The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-14
WHITE HOUSE EMPLOYEES.
Men Who Have Served the Presidents for
Manv Years.

MANY Years.
Thomas F. Pende1, the veteran usher
at the White House, whose service in
that building dates from Nov. 8, 1854
is only one of number of men who
has seen years of duty at the execu-
tive mansion, and who are the. custo-
dams of many secrets and interesting
incidents, says the Washington Star.
Col Crook, the discussing officer of
the White House. has. long record to
his credit. He went there in 1855 as a
policeman, but was promoted by de-
greesl until he reached the. position he
now holds He has been on terms of
intimacy with every president from
Johnson to Mckinley. Capt. Charles
Loeffler, the presidents doorkeeper
has seen almost as long service at the
White House. having gone there during
the first part of the first Grant admin
istration. Officer Lewis, a veteran po-
liceman of the district went to the
White House in 1854. He has not been
in continuous service there since that
time, having for several years been
detailed elsewhere on other duty. He
is still a district policeman, but serves
as doorkeeper to one of the executive
officers. Put together his years of
service at the executive mansion are
nearly equal to those of Capt. Pend
ell. Mr.. Lewis was a personal body
guard of Lincoln for months, and
romped and played with Lihcoln's
children.
Arthur Simmons, the doorkeeper to
Secretary Porter, and one Of the
greatest native diplomats of the At
rican race, was first appointed during
the Johnson administration. He served
for a good while, before his appoint
ment, as the butler to President john
son.. He knows more public men than
any man of his color in the United
States. simmons record has not been
continuous at the White House, how
ever, although he has been away from
there only four years. When Capt.
Loeffler was transferred from the war
department to the White House, in
1857, Edwin Beckley, who had been a
faithful messenger of Secretary Stan
ton, was also transferred to the execu-
tive mansion, and has been there ever
since. He is known as the mounted
messenger, one of his duties being to
take the enormous mails for the White
House from the post Office to the build
ing, Beckley was in the war depart
ment nine years before being sent to
the White House, and consequently
has been in the government service
since 1860 Jerry Smith, whose smiling
ebony face is known to every caller at
the White House, first went there in
1873.
Lieut.. Col. Montgomery, through
whose hands more secrets have pa ssed
than any other attache of the govern
ment service, went to the White House
with President Hayes in 1877, having
been transferred from the signal ser
vice, where his record was a most flat
tering one. Just ahead of him in point
of service, however, is Major Pruden,
assistant secretary to the president, in
whose behalf it is said that no other
man could fill his place, Major Pr;I-
den was appointed to position in the
White House during the second admin
istration of President Grant. All newly
elected presidents send for him to he
coached in the routine of public docu-
ments, messages, etc, and during their
administration find his advice and sug-
gestions of the greatest usefulness.
There are a number of men whose
service dates back to the short admin
istration of President Garfield. These
include Capt. Dubois, the chief usher,
and Warren Young, the oldest Of the
staff of White House clerks.
The value of keeping these old and
experienced men in service has been
appreciated by every administration.
The casual observer might come to the
conclusion that he could fill almost any
of these positions without trouble but
if he could remain around long enough
to watch the details and delicacy Of
their work he would be slow in want
ing to step into the shoes of any of
them, even of Jerry Smith. the official
buster of the big white building. Jerry
is the hardest worked man on the
White House payroll. He has to do
little of everything, but his chief work
is in keeping the dust and dirt out of
sight He works on the former with a
variety of brushes, rollers and broonls.
He wears an immaculate linen suit over
his street clothes. Jerry attacks the
dirt with nops. hot water and soap.
He is particularly attentive to the tiled
floor of the vestibule. Before each re-
ception or public affair, and regularly
during the week, he works on this YES
tibule with a big mop and tub of hot
water His nature is jovial until he en-
counters a discarded chew of tobacco.
end of a cigar or eigaret in the neigh
borhood of his work. Then he talks TO
himself about the people who win DO
II.