Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-28
A WHITE HOUSE GUARD.
CAPTAIN DENsMoRE's PECULIAR
CHARGE At TIE CAPITOL.

He Guards the President-The Man who
Stands Between the Chiek Executive
and the Weapons of Dangerous and
Ean.tzcai Cranl<s-His History.
Of the thousands who weekly visit the
executive mansion not one fails to ask
who the tall, heavily built man Is stand
Ing either close by the presidents sideor
lowering near him, and few forget, when
pnce told, that s<hess Captain Densmore."
It is a Massachusetts, citizen that has in
his keeping the safety of President Har-
xison and of the White House family.
4. 8. Densmore, the s@captain," as he
Is oftener called, is an important person
age in the White House economy. The
charge committed 10 him Is no hghtone,
The life of the president of the United
States, while not as thnrny as that of the
Russian czar, wouldn't be worth row
Of frost bitten peach trees if one=ortwo
Of the people who think they have
grudges against him could get Within
range Of the president. Hardly a week
passes bat threatening letters are re-
breathe out intimidations and promise
swift vengeance. These are at once
made Captain DensInore's property. If
the crank is from Washington he gen
orally knows him; If not, he soon makes
himself acquainted with the needed I'M
formation. Dens1nore seems to know
cranlxs by instinct, and none get further
than the door or the vestibules. Then
he coaxes and manages tia the crank or
the bitter person with wrong in his
eye leaves, sends in card or writes a
note, which never reaches the president,
who is thus left with but little knowi-
edge of the annoyances.and dangers at
tending him daily.
WHITE HOUSE GUARDS.
The White House, during Hayes ad-
ministration, found its guard demora1
lied. Densmore, 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 bem at the
mansion almost continually. During
Cleveland,s administration he resigned
and went to Massachusetts to look after
the interests of Fitchburg firm. Dur
ing that time he took up a residencein
the Bay State, whore he is stin voter.
When Harrison came to Washington
before the Inauguration Mr.. Densmore
was sent for and requested TO assume
charge Of President Harrison, just ashe
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 A 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
70 enter the presidents apartments until
Densmore has looked him over and pro-
nounced him harmless. After the inan-
guration the captain remained as guest
and guide for few days, and later, at
the urgent request of the family, he as
summed 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 st his side. He has
looked over all the people, and satisfied
himself there is no suspicious characters
IN the house. Then he flfsup one pocket
with a beautiful pistol, and the crowd
files singly either between him and the
president, to whom he performs the in
trodnctions, or by him first, and then
the president, as they stand side by side.
A CONSTANT WATCH.
Densmore has his eye on everyone: 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 withouta wink.
Sometimes queer things happen at ne
ceptions, and peopfeseem 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 DensmoEe himself is notion
station at night at the house, but is in
charge of all arrangements, and is par
ticular that the most muscular men
shall beat the door. For tho man who
sees that the presidentas saeep is undis-
tmbed he has picked out the strongest
and finest specimen Of manhood on the
Washington police force.
In the grounds the watchmen are.un-
der his eye, and the night men have
learned that 1t doesn't do to neglect
duty or rum chances by taking q nap,
for Captain Densmore is as likely to be
standing under the shadow of tree at
midnight or to walkinto the little guard
house at 2 o'clock a. M, as he is to be on
hand promptly at o 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 Garfeld's
death the captain has never failed in
this, because he feeds 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.