Connecticut western news., 1883-01-24
NEWHALL HOUSE MEMORIES.
A FavOrite Resort for OId-Timers in Politics
 and Business.

FavOrite Resort for Old-Timers in Politics
 and Business.
 A letter from Milwaukee, says: The Newhall House was favorite with the old politicians, and the professional and business men of Wisconsin. It was their headquarters. A 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 fire-trap, and believed that some time or other it 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 Milwaukeeans, wishing to renew old ac- quaintances or talk over old times, would drop in evenings and find some kindred spirit. They were very solid and sub- stantial lot. They enjoyed their tobacco and the glass of companionship, and sometimes took hand in social game, in a building adjoining the hotel on the north. For many years there was 8 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 in getting in that way, 8 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 so arranged, that unless 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 fortune in the busi- 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 swam ashore. The off cer 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 morning, 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 Newhall House bar room and fell mortally wounded at the foot of the elevator shaft up which the flames mounted so f1riously on the morning of the fire. This event was called piece of "bad business" by a great many of the old timers, and after they got Wheeler we'll out of it they dropped him.
 Even the barber of the house was a politician of wide fame. He was 8 Democrat, named Goetz. His principal tonsorial rival, Dr. Fricke, was Repub- ican Warwick When the late Senator Carpenter had an important business on hand Barber Fricke was always at the fore. He was a very distinguished ap- bearing man. Once at Madison, when Senatorial contest was in progress, the late Gov. c. c. Washburn ventured to ask friend "who this Dr. Fricke" was, and was thrown into paroxysm of dis gust when informed that he was Mil waukee barber. Dr. Fricke 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, coolness grew up between him and Carpenter. Goetz was a Democrat. He kept him. self well posted on political matters at home and abroad, and condescended to shave only the old politicians who in- sisted on his serving them. He never got the itch for office, and, consequently, retained the good will of his political friends to the last There were 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. It was his ambition a one time to load vessel every day fol Buffalo. His transactions were enormous and would be regarded as such even a this day. He practically controlled th' market for many years, and became yer, wealthy. In 1855 he built the Newhal House, which was, at that time, tn finest hotel in the United States outsid
 of New York City. The building COS
 more money than he intended to pu
 into it, and 1t was finished in rather
 fimsy way. In 1874 Mr. Newhall, havin.
 by long series of reverses lost nearl,
 all his property, retired to his farm nea
 Waukesha, and has resided there eve
 since. He had several daughters, al
 noted for their beauty, and two sons
 On hearing of the destruction of tn
 hotel he came to the city and looke'
 upon the ruins long and earnestly. S
 rapidly do times and people chang that not one in hun dred who saw tn
 old man had the faintest idea that it wa
 he who had given his name to be couple