Charles Wiesenhavern
Contents
Background
Charles (Carl) Wiesenhavern was born in Germany,and was known for being genial. He ran the Prince Albert Hotel in Ballarat East with Johan Brandt.
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Wiesenhavern was a witness examined during the report of the Board appointed to enquire into circumstances connected with the riot at Ballarat, and the burning of James Bentley's Eureka Hotel. [1]
Post 1854 Experiences
After the Eureka Stockade Charles Wiesenhavern moved to the Magpie district and ran a hotel called the Southern Cross. Otto Weisenhavern, the brother of Carl was the host. According to Raffaello Carboni many Eureka Stockade insurgents sought refuge at Magpie.
- A MISCONCEPTION.
- (To the Editor of the Star.)
- Sir,—Mr John Ahrens, in this morning's issue of your contemporary, complains that the Star, in reporting the torchlight serenede of his Excellency, placed the Germans in juxta-position with the Chinese. I do not desire, for my own credit's sake, that such a misrepresentation should pass unchallenged, and beg to remind him that the expression used was, "The Germans and Scandinavians were not to be outdone by Chinese."
- Of course they were not to be so rivalled.
- The thousands of Germans and Scandinavians who are in the van of civilization in Australia, are not likely to be surpassed in their loyalty to the Government of their adoption by Chinese, and their torchlight procession, and subsequent serenade, was a compliment to be proudly received by the chief ruler in the colony. What, then, can Mr Ahrens complain of ?
- The two classes of our citizens were compared in the paragraph referred to, not in respect of their nationality so much as in the singularity of the spectacle each represented. Both were strange and startling novelties, to a British public—the Chinese gongs, rude music, and crackers, and the weird appearance of the torches of the serenaders.
- I would advise Mr Ahrens to re-read the report, and I am sure when he fairly understands it, the compliment which is therein paid to his countrymen, will no longer excite his ire even unto " writing to the paper."
- I remain, Sir,
- Yours obediently.
- YOUR REPORTER.
- Since the above was written, the follow-ing communication has been sent in :—
- (To the Editor of the Star.) Sir,—We are requested by the Committee of the German and Scandinavian Societies to state that the opinions expressed by Mr John Ahrens in yesterday's Times are strictly private, and not those of the above-mentioned committees.
- Your most obedt. servants,
- CHARLES WIESENHAVERN,
- President of the Liederkranz..
- L.E. Brunn,
- President of the Scandinavian Society. Ballarat, 22nd January, 1858.[2]
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J., Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
External links
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Caption, Reference.
