The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-23
AS LINCOLN FELL
OLD GUARD IN THE WHITE HOUSE
TELLS OF The SCENE.

How One Senator Came to the White Hoass
With an Evil Rumor and Went Away
] sattsfied-aow Later the Terrible News
/ Was Brought, and How the Old Guard
| Notified LincoIn's Children OF the As
| sassinatiou-Poor Little Tad's Grief and
Sieep-what Secretary Hay Did When
He HeardIe
| Philadelphia. Dec. PA special to the
Times from its Washington correspon-
dent gays:
One Of the most interesting figures in
| Washington today is the erect form of
| Tom Pendel. The old fellow is now well
on in years, but mis- step is as elastic as
a young mans and his smile as cherry
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 Pendei is that ne was one of the
| bodyguard Of President Lincoln. and by
a strange coincidence looked enough like
the president to be his brother. So
closely indeed did he resemble the coun-
try's savior as 10 be requested in 1865.
following the presidents death, to pose
for life-siZed portrait of him.
When reminiscent Pendel can tell a
most interesting story. Finding iim one
day in such a mood, he told the follow
ing. with little persuasion, OF his per-
sonal recollection of the war times at
the capitol:
1T was back on tne Sd OF November,
1864, that I-then a policeman in the
service of the District of Columbia
was summoned, with three others, Ser
geant Cronin. Andrew J. Smith, and AL
phonsus Dunn, also policemen, in citi-
zens' dress, to the Office OF the chief OF
the metropolitan police and conducted to
the White House. There We We're met
by Marshal Lamon, vino had been
neiglfbor Of Mr.. Lincoln at mis- old home
in Springfield. The marshal introduced
US to the president and his secretary,
and then was made known to us the rea-
sons for our summons to the White
House.
THAT the presidents life was In
jeopardy no one questioned, and it had
been decided by his cabinet and advis-
ers that he must have a personal body
guard, but. as Mr. Lincoln disliked to be
under military surveillance. we four
were to be detailed in citizens dress to
esort him. whenever ne appeared in pub
lie, with our badges and revoivers con-
cealed.
BECOMES LINCOLN-S FAVOR1TE.
For some reason or other the presi-
dent seemed to take fancy to me, and
1 became mis- favorite guard. Wherever
ne went l went also, and saw many re-
maIkable scenes. / remember once we
Were descending the stairs of the navy
department, and crouched in a heap at
the bottom of the staircase was a man
1 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.
remember that wondered at the time
that he should do this, for usually ne
looked neither TO the right nor left ex-
cept When engaged IN conversation, be-
ing always apparently wrapped in
thought.
when the man reached the second
landing I remember he turned and look
ed at the president, and Mr.. Lincoln
looked sharply after him. We walked
10 the White House In silence, but when
we arrived there the president turned to-
ward me end said:
Pendel. do You know tina. received
a letter last night warning me against a.
man who exactly answers the descrip-
ton OF that man whom we met on the
stairs?'
After that Continued Mr.. Pendei,
Il always kept a sharper lookout than
ever before and every time that We
walked up the path to the front door OF
the Write House I always kept my
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.
NIGHT OF ASSASSINATION.
And will ever forget the night OF |
the assassination? Why. took the last /
curds 10 Mr.. Lincoln before he left for /
Ford's theatre that night. They were /
those Of the speaker Of the house, Col !
fax, afterwa;d the vice president, and 1
Mr. Ashnan Of Massachusetts. chair |
man OF the convention that nominated /
Mr.. Lincoln. I was standing outside the |
door OF the red room while they stood /
talking with Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln in
it, until Mrs. Lincoin came out and |
went on, the front door. stepped into the
in waiting there. and drove |
away downtown.
"Why, I was the last to whom the |
president said good night Good night.
Pendel.' were his very words to me az
opened the from: door for him as ne
went out and down the walk On his way
10 his death.
Il remember that I was on night duty !
It that time, and il may have been De-
'auze tie White House was SO auie: and
stiu en- account % the President and
Nrs Lincoln bsng down town, but
.omeaaN OF other I felt nervous and
es;less. and kept wandering Up and
iogn the halls. unable 10 keep still for
my length ~ time Il Vas close upon
0 o'clock. remember. that : vas sit-
ing IN one Q: the big chairs IN the a.
,ova window facing the lower part of
he city. waiting . open cis door to-
o-es.den, and Mrs. Lincoln when they
;aould arrive from the theatre. waen I
;aw confused mass of hu-ry:ng i:gats