New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-03
LINCOLN'S PRIVATE GUARD.
THE pooRKEEPER CT THE WHITE HOUSE
SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF THE MARTYR
PREsIDENr-"ToM' PENDEL HAS SEEN EVERY
PRESIDENT WHO HAS STEPPED WITHIN
THE WHITE HOUSE DOORS IN
TwENTY-THREE YEARS

PRESIDENT WHO HAS STEPPED WITHIN
THE WHITE HOUSE DOORS IN
rwENrY-rHREE YEARS.
From The Philadelphia Times.
One Of the most interesting figures in WASH
ington to-day is the erect form Of Tom Pendel
The old fellow is now well on In years put ms
step is elastic as young mans, ana MS
smile as CHEEKY and his laugh as iign, ne
has been for twenty three years chief doorkeeper
at the White House. AMI has seen every Presl.
dent who has stepped within the doors In that
time.
But the most interesting distinction about
Pendel is that he was Of the four men ap-
pointed by Congress as the bodyguard OF Presi,
dent Lincoln at the beginning OF the war ana
by strange coincidence looked enough Ike
the President to be his brother. So closely, IN
deed, did he resemble the countrys savior as
to be requested in 1865, following the Fresi-
dents death. to pose for life-size portrait ol
him. =,
When reminiscent Pendel can tell most in
terestng story. Finding him one day in such
a. mood. he told the following. with little per-
suason, Of his personal recollection OF the war
times at the capital: ,oc,
"It was back on the Sd Of November 1854,
that then a policeman in the service OF the
District Of Coumba-was summoned, win
three others, Sergeant Cronin. Andrew j. smith
and Aphonsus Dunn, also policemen IN ci.'-
zens' dress to the office Of the Chief Of the
Metropolitan Police. and conducted to the white
House There we were met by Marshai Lamoh,
who had been neghbor ot MI Lincoln at
his od home in Springfield The Marshal intro
duced us to the President and his secretary,
and then was made known to us the reasons
for our summons to the White House
THAT the Presidents life was In jeopardy no
| one questioned. and it had been decided by MS
| Cabinet and advisers that he must nave per,
| manent bodyguard. but, as Mr. Lincoln dlslKeo
| to be under military surveillance, we four were
| 10 be detailed in citizens dress TO escort hlir
whenever he appeared IN puoI'c' WIN ou'
! badges and revolver3 concealed
seemed to take fancy to me. and became MS
| favOrte guard. Wherever he went went a,so
| and saw many remarkable scenes. remember
! once we descending the stairs or the Navy
| Department. and crouched In heap AT the
bottom OF the staircase was a man l saw mn
/ as soon as the President. and EDGED iorWafo
! In front of Mr. Lincoln to place myself between
him and danger. Bat the President pushed Tor
ward and looked the man SHARPLY IN tne race :.
| rem eniber that wondered at the tifie that ne
should do this, for usually he looked ne,tner 10
the right nor left except when engaged IN con-
versatlon. being always apparently wrapped III
| thought
when the man reached the second landing
I remember he turned and looked at the pres resi-
dent. and Nj Linc3'n lS9ked 1, snarb,y silence
but whea arrived there the President turned
! toward mo and said: 1870.
"'Pendel do you know that received letter
, last night warning me against man who ex-
actly answers the description OK that man
! whom we met on the stairs. . 40. =,
AFTER that" continued Mr. Pendel. II a.
| WAYS kept a sharper lookout than ever BEFORE
! and every time that we walked up the PAIN 10
| the front door Of the White House al"ay >
| kept my hand on the butt or my revolVer IoI
| there used 10 be great square tree boxes by the
, side OF the walk. and there was no telling VINO
! might be behind them
THE NIGHT OF THE ASSASSINATION.
And God. will ever forget the night OF the
assassination? Why: took the last cards 10 10
/ Mr. Lincoln before ne left for Ford's Theatre
/ that night They were those OF the Speaker or
the House Colfax. afterward the Nice-fresF
dent and Mr.. Ashman. Of Massachusetts chair-
~ toni a 7.
! Lincoln I was standing outside the door OF the
/ Red Room while they stood talking WIN Mr.
and Mrs. Lincoln in IT, until MIS- Lincoln CAM az,
the carriage In waiting there ana dro'e a"a'
why. was the last to whom the President
said good night Good night. Pendel.' were
| his very words to as / opened the front
| door for him as he went out ana down the "AN
II remember that wa. on night duty at that
time ard it may have been because the Wnite
House was so quiet and still on account OF the
| President and Mrs. Lincoln being DOWNTOWN
but somehox or other felt nervous and rest
| loss. and kept wand ring up ard down the hais
unable 10 keep stu for any length OF time. l.,
! was close upon 10 O'Clock. remember thar !
| vas sitting in one Of the big cnaii5 In the
| alcove window facing the lower part OF the
city waiting to open the door Tor me rres, s
| ard Mrs Lincoln when they should arrive IRON
| rho theatre when ! saw a confused mass OF
| hurryng ghts approaching the "nte ROUSE
| from the direction OF the theatre Iney came
| 81 IL
| and then there came sharp ring al the pen;
| bounded out Of M chair-I was young and
vigorous man in those days-and quick!
| opcned tho door. To my surprise the caller was
senator chlrlas sumner Of Massachusetts,.
whom | knew well enough by sight ana he
looked pale and worried ~ he asked me IN o
rather sharp tone OF voice whethef 'ns @
/ had yet returned. and when | said that ne mac
| not whether 7 had heard that anything nae
happened TO him He looked mighty relieved ano
nj sod whom told him that had heard moth
| hat, hon I'd ruflOr
,hat something had befallen Mr. Lincoln. The
reople with him also looked relieved and pleased
and then were talking cheer fuly among 'he'n-
selves as they went down the walk
Il closed the door and went back to my seat
by the window more anxious and nervous tnah
ever There seemed 10 be feeling Of some Inn
| nending calamity hanging over me. and when
heard quick footsteps approaching up the wax
| and then violent ring at the bell ran 10 the
door. feeling sure that something hau napptmeu
The late caller was Isaac Newton. Commissioner
| OF Agriculture. lie was deathly pale, and ms
eyes glittered though he had fever HIS
| vC Ice had sort OF strained and hoarse sound III
| Il as he blurtej out ''Oh. my God they've shot
| tie President" For few moments could say
| and do nothing ! was so absolutely horror
stricken at the news that was unable to thnk
| or realize the situation. or even TO make move
| Mr. Newton stood against the door with his hano
over his eyes. and he was shaking and quiverns
with excitement ana griet mus, n sa,d orv
| thing Then. all a. orce. II occurred to me ina
| the other occupants OF the house should be made
I Acquainted with the terrible news.
II left Mr.. Newton standing at the door. and
sprang up the front stairs. skipping two or three
OF them at time In my excitement. Fastening
along the upper corridor. | came to Captain
Robert Lincoln's room, the Presidents eldest
son He had not gone to bed. and remember
that he had medicine bottle in one hand and
a spoon In the other. as though he were measur-
ing out some medicine. and 1t occurred to me
even In my excitement and grief. that he had
complained Of not feeling well on the day be
fore | shall never forget. even to my dying
day, the expression that overspread his face as
I shrieked out my fearful news. He had looked
ND in surprise as burst into his room. and as
! told my errand he unconsciously let the bottle