The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-22

toI or a bomb In his pocket can use 1t
before he can be prevented, oven though
one man in dozen of the whole assem-
blage may be detective.
But it is exceeding rare that such
cranks fail to betray themselves be-
fore the time comes for action. Their
nervous manner, their very appearance
is revelation of their designs to the
acute detective. Colonel Moore's men
will be on the lookout for these fell
lows, and none Of them will be allowed
to approach the line of parade or to
mingle with any crowd at reception
or the ball.
/ have had a good deal of experience
in the protection of persons supposed to
be in danger of assault An escort to
be efficient need not be large; but its
members must be well trained, and
must have thorough system of COM
munication with one another. When 1
acted as escort to William 81. Wander
bilt during the time before he sailed for
Europe, in 1882, had no help but that
watchmen for the house. 1t was just
after the discovery of plots against Cy-
rus w. Field and William II. Wander
bilt. Internal machines had been sent
to them through the mails. One of
them had exploded in a mail sack on the
81" road and had lifted the forward
wheels Of the car off the track, but had
not done as much damage as might
have been expected. However, there
was no doubt about the designs of the
persons sending the machine, and there
seemed some cause for alarm.
The boy was Mr.. Vanderbilt's imme-
date escort. He was bright little
fellow about twelve years old, and /
had trained him to the last degree. /
could hold converse ton with him by
signals when we were four of five
blocks apart, and he never failed to
read my orders instantly after 1 had
given the finishing touches TO his edu-
cation in the sign language. Dressed
like any street urchin, he would loiter
in front of Mr.V anderbilt's house in
the morning about the hour when that
gentlemen was accustomed to emerge.
My man would be stationed two or
three blocks up the street, and some
distance above him. When Mr.. Wander
bilt appeared the boy would signal to
the man and he to me. Then we would
fall in behind, while the boy apparently
aimlessly wandered down the avenue
in the footsteps of the millionaire
remember one incident Of this time
which will serve as an illustration of
the sort of ability which is necessary in
such cases-the keen observation and
ready Interpretation of anything I'M
usual. Mr.. Vanderbilt emerged from
his house at the usual hour; Walter (the
boy) gave us the signal and we tailed
in" Two or three blocks down the
avenue house was being repaired It
was upon the ether side from that taken
by Mr.. Vanderbilt in his walk. AS he
neared the spot Walter gave us the sig
nal to "close up" He had noticed that
tho men in working clothes
a bout the house have mentioned were
two who took no part In the work
They appeared to be there in disguise.
This was enough for Walter; he de-
cided that there was danger.
AS l and my assistant approached the
two men stepped out into the street,
one of them holding partially concealed
in his hand a large stone heavy enough
to crush a mans skull Mr.. Vanderbilt
was entirely unconscious of any danger,
and so was Walter, to all appearance.
He was whistling carelessly as he gave
the signal to AS. We had to hurry in
order TO be in time, but we intercepted
the man with the stone in his hand;
ran him and his companion around a
corner without giving them time for re-
sistance end turned them over to a
policeman. In two minutes they were |
in custody and l was following Mr..
who still kept on down the
avenue with Walter at his heels. This |
think, illustrates the bust |