New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-03-14
Guarding MIR. Lincoln.

LA-DeleCUlVe Q6O. Wy. McEilreSn,
who is now employed at the city post
Office, acted for a time as a special
body guard to President Lincoln.
During the latter part of Lincoln's
first term" said Mr.. McElfresh, when
a Star reporter asked him for some
recollections Of his service at the White
House, 81 was detailed at the Execu-
tive Mansion, where Sergeant Cronin,
A. T. Dom, Thos. Pendle, A. G. Smith
and VIM. IL. Crook. who is now clerk
at the Executive Mansion, had been
detailed some time before at the re-
quest of Ward III. Lamon, United
States marshal then for the District
of Columbia. Marshal Lamon had
some cause to fear for the safety OF
President Lincoln, and upon his ap-
plication and understanding with the
President this detail was made from
the Metropolitan police. was placed
on duty at night inside ofthe mansion
in the hall up stairs in front Of the
bed chambers, with orders that if
the president went out was to 60
with him. If he did not need me the
understanding was that he would tell
me. During my official time up there,
nearly year, he never told me that
he did not require my attendance. |
don think that during all that time
there were q dozen nights that he did
not 60 over to the old Wardepartment
about or 10 o'clock to receive and
send disdatches, and my orders were
to always walk alongside OF him on
the right hand side going and on the
LETT coming back, SO that [ would be
next to the old trees that used to
stand in the old war department lot,
and always with my pistol ready for
any emergency. On many OF those oc-
casions he would talk to me as if |
were member of the family, always
good and kind, as he was to every at
tache OF the house. One night when I
was on duty upstairs, Mis-. Lincoln
came to me and asked me if 1 was
alone. When told her yes, she ask
ed me who was in charge and [ told
her Sergeant Cronin. She told me to
tell him that she wanted to see him
the next day, which did. He saw her,
and she told him to send another man
up there as it was hard on
one man. Sergt. Cronin asked me
who | would like and told him
would like Private Theodore Hurdle,
and hehad Hurdle detailed with me.
Hurdle Is now living and working at
his trade Of timer. One night when
the President received dispatch OF
An important Union victory-I think
Vicksburg-he came out OF his bed
chamber and said to me: well, let
US go over and tell Secretary Seward
the good news We went over TO Mr..
Stewards house on Lafayette Square;
he went in and ! waited until he came
out, and we returned to the Executive
Mansion. Little Tad Lincoln was
fond of me and was always IN my
company nights until he went to bed.
On several occasions when we return
ed from the War Department little
Tad would be in the ante.room.
When the President came in he would
say, why Tad, why aren't you in bed?'
and lads answer would be, Papa, |
have been waiting for you Then the
President would stoop down, and take
Tad on his back, and carry him up
stairs.
Only orders WERE" said Mr.. Noel.
fresh, "that when the President went
to the theater should get there as
soon as possible, take a seat
at the box door, and let no
one enter without first sending in
his name or card, and often stopped
people that knew to be particular
friends OF the family until [ had an
nounced them. On most of these oc-
casions little Tad was with me; as he
used to walk down with me intead of
riding in the carriage. l used to ex-
plain to him things that he saw on
the streets and in the stores. and gen
orally had candies. so he liked to 90
with me. Becoming tired OF night
duty, [ asked to be relieved, and [
was relieved about q month before
the assassination. II the officer that
took my place carried out the orders
given me | don't think Booth could
have gotten into tie Presidents box.
feel, without any Dragging, that if I
mad continued on duty there Booth
would never have gotten into that
box-anyhow, not without struggle
and maybe Lincoln might have been
living yet. | have often regretted that
l asked to be relieved. Sergeant
Cronln, Dom and Smith have all died
since. Col. Crook and Pendle are still
employees at the Executive Mansion,
and Col. Lamon, Crook and Pendle
can vouch for the truthfulness of what
L say. | afterward served nearly
three years at the Executive Mansion,
detailed from the police department.
under President Grant, and was on
duty at the main door. While there
was promoted to be detective on
the metropolitan police OF the Dis
trlct, and served in that capacity un-
til legislated out OF office by the act of
Congress OF January 81, 1888"
A Pretty Stiff Story.
q There is a. rrOh1ano II, +bio +oun 81.