The evening times., 1896-02-24
MUST LOSE WEIGHT TO LIVE
Chef Crump, Formerly of the
White House, Is Too Fat.
In Lifting the Late President Gar
field on His Sick Bed the Stew
ards Spine Was Hurt.

William T. Crump, the late President
Garfield's nurse, whose great avoirdupois
has been well known to his friends in this
city, will soon be much reduced In size and
weight. At least, that is his belief
Today he is three inches smaller around the
waist than he was two weeks ago, and his
weight has decreased correspondence 1t
| is necessary that he grow smaller IL he de-
sires to remain in this world. That is the
| opinion Of his physicians.
Mr.. Crump has for several years been suf-
fering from spinal affection, brought on by
| his care Of the much-loved President. Gar
| field was heavy man, well built and solid.
During his illness he would slide downward
in the bed, and it fell to Crump, his steward
who had volunteered to nurse the sick man.
to raise his hero upon the pillow.
To do this it was necessary for President
Garfield to cling to Crump's neck, throwing
upon the latter all bis weight. Crump would
then draw him upward I'M the bed. This con-
tinuaI strain for six weeks resulted in an
| injury to Crump's spine which increased in
pain as the years passed by.
It was aggravated by the weight of
Crump's abdomen. The ex-stcwart OF the
White House consulted a number of physi-
clans and was advised to reduce his weight
and throw 1t off the spine. Recently he con-
| suited an obesity physician In Boston. who
prescribed certain kinds of bands which,
when girding Crump's form. throw his
weight upon the hips. At the same time he
is taking the doctors prescription for re-
ducing the flesh and has already lost con-
siderable OF his 2SG pounds of flesh. Ac-
cording to medical advice he is to keep up
the treatment until he has decreased over
125 pounds.
Mr.. Crump is q great admircr OF Nc
Kinley OF Ohio and served in the same regi-
ment with him during the war. Thefriend-
illness existing between them may result in
Crump's return to the White House should
the Napoleon of finance succeed In getting
there himself.
Mr.. Crunip was not always as fieshy as
he Is now. When q boy he was not of
unusual weight. and during the war did
not display any great heayiness. When
he went to the White House as steward
under President Hayes he weighed 225
pounds, and this gradually increased until
he was close up on 215. Since his retire
ment from his official duties be has slowly
gained, and unless he could relieve bis
spine in some way as to allow OF exercise
it is probably he would soon be going on
to 400 pounds.
One OF the most interesting OF private
collections of the Presidents is POSSESSED
by Mr.. Crunp. wio has displayed this fad
for collecting ever since he was 10y.
He has Garfield ca binet, q Hayes cabinet,
and a Lincoln cabinet. Around the first
named sad recoiicctions are entwined. and
In the second pleasant thoughts and hap
penings arc recalled. OF Lincoln. he did
not know SO much personally, but pre-
serves those relics With great reverence.
In the Garfield cabinet are the mattress
upon which Garfield lay while ill at the
White House, the medicine spoons and
bowls from which he took his medicine, a
piece of the shirt through which passed
the fatal bullet, the cloth being saturated
with blood, the washbowl and pitcher
used by President Garfield. the zen with
which he wrote his last letter. which was
to his mother: the inkstand used at the
time. and many other minor articles of
great value and interest.