Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1897-11-29
CONCERNING LINCOLN.

]
in Washington todayis the erect form
of Tom Pendel. The old fellow is now
well on in years, but his step is as elias
! tic as young mans and his smile as
CHEEKY and his laugh as light. He has
/ been for twenty three years chief
doorkeeper at the White House, and
has seen every president who has
/ stepped within the doors in that time.
But the most interesting distinction
about Pendel is that he was one of the
four men appointed by Congress as
the body guard of President Lincoln
at the beginning Of the war, and, by
strange coincidence, looked enough
like the president TO be his brother.
So closely, indeed, did he resemble
the country,s savior as to be request
ed in 1895, following the presidents
death, to pose for life size portrait
of him.
When reminiscent, Pendel can tell
most interesting story. Finding him
one day in such mood, he told me
the following with little persuasion
of his personal recollection Of the war
times at the capital:
at was back on the Sd of November,
1864. that Then policeman in the
service of the District of Columbia
was summoned, with three others,
Sergt. Cronin, Andrew J. Smith and
Alphonsus Dunn, also policemen, in
citizens dress, to the Office of the
Chief of the Metropolitan Police, and
conducted to the White House. There
we were met by Marshal Lamon, who
had been neighbor of Mr.. Lincoln's
at his old home in Springfield. The
Marshal introduced us to the presi-
dent and his secretary, and then was
made known to us the reasons for our
summons to the White House.
s.That the presidents life was in
jeopardy no one questioned, and it
had been decided by his Cabinet and
advisers that he must have perma-
nent bodyguard, but, as Mr.. Lincoln
disliked to be under military surveil-
lance, we four were to be detailed in
citizens dress to escort him, when
ever he appeared in public, with our
badges and revolvers concealed.
'sFor some reason or other, the pres
ident seemed to take a fancy to me,
and I became his favorite guard.
Wherever he went l went also, and
saw many remarkable scenes. | re-
member once we were descending the
stairs of the Navy Department, and
crouched in heap at the bottom of
the staircase was a man. l saw him
as soon as the president, and edged
forward in front of Mr.. Lincoln to
place myself between him and danger.
But the president pushed forward and
looked the man sharply in the face.
I remember that I wondered at the |
time that he should do this, for usual
Iy he looked neither TO the right nor
left, except when engaged in CONVEX
sation, being always apparently
wrapped in thought.
'sWhen the man reached the second |
landing / remember he turned and
again looked at the president and Mr..
Lincoln looked sharply after him. We
walked to the White House in silence,
but when we had arrived the presi
dent turned toward me and said:
I" 'Pendel, do you know that I re-
ceived a letter last night warning me
against man who exactly answers
the description of that man whom we
met on the STAIRS
CATER that" continued Mr.. Pendle,
81 always kept sharper lookout than
ever before, and every time that we
House I always keptmy hand on the
butt of my revolver, for there used to
be great square tree boxes by the side
of the walk, and there was no telling
who might be behind them.
"And, God, will I ever forget the
night of the assassination? Why, I
took the last cards to Mr.. Lincoln be-
fore he left for Ford's Theatre. They
were those of the Speaker of the
House, Colfax, afterward vice presi
dent, and Mr.. Ashman, of Massachu-
sets, chairman of the convention that
Mr.. Lincoln. I was stand
ing outside the door of the red room
while they stood talking with Mr.. and
Mrs. Lincoln in it, until Mrs. Lincoln
came out and went out the front door,
into the carriage in waiting
there, and drove away down town.
"Why, was the last to whom the
president said good night Good
night. Pendel,' were his very words
to me as opened the front door for
him as he went out and down the
walk on the way to his death.