Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-07-26
ONCE FAMOUS GAMBLER.
George Winsfeld, Nevada's New Sen
ator, Has Had a Remarkable Career

That very dignified, somewhat
sleepy and altogether respectable
body, the senate Of the United States
has a new member who will add much
to it's picturesqueness. He is George
Wingfield, gambler and gun man,
who has been appointed senator from
Nevada by Governor Oddie to fill out
the unexpired term of the late senator
Nixon. The other senator from Neva-
da is F. G. Newlands, Of Reno, who
is a graduate of Yale.
Wingfield is the leading gambler of
the west. He is the oner Of the To-
nopah Club. where the biggest Of all
the Nevada tigers has its lair. The
tiger attains its largest growth In
Nevada just at present. Wingfeld is
the pale iron-nerved type Of man that
once used to be common on the Missis-
sippi river steamboats, and in the
dealers chair of western faro banks.
but which now is fast disappearing.
Though his reputation as gun man"
extends to the furthest frontiers, he is
said never to seek quarrel. When
one is thrust upon him, however,
none ever has been quicker on the
trigger than he. With the legal
weapons used in the games Of high
finance he is reputed to be equally
swift and sure. He is SO years old,
and his fortune is estimated at all the
way from s12,000,000 to three times
| that amount.
1t is no especial wonder that Wing
field was appointed to succeed Nixon.
He and Nixon were partners for years
in various enterprises, and each
amassed much wealth. Together
they practically controlled the politics
of Nevada. UP to not long ago gam
bling was recognized and perfectly
legal business or industry in Nevada.
1t was protected by law. 1t no longer
| is legaliZed, but 1t goes on just as of
old. Out in Nevada it is not consider
ed anything against a man to gamble
| or even to own a gambling house or
| to conduct one.
Senator Wingfield is interested in
| mining also and in number of other
things that bring him in considerable
| wealth. The Tonopah Club is said to
yield him an annual income of some
| 100000. How much he derives from
his other enterprises Is not known.
No one hazards a guess at the amount,
| and Wingfield, one Of the most secre-
| tive of men, never has given a hint.
The rise of George Wingfield from
an impecunious cowboy gambler to
the senate Of the United States is
remarkable in its swiftness. There
are various versions as to how lie
got his start. The most widely
| accepted story and one which, Wing
field never has denied, is that he blew
| into Tonopah in 1901 with $50, which
he had borrowed from Nixon, the man
he succeeds in the senate. In fact,
from that day until the time Of Nix
| on's death, recently, the careers Of the
two men ran along the same channel.
Wingfield was born, some say, in Ar
kansas, others Oregon and still 9TH
ers New Mexico. Until Senator Wing
fields official biography is printed in
the Blue Book of Congress no one will
be able to say what state is entitled to
the honor. AS a youngster he be-
came cow puncher and later landed
at Golconda, mining camp near Win
nemucca, New There he became ac-
quainted with Nixon, who, until his
election as senator in 1904, was pres
ident of a bank at Winnemucca. a
way station on the Southern Pacific.
Nixon was also the state agent" for
that railway. At Golconda and at
Winnemucca Wingfield bet on the
cards in the faro banks consistently
and carefully but with varying for
tunes, for then, as now and as always,
a square game is merely a tradition.