The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-26
Benedict Amold's Home,

The last inhabitant of the old Benedict
Arnold mansion on Water street in New
Haven. Connecticut, which has sheltered
various sorts and conditions of men since
its erection in the middle part OF the last
century. has taken leave.
Ten years ago the house was fairly well
preserved. and was leased TO families who
took pride in keeping il in good repair;
but recently it has gone rapidly 10 decay.
and only Italians and Poles have made q
dwelling place OF the spacious oak-pan-
eled rooms. which were the chief delight
OF the thrifty New Haven druggist and
his beautiful bride. For the last three
years there has been no effort 10 stem the
decay on the part of New Haven pc lie.
for the memory of Arnold IS naturally no
source Of local pride. Nevertheless. II
has always been one of the chief show
places OF the town, not only because II
was the house which Arnold built. and in
which he lived during the happiest and
most prosperous years Of his life, but be-
cause the building itself was worthy of
admiration as one of the finest specimens
of colonial architecture in these parts. At
is now a total ruin; and the four walls
that alone remain will probably soon be
demolished.
There are great many stories and ira
ditions in reference to the old Benedict
Arnold house which recent Investigations
tend TO explode. The most celebrated
feature of the mansion has always been
the so-called secret passa &c leading from
the cellar 10 the waters edge. This pas
sage has long been supposed TO have stood
Arnold in good stead in the vigorous
West Indian trade which he carried on as
side issue 70 his drug store. His name
has come down in the annals of the New
Haven custom house as one OF the most
arrant smugglers of colonial times It is
not until recently that any one has taken
the pains 10 try TO locate this so-called
secret passage, and up To the present time
it has not been found. There are. indeed.
two large cavities in the cellar that lead
several feet under ground, but If they
ever extended 10 the waters edge. they
have been so blocked up that their origin
a. purpose IS not evident now. II IS gen.
orally believed by those who have under
taken the examination that these cavities
which have always passed as the entrance
10 a secret passage, were nothing more
than wine cellars
1t is only within a few weeks. however.
that another discovery has been made
which tends to substantiate the reputation
which Arnold had borne so long. Between
the ceiling of the third and fourth stories
and it is more likely than not that Ar
mold made use Of this place TO store his
goods safe from the peering eyes of the
custom house officials. That he was
smuggler may be safely assumed. when IL
is considered that the avoidance Of duty
charges in the years preceding the Revo-
lutionary was was regarded as proper and
indispensable TO a successful mercantile
career.
There are many traditions of Benedict
Arnoids life in New Haven and Of the
estimation in which he was held by the
New Haven people of that day. He came
to this city in 1852, young man Of 81 al
ready on the road to business success and
already marked by his dashing person
ality as a coming man. He Immediately
found his way into the best New Haven
society. and was, a contemporary informs
us, "a general favorite with the ladies,
fond of their society, and floating in the
gayest circles of the day" II could not,
indeed, well be otherwise. for Arnold
possessed all those attributes of person
and character that appeal to women. He
was one OF the handSomest men in the
colony and his soul was full of fire. The
future traitor, indeed, was always for
tunate in these relations; for his mother
and his sister and his wives have come
down in history with the reputation Of
saints.
His first wife was New Haven girl.
Miss Margaret Mansfield, daughter Of the
high sheriff of New Haven county. The
legends of New Haven are full of stories
of her beauty and sweetness Of temper.
She was married to Arnold February p,
1867, and was the first mistress OF the old
house. His three sons were born IN this
mansion-Benedict, February H. 11ss:
Richard. August Q. 1859; Henry, Septem-
Der II, 1772. 1t was in this house, too, that
Arnold-s young wife died after a short
married life of eight years, while her hus-
band was fighting the battles Of his eoun-
try and when his fame as one of the
most energetic friends of the new govern
ment was untarnished. she was only 30
az the time Of her death. and lies buried
in the old Grove Street cemetery, where
a stone with this inscription marks the
grave: Sacred to the memory Of Mar
garet Arnold, the first wife of Benedict
Arnold"
These early years of Arnold's married
life in New Haven were the happpiest Of
his varied and stormy career. He had, in
deed, everything that a man could wish
for. He was rapidly accommodating a for
tune. having supplemented his drug bust
ness by engaging in general trade and eK-
change. The records of the New Haven
custom house are full of references TO
Arnold and his mercantile dealings with
the West Indies, TO which he regularly
shipped horses. mules beef and cattle.
He also had business relations in Quebec,
where he bought horses. 1t is probably
owing to this activity that the traducers
of Benedict Arnold have had occasions 70
refer 20 his New Haven business career as
that of horse Jockey; but that his occu-
patton was more dignifed than this Is
shown by the fact that all his cargoes
were shipped in his own vessels.
When the war came he was one Of the
first to Join the colonists. After being
wounded at Saratoga he returned 70 his
home in New Haven. where he was given
an ovation.
Arnold. however, was not happy man
during his last stay in his New Haven
house He was smarting under the neg
lect Of congress. and there are reasons for
believing that ne was already plotting
that treason which has branded his name
with the greatest infamy. In May ~ that
same year he left New Haven and re-
ported 70 General Washington at Valley
Forge. He never again set foot in the
house which had such dear associations
for him After he had passed over 20 the
enemy. and his name became an object %
general execratiou. the New Haven
house. together with his other property,
was. according 10 the statement Of Jers-
miah Miller. conhscated by the govern
ment A. that time It's value was estinat-
Cd al 2 40 pounds. TIE house come into
possession Of the Hunt estate and passed
through several hands before u was pur-
chased By It's present owner. who has re-
Gently converted Il into lumber shed
s kansse Bobby Burns.
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