The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-26
HE GUARDS THE PRESIDENT.
The Man Who Stands Between the
Executive and Weapons of Cranks.

VI the thousands who weekly visit the
executive mansion. not one fails to ask
who the tall. heavily built man is stand
ing either by the Presidents side or hover
ing near him, and few forget, when once
told, hes Capt Densmore." II is a Mas
sachusetts citizen that has In his keeping
the safety Of President Harrison and Of the
white house family.
L. s Densmore, the Captain. as he is
often called. is an important parsonage in
the white house economy. The charge COM
United TO him is no light one. The life Of
the President of the United States, while
not as thorny as that Of the Russian car,
wouldn't be worth a row OF frost-bitten
peach trees IL one or two OF the people who
think they have grudges against him could
get within range OF the President. Hardly
a week passeS but threatening letters are
received from cranks and persons who
breathe out intimidations and promise swift
vengeance These are at cnce made
Capt. Densmore's property. If the crank is
from Washington, he generally knows him !;
II not, he soon makes himself acquainted
with the needed information. Densmore
seems to know cranks by instinct, and none
get farther than the door or the vestibules.
Then be coaxes and manages until the
crank or the bitter person with a wrong in
bis eye leaves, sends In a card, or writes q
u.
who Is thus left with but little knowledge OF
the annoyances and dangers attending him
daily.
Densmore's life In itself Is as good as a
story. He is straight as a grenadier, his
head large and nagnihcently proportio I;
bis hair has that irOn-graY tings that
always gives an air OF power. You know,
without asking, that the man has had to
fight his way. One nigh about thirty years
hon 4..e..
Vermont road; there was not living thing
in sight but the cattle on the hills The boy
looked back at the house he had Just left
he knew he could not 60 back there and
that he had nowhere to go; nowhere to
sleep but the first haycock or barn he might
find That was Densmore. He struck out
for himself, and in spite OF difficulties he
stuck TO Vermont till he was %, when be
came to Washington, passed the examina-
ton for the police force Immediately and
was appointed 10 a tough locality.
Here his luck began. Those were the
days when Washington was filed with
vicious characters. Somehow Densmore
had the instinct for detecting criminals; he
knew no such thing as fear, and the natural
results followed. South Of the avenue his
name became dreaded, and when President
Grant and the police board determined to
break up the gambling bells Densmore was
not against them. He had declined promo
ton from his rank Of sergeant 1t was he
who led the raid on the gambling den on e
street.-The greatest gambling house Wash
ington ever kuew-where conRressmen
senators. generals aud men of highest rank
spent night after night over games Of
chance. That night there were captured q
number OF congressman, several senators
and enough gaming implements and cash to
set up several gaming houses.
Next, Wizards hotel was suffering from
a gang of skilled thieves and Densmore was
stationed there. Then he laid the founda-
ton for that extensive acquaintance with
public men that has been worth to much TO
him.
The white house. during Hayes admins
tration. found Its guard demoralized. Dens-
more, who was marked man by this time,
was sent for. He resigned from the police
force and went to assist In guarding the
lives Of Presidents From that time on he
has been at the mansion almost continually
During Cleveland's administration he re-
signed and went 10 Massachusetts TO look
after the interests Of a Fitohburg firm.
During that time he took up residence In
the Bay state, where no is still a voter.
When Harrison came to Washington before
the inauguration, MIR. Densmore was sent
for and requested to assume charge of Presi-
at his inauguration. Although still in the
employ OF the Fitchburg house, he consented
to remain till inauguration was over. Prior
to March 4 the life of the Presldent-elect Is
a matter Of solicitude, and every danger is
guarded against. None, not even the hotel
servants, is allowed to enter the Presidents
apartments until Densmore has looked him
over and pronounced him harmless. After
the inauguration the captain remained as
-. g.. g. L..
at the urgent request OF the family, he as
sumed his old position as chief guardian OF
the Presidents life and the rampant between
the family and the envious public.
When the President leaves his office for q
public reception in the east room the tall
man is close at his side. He has looked over
all the people and satisfied himself there are
no Suspicious characters In the'house. Then
no fills up one pocket with beautiful pistol
and the crowd files singly either between
him and the President, TO whom he per-
forms the introductions, or by him first aud
then the President as they stand side by
side. Densmore has his eye on every one /;
on hands for suspicious movements and on
faces for any token Of danger, while on the
other side of the line is another guard who
keeps his eyes open also and the President
takes it all without wink.
Sometimes queer things happen at recep-
poOplo b5oul W bnluh Ndpb. D6Llb-
more must be some relative or at least O
high official. One old man got out the door
after seeing the President, came back and
insisted on shaking the "Vice Presidents
hand"
Immediately after Inauguration, and
during the first two years OF an administra-
ton. a Presidents life is always held TO be
in greatest danger.
Capt Densmore himself is not ON station
at night at the house but lie In charge Of all
arrangements, and is particular that the
most muscular men shall be OF tho door.
For the man who sees the Presidents sleep
is undisturbed he has picked out the strong
est and finest specimen OF manhood on the
Washington police force. aud II it hadn't
been for Kenny there might have been a
tragedy in the white house one night last
winter.
In the grounds the watchmen are under
his eye, and the night men have learned
that 1t doesn't do to neglect duty or run
chances by taking nap, for Capt. Dens.
more Is as likely to be standing In the shad-
ow Of a tree at midnight or to walk into
the guard house at 2 o'clock a. M, as he is
to be on hand promptly at 8 the next morn.
ing for the first caller.
Outside of the grounds he Is not supposed
TO attend the President unless requested IL
has been bis custom. however, to act as es-
cort to trains and be on hand for the Presi.
dents arrival. Since Garfield's death the
captain has never failed Ia this, because he
feels that If, as had been his habit previous
lv. he had only gone TO the station with
Garfield, Guiteau would never have shot
the President.
Attention 10 the daily habits of the young
nreyeuta suffering Fake Simmons Liver