The herald., 1895-03-03
BITS OF HOTEL HISTORY

| Ill - M NV ONH
A famous stopping place in Sacrament,
in the fifties and early sixties, was tn
Magnolia, on street below Second. L
was conducted by Badly" Johnson, ant
was especially popular as a resort for poll
ticians of high and low degree. In hi
geat contest for the United States sena
torship in 1856, David G. Broderick had
his headquarters in this hotel, and from
it carried on that gigantic struggle which
resulted in the defeat of Milton S. Latham
and Senator Weller, the humbling of DR..
William NJ Gwin, and the exaltation of
himself to that high position for the long
term. During this contest Mr.. Latham,
then collector for the port of San Francis
co, had his headquarters in the Fashion,
a popular house on j street, above Second,
while the Gwin headquarters were at the
Orleans, on Second street, between ] and
X. Senator Weller, who was defeated in
the contest with Broderick for the long
term, had his headquarters at the Orleans,
but abandoned them after his defeat, his
place being taken by the Gwin forces.
These hotels, as will be recolected by all
who are acquainted with the map of Sac
rendezvous of each of the chief person.
ages in the struggle could be readily OBJ
served by anyone who was disposed to
watch the movements of the friends and
workers of the three. Nevertheless there
was a meeting between two OF the chiefs
which passed unn ticed to all, though it
led to most important results, and that
in the rooms OF the former on the night
of Sunday, January II, 1856 the night
preceding the caucus which selected the
latter as Broderick's associate in the SEN
ate. During the afternoon there came
lull in the camp OF Latham at the Fash
Broderick at the Magnolia, an inauspi-
cious sign for DR.. Gwin. The latter had
few visitors, and at an unusual hour-11
p.m.-he signified his purpose of retiring;
and ''his dark room gave token that he
was no longer visible that night" But
DR.. .Gwin did not retire; sleep came not
to him that night. Nor did anyone.
know where he had gone. He had eluded
the keenest of those sent to watch him,
and devoted friends had adopted measures
whereby those who watched were diverted
to look in directions other than that in
which the bird had flown" There was
courtyard to the Orleans Hotel, the rear
of which opened on a narrow alley which
ran to ] street, and thence to the rear of
the long arm of the l. to the Magnolia.
DIR. OWNS apartments at the Orleans
were in one of the long extensions on the
parior floor, and there was rear stairway
which led into the court. In the Mag
nolia, Broderick occupied room at the
angle of two halls, near the head of the
staircase, which extended to the lower
floor hall which opened on the alley. In
passing from the Orleans court to this
rear entrance OF the Magnolia it was nee
essary to cross J street, but that street
was devoid of public houses, and few
so1 olA NJ hat H., 1k I, 49,
Through the alley no one passed except
those required to do so in the way of
business. 1t was only an alleyway
for the marketmen who supplied the
hotels; and for the servants, ashmen,
scavengers, ETC., connected with the
hostelries. 1t was without sidewalks;
string of planks alone kept the foot
passers out of the dirt and mud which at
that time lined it. Just about midnight
when Sunday was passing into the fresh
following week of toiling days, through
the upper hall of the Orleans softly
stepped two men, the one much larger in
figure and greater stature than the other,
night itself. They hurried down the rear
stairway, through the courtyard, into and
along that alley, across street, struck
at once into the continution of that alley,
and to the two or three steps before the
door at the rear hall OF the Magnolia. A
light rap on the door was given. Up to
this time not mortal had observed the
two. The door bolt was instantly drawn,
the door carefully opened part of the way,
and Colonel A. J. Butler. stood ready to
show the pair the way, through the hall
to the stairway, which they assembled,
while he remained at the foot. In a
few steps room No. 6 (Broderick's)
brought the occupant to open it, A bright
hight gave ready opportunity to observe
the furniture of the room. 1t contained
only the bed, two chairs and small
table, besides the toilet arrangements.
He was tall man of strong mold, plainly
dressed in full suit of black cloth, who
stood at the door inside, and evidently
prompt and courteous saliutation was
GOOD night, gentlemen; walk in. DR..
Gwin, l am glad to see you; be seated
Dr.. Gwin took the proffered hand of his
host, suitably responded to his salutation,
seated himself, and the friend who accom-
panied him rested upon the side OF the
bed, as Mr.. Broderick had taken the other
chair to his own use. After brief con-
versation the friend withdrew, and DIR.
Gwin and Mr.. Broderick were left in the
room together. Before leaving the house,
the companion had a conversation with
Colonel Butler in the lower hall, in tones
that no eavesdropper, had there been
overheard, and then withdrew, taking
care to see that none watched his way.
The work of the night was done. There
was little more to do in the
working sense" Monday morning
came, but there was absolute quiet in the
camps of DR.. Gwin and Mr.. Broderick.
Neither party to the Sunday night meet
ing in the room of the latter betrayed by
word or deed, sign of the fact that some
thing unusual and vital to both had oc-
Cured. The night came on. The caucus
met at the appointed hour The first bal
lot Of the evening showed no choice;
neither did the second, but on the third
fourteenth in the entire series-it was
found that DR.. Gwin had won the much
coveted, bitterly contested prize. Judge
Fields vote, together with the larger
part of McCorkle's - mainly Frederick
men-had gone over to Gwin. The meet
ing in the Magnolia had wrought its pur-
pose, and the scene practically closed on
one OF the greatest political battles ever
fought n the State of California. Brod-
erick was Senator for the long term; Gwin
for the short one. But there are few alive
today who remember the bitterness OF
that contest, or the fame of those hotels
around which for few days the interest
in the struggle conferred. They are each
things OF the past. Frederick and Gwin
are dead.
George Ill was passionately fond OF
music, and during his madness could al
ways be Gained by the sound OF an Orgsn II.