Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-06-25
GOV. WALTERS CANE AND HAT
The Connecticut Mans Experience with
Hotel Thieves,

The Connecticut Mans Experience with
Hotel Thieves
Ex-Gov. Thomas NJ Waller, Of Con-
necticut, one Of the men selected to go
to Europe in the interest of the Worlds
Fair, had an experience at the Palmer
House, Chicago, with a hotel thief
who will not soon forge5 the Eastern
lawyer.
Mr. Waller is the owner of an Afri-
can wood gold-headed cane which his
political admirers presented to him at
the expiration of his term In the Exec
utive mansion of the State of Connect
icut. The monetary value of the stick
is about 800, but the Ex-Governor
would not part with it for any amount
on account of the pleasant memories it
recalls and because he values the
friendship of the giyers.
Mr.. Waller was stopping at the
Grand Pacific, but when calling upon
one Of the Fair Commissioners he Wis
tied the public washroom in the
Palmer to remove some Of the Chicago
SCOT from his face and hands.
On three sides of the Mushroom are
large mirrors, and when o guest is en-
gagged in washing himself he can gen
orally keep sharp lookout on any of
his belongings he may have left on the
opposite side of the room. When Mr..
Waller entered the room he removed
his silk hat and carelessly placed it
with his valuable cane on long mar
bletop table.
A well-dressed man observed the
careless way in which Mr.. Waller de-
posted his cane on the table and when
he saw the lawyer with his back turned
toward his property he concluded it
would be the easiest thing in the world
to make off with the cane. So he
picked up the cane and was about to
leave the room, when the Ex-Governor,
who had observed everything, made a
dive for the thief. Mr.. Walters face
and hands were covered with soapsuds,
but that did not deter him from going
after his property.
The fellow started to run. He ran
out into the corridor and attempted to
| escape into the crowd there. But Col.
| Dugeine, the mining engineer, hap
| pened to be sitting in one of Potter
Palmer's easy chairs in the rotunda
| and as his legs were stretched out at
| their full length the thief became
tangled Up in them when he attempted
| to rush past the Colonel He fell
sprawling on the floor and the ex-Gov-
ernor Immediately laid violent hands
| upon him.
"You scoundrel, you attempted to
steal my cane, didn't you?" exclaimed
| the man from Connecticut as he grasp
ed the thief by the throat.
The fellow attempted to release him
self, but as the Ex-Governor is some
what of an athlete and is yet man in
his prime, the mans struggles did not
avail him anything. Mr.. Waller, after
giving the thief q good choking, pulled
| him to his feet and gave him q severe
shaking.
The special police officer at the hotel
| put in an appearance when crowd
gathered to see what was going on, but
Mr.. Waller did not want the man ar
| rested.
Il believe have taught the fellow a
lesson" said the Ex-Governor as he
looked at the thief's mussedup condi-
| ton. He had not only choked and
| shaken him but had hit his head seve-
raj times against the cement flooring
of the rotunda.
During all this time the ex-Gover-
nor had kept his weather eye upon his
much-prized cane and he carried 1t
triumphantly back to the Mushroom.
But here disaster awaited him. An
other hotel thief had not missed good
opportunity to become the possessor OF
a good hat. Mr. Walters shining silk
headgear was missing when he insti-
tuted search for it. But the visitor
says he has no regrets SO long as he is
still in possession of his cane.