
into it, and it was finished i'll rather
fimsy way In 1874 Mr.. Newhall, having
by a long series of reverses lost nearly
all his property, retired to his farm near
Waukesha, and has resided there ever
since. He had several daughters, all
noted for their beauty, and two sons.
On hearing of the destruction of the
hotel he came to the city and looked
upon the ruins long and earnestly. SO
rapidly do times and people change
that not one in hundred who saw the
old man had the faintest idea that it was
he who had given his name to he coupled
forever with one of the most terrible
catastrophies of the century.
When Senator David Davis
---- -. II. - ,-Iiniul l.n1nnh IN LllInnis hn