Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-17

A. L. DRCMMoND. given general satisfac-
ton to everybody except, probably, the vast
make miserable. Mr.. Drummond has wound
up his private business in New York, where he
has for four years conducted a successful de-
tectlve agency, and is now finally at the helm
OF the secret service. His advent to Office has
been made with little alteration in the official
structure with which he is surrounded the only
change 30 far being the substitution of Mr..
McCombe as chief clerk for Mr.. Cowie who has
held the Office for long time.
A SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Mr.. Drummond was born in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, in 1S45, his father being ia, .ner
The young man passed through the usual routine
OF farm boy, working hard during the sowing,
growing and moving time and tramping to a
country school in the few months of the snow
ing season. When he was thirteen years old he
went from his home down to Port Deposit,
Md, where he apprenticed himself to a harness
maker. When he had mastered the trade he
went to Baltimore and worked for short time.
The arrival of the wonderful steamship, the
Great Eastern, at Annapolis, where young
Drummond saw her, fired in his mind the
Evolutionary desire to be o sailor, and he
shipped on board vessel Five years later,
having been true to his new life for that period,
he became an officer on the steamer Costa RIGA
of the Aspinwall line. From 1865 to 1871 he
was employed in various capacities by the
pany, and in the latter year he left the sea for
ever-it is to be supposed-and for few months
was employed by large insurance company.
HIS SKILL AS A DETECTIVE.
In the same year he received an appointment
on the force Of the Treasury secret service.
where he remained with increasing skill and
reputation until 1888. In 1875 Mr.. Drummond
was made chief Of the Philadelphia district,
working most successfully as such for four
years, after which he was sent to take charge
Of the New York district where his extraordi.
nary talent in detecting crime made him ia
nous. among his achievements was the cap
ture OF the notorious Rockaway gang Of forgers
Mr.. Drummonds integrity has, through ALI
OF his dangerous association with treacherous
and tricky men, remained as firm as a rock.
The efforts that have been made to swerve him
from the path OF duty have been sufficient to
make a weaker man tremble and falter but be
has always remained true to his trust.
HIS PERFECT INTEGRITY.
writer in the New York Metropolis, q Jour.
nal that ordinarily pays little enough respec,
to the feelings Of men, says in q recent issue
81 know this man Drummond and have known
him nigh onto twenty years. As shrewd, in.
dustrious. enterprising. persevering detective
he is without an equal In addition to the
reasoning powers of a man he has the instinct
and sagacity Of a bloodhound. As a planner
and plodder to outwit the pirates of society
who live by crime. like the counterfeiter. the
smuggler and the mail robber, Drummond
surpasses them all. As a commanding officer
his ability to organize men and delegate power
to right instruments admirably equips him To
direct the secret service Of the Treasury De-
partment. 1t has been said that every man has
his price. A. l.. Drummond has commanded
in this same position before "a partial error, az
Mr.. Drummond only commanded in New York;.
He has been well tried and thoroughly trusted.
His price is the salary for which he agrees to
work. Beyond that there is not money enough
coined to tempt him to violate trust
Such praises as these are being sounded on
all sides and. to judge from the tenor of the
comment upon the appointment, it 10 quite GER
tain that Secretary Window has in this case.
chosen wisely and well.
ASSISTANT CHIEF BROOKS.
Across the desk from Chief Drummoud sits
the other man, the elder in experience in
skill, Mr.. Drummond insists-but the Junior
now in rank. This man, Col. James ). Brooks,
has voluntarily relinquished the reins of this
service and has refused, again and again, to be
appointed to be its chief. He prefers to labor
humbly and unseen in the ranks after years Of
magnificent work rather than assume again the
responsibility Of planning and directing the
operations that have made this system of crime-
detection famous all over the world. He q
now occupying the position with reference 10
Mr.. Drummond that the latter flied few years
ago, and il II not to be doubted that with the
combination Of brains, nerve and vigor that
used to produce such beneficial results pre-
served, the service win not only retain it
reputation but add 70 it, iaureis.