Arizona republican., 1892-02-05
A WHITE HOUSE Guard.
CAPTAIN DeNSMORE'S pECtlllAR
CHARGE AT THE CAPITOL

nv e""'"s ''V ''s'""ht-ihe Man Who
Stands Between the Chief Ex.eut,yo
and the Weapons OF Dangerous and
Fanaticai Crnnks-I,is History.
or the thousands who weekly visit the
executive mansion not one fails To asl,
who tho TALL heavily built man is stand
Ing either close by the presidents side or
lowering near him, aud few forget, when
once told, that "he's Captain Densmore.
1t is Massachusetts citizen that has in
his keeping the safety of President Har
rison and of the White House family.
Il. 5. Densmore, the captain" as he
is oftener called, is an important person
age in the White House economy, The
charge committed 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 n row
of frost bitten peach trees if one or two
of the people who think they have
grudges against him could get within
range of the president. Hardly week
passes but threatening letters are re-
ceived from cranks and persons who
breathe out intimidations and promise
swift vengeance. These are at once
made Captain Densmore's property. II
the crank is from Washington he gem
orally knows him; il not, he soon makes
himself acquainted with the needed in
formation. Densmore seems TO know
cranks by instinct, and none get further
than the door or the vestibules, Then
he coaNes and manages till the crank or
the bitter person with a wrong in his
eye leaves, sends in u card or writes
note, which never reaches the president,
who is thus left with but little knowl-
edge of the annoyances and dangers at
tending him daily.
WHITE HOUSE GUARDS.
The White House, during Hayes ad-
ministration, found its guard democrat
| lied. pensmorc, who was marked
man by this time, was sent for. He re-
| signed 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 resigned
and went to Massachusetts to look after
the interests of a Fitchburg firm. Dur
ing that time he took up residence in
! the Bay State where he is still voter.
When Harrison came to Washington
before the Inauguration Mr.. Densmore
was sent for and requested to assume
charge of President Harrison, just as he
had of Cleveland at his inauguration.
! Although still in the employ of the
| Fitchburg house, he consented TO re-
main till the inauguration was over
/ Prior TO March 4 the life of the presi-
/ dent-elect is 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 pro-
nounced him harmless. After the inau-
/ guration the captain remained as guest
and guide for u few days, and later, at
| the urgent request Of the family, he as
suned his old position as chief guardian
of the presidents life and the rampant
/ between the family and an envious pub
! lie.
When the president leaves his Office
/ for 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 is no suspicious characters
in the house. Then he fills up one pocket
with beautiful pistol, and the crowd
! files singly either between him and tho
president, to whom he performs the in
Productions, or by him first, and then
the president, as they stand side by side.
A CONSTANT WATCH.
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 re-
/ ceptions, and people seem to think Cap
| tain Densmore must be some relative or
at least high official One old man
got out the door after seeing the presi-
dent, came back, and insisted on shaking
the vice presidents hand.
Immediately after Inauguration, and
during the first two years of an admins
tration, presidents life is always held
to be in greatest danger.
Captain Densmore himself is not on
station at night at the house, but is in
charge Of all arrangements, and is par
ticular that the most muscular men
shall be at the door. For the man who
sees that the presidents sleep is undis-
turbed he has picked out the strongest
and finest specimen of manhood on the
Washington police force.
In the grounds the watchmen are I'M
der his eye, and the night mon have
learned that it doesn't do to neglect
duty or run chances by taking nap,
for Captain Densmore is as likely to be
standing under the shadow Of a tree at
midnight or to walk into the little guard
house at o'clock a. m, as he is to be on
hand promptly at 0 the next morning
for the first caller.
Outside the grounds he is not supposed
TO attend the president unless requested.
1t has been his custom, however, to act
as escorts to trains and be on hand for
the presidents arrival. Since Garfield's
death the captain has never failed in
this, because he feels that if, as had
been his habit previously, he had only
gone to the station with Garfield Guiteau
could never have shot the PRESIDENT
Boston Globe.
The Leaning Tower at Saragossa-
A committee apnOinted TO report on