The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-08-29

That very dignifed, 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 Wingfeld, gambler and "gun
man." who has been appointed sena-
tor from Nevada by Gov. Oddie to
fill out the unexpired term of the late
Senator Nixon. The other senator
from Nevada is F. G. Newlands, Of
Reno, who is a graduate of Yale.
Wingfeld is the leading gambler
of the West. He is the owner of the
Tonopah Club, where the biggest of
all the Nevada tigers has it's lair. The
tiger" attains it's largest growth in
Nevada just at present. Wingfield
is the pale, iron-nerved type of man
that once used to be common on the
Mississippi river steamboats, and in
the dealers chair of Western faro
banks, but which now is fast disap-
pearing. Though his reputation as
'tgun man" extends to the furthest
frontiers, he is said never to seek a
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 36
years old, and his fortune is esti-
mated at all the way from Sl2,OOO,-
900 to three times that amount.
1t is no especial wonder that
Wingfeld was appointed to succeed
Nixon. He and Nixon were partners
for years in various enterprises, and
each amassed much wealth. TO-
gether they practically controlled
the politics of Nevada. Up to not
long ago gambling was a recognized
and perfectly legal business or indus
try in Nevada. 1t was protected by
law. 1t no longer is legalized, but
it goes on just as of old. Out in
Nevada it is not considered anything
against man to gamble or even to
own a gambling house or to conduct
one.
Senator Wingfeld is interested in
mining also and in number of other
things that bring him in consider
able wealth. The Tonopah Club is
said to yield him an annual income
of some 100000. How much he de-
rives from his other enterprises is
not known. No one hazards guess
at the amount, and Wingfeld, one
of the most secretive of men, never
has given hint.
The rise of Geo. Wingfeld from
an impecunious cowboy gambler to
the senate of the United States is
remarkable in it's swiftness. There
are various versions as to how he
got his start The most widely ac-
cepted story and one which Wing
field never has denied, is that he
blew into Tonopah in 1901 with
$3.50, which he had borrowed from
Nixon, the man he succeeds in the
senate. In fact, from that day until
the time of Nixon's death, recently,
the careers of the two men ran
alongthe same channel. Wingfeld was
born, some say, in Arkansas, others
Oregon and still others New Mexico.
Until Senator Wingfled's official biog-
raphy is printed in the Blue Book
of Congress no one will be able to
say what State is entitled to the hon
or. AS youngster he became a COW
puncher and later landed at Col
conda, mining camp near Winnie
mucca, New. There he became ac-
uuainted with Nixon, who, until his
election as senator in 1904, was pres
ident of bank at Winnemucca, a
way station on the Southern Pacific.
Nixon was also the Estate agent"
for that railway. At Golconda and
at Winnemucca Wingfeld bet on the
cards in the faro banks consistently
and carefully, but with varying for
tunes, for then, as now and as al
ways, a square game is merely ira
dition. He did little COW punch
ing and little mining, but mostly he
was a gambling house hanger-on.
Poker, faro and keno had equal
charms for Wingfeld. Finally he
went fat broke and got the historic
$3.50 stake from Nixon. Wingfeld
had heard that the game at Tonopah
was "easy" and decided to go thither
and test it.
Wingfield found Tonopah 'easier"
than he expected. He had great
run of luck and pyramided and par
layed his winnings until they reached
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