The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-21
GUARDING THE PRESIDENT.

Extraordinary Precautions to Secure the
Safety of the Chief Magistrate.
Washington Post.
If any person should enter the White House
grounds from the south, and saunter ever SO
carelessly toward the rear door of the mansion,
he would be confronted. as if by the merest
chance, by two plainly dressed and quiet-appear-
ing men. Should the curious visitor persist in
moving closer to the unguarded door, the two
men would be more watchful and alert, and
would find himself quietly asked to leave. The
scene is one which be witnessed daily from
certain windows of the Navy Department which
overlook the house Indeed, the attention of a
Post reporter was called, yesterday, by Navy
Department official to two men sitting on q
bench in the grounds of the mansion. There
was nothing in their general appearance to
awaken special interest. Watch them for a
few moments" said the official.
The reporter complied with the request All
that could be seen in the grounds were two inof-
fensive-looking individuals lolling bench,
seemingly caring nothing for their surroundings,
and enjoying in calm Deacefulness the winter
sun which poured down it's mild rays upon them
through the leafess trees The soon
changed. 1t was evident that the the
settee had some other object in life than basking
in the sum- Several men entered the grounds.
pcious manner; but ali strangers in great city
might be arrested on suspicion. their aux
ious and searching eyes being the only
evidence against them. The listless men on the
settee assumed a watchful attitude. The new
comers approached the rear entrance of the
White House. The the settee arose.
The visitors came nearer and nearer to the man.
sion, and as they did the men whom the
porter had taken for two iders walked briskly
toward them and, upon reaching the rear portico
of ha md ted nj
The strangers proved to be strangers indeed,
their only purpose being to catch glimpse Of
the rear windows of the executive mansioo
The gentlemen of the settee slowly returned to
their place of rest, and again became almost in
animate
THAT looks strange to you, does it notgn said
the official, after the men had retaken their
seats "Well that same farce has been enacted
many times day for several weeks. We have
all watched those two men, and have come to
the conclusion that they are detectives appointed
for the purpose of apprehending cranks or
dynamiters who might attempt to effect an en-
trance to the White House through its rear and
unguarded entrance. L understand that one or
them is Collins, the old watchman about the
grounds and the other is exDetectiye Coomes
think the dynamite conspiracies have had some
effect upon the mind of the President or his sub
ordinates, and the actions of these two men are
in obedience to orders"
The reporter, after he left the Navy Depart
ment official, called on an officer or the govern
ment who has some connection in his official
capacity, with the public grounds in the city.
and requested information relative>to the duties
of the two men whose strange conduct he had
just witnessed
''Oh, they are nothing bat ordinary watch
men," he replied collins was all riddled with
bullets during the war; and is not very strong.
We thought it advisable to employ another
watchman to assist in handling drunkards and
other disreputable people who often wander into
the grounds"
'But you know" added the official, after
moments pause, san ounce of prevention is
worth pound of cure We do not know what
may happen. We have been told to trust to the
honor of the American people. We have~ done
so heretofore, and what has been the resulta
The deaths of Lincoln and Garfield by the hands
of assassins The Americans good people,
but there are cranks among them, and we must
prepare for the cranks. The rear entrance of
the White House has always been unguarded.
One watchman has patrolled the entire grounds
Under the present circumstances the life of the
President might be the aim of many demented
creatures, and it is therefore, considered wise
to throw all the safeguards around it possible.
If any cranks, drunkards or dynamiters get into
the White House they will have to run very
severe gauntlet"