The times., 1899-02-26
THE POLICE FORCE
OF ANHE-BBLLUA Days
Organization of the Auxiliary
Guard.
Early COnStabHlary of the National
Capital.
Demonstrations Made Against Pres
ident TSIcr-NoyeI Accoufrc-
mcnIs OF the Gunrdsmen.

Public interest is directed toward the
old Auxiliary Guard by the retirement
from public service of Augustus Brown
the octogenariap policeman who has stood
sentinel for so many years at the Gsorge-
town end of the Aqueduct Bridge.
Policeman Brown is one of the two sur
viving members Of the Georgetown wing
of the "Auxiliaries" and has been identi-
fled with the present Metropolitan Police
force ever since guardsmen were abol shed
in 1861.
The Auxiliary Guard was. in many re-
spects a novel organization. 1t was one
OF the outgrowihs of the political condi-
tions of ante bellum days. They were not
soldiers, as one might suppose from their
appellation, but were intended to act as
police and serve a. fremen. The AuNiH-
airy Guard was the police force of the Ma
Iional Capital during the period leading
up to the War OF the Rebellion. the
Guard was organized during the Admins
tration OF President Tyler in the var
1912. Previous to that date the peace OF
the city and the protection OF Government
officials and citizens WAS in the hands of
constables and magistrates. wEo were in
ers. Prisoners We're incarcerated in primi
tive plank and leg structures styled lock-
ups or Watch-houses. These miniature
prisons were ten or twelve feet square
and without windows. Doors were the
only openings through which malefactors
and breakers CT the peace might oh ain
light ard air.
The Early ConsfaI,uIary.
The carly consta5ulary Of Washington
vas smt-l and inadequate for the protec-
tion of life and property. There were no
regular watches for forty years after
the foundation Of the city. Permanent
p3trolmen were considered unnecessary in
view of the fact that members OF many
early fire companies served alternately as
fire Tatchmen from their engine-hOuses
and as night patrolmen on the streets of
the city.
The chief danger thar confronted the
first mayors of Washington and George
town and likewise the citizens. iurked
in the slaves. During the days before the
war of the rebellion there was constant
fear Of an outbreak or uprising of these
slaves, and on such occasions the peace
was preserved by the constabulary and
The followers OF the Mayors party, who
would lend hand At keeping the city
quiet
III lo-- 4 Cr4SlS was TfarlCG. IL forced
an entire remodeiinE OF the constabulary,
and the organization CT the Old Auxiliary
Guard. President William Henry Harrison,
who had died during his incumbency in
Office, was in that Yea: succeeded by the
Vice President, John Tyler Tyler offended
most members OF the Nhig party, and his
persistently contrary views on nearly
every political subject OF the day. aroused
bitter opposition. In order to give forci-
Iaf =HsaWaH -.
the President, number Of the Wings
planned procession which marched by
the White House The participants yelled
and hooted ana groaned deep, guttaral
sounds of derision as they passed. Some
even threw mud against the front of the
White House.
This parade had 4 Vildfre effect uDon the
minds OF the excited populace. and ON the
following Sunday morning a drunken print
er threw i rock al President Tyler while
the latter was stroHing along the south
side of the White House grounds The
printer was arrested. taken before a magis-
trate, and subsequently released BIZ spe-
clal request of President Tyler. The better
class of citizens deprecated such acts of
violence. 4 committee visited President
Tyler and offered the regrets of the COM
munity for what had happened.
The auxfIiar, watch
The demonstrations made about this time
resulted in the organization OF an aux
Hilary watch" This was done by act of
Congress approved August %, 1872 The
members of this watch were charged with
the duty Of protecting property against in
cendiaries and enforcing police regulations.
The force consisted of a captain appointed
by the mayor. and fifteen men. Congress
appropriated $500 Tor The purchase of
paraphernalia and insignia. This was styl-
ed the Auxiliary Guard.
The captain Of The Auxiliary Guard was
John II. Goddard, Who served until the
organization OF the present police force in
1861. Captain Goddard was a native Of
Rhode Island. He came TO this city at an
early age and engaged IN the grocery
trade. He also served IS a member of the
board of aldermen under Mayor Seaton
before he became captain Of the Guard.
The first members Of the Guard selected
by Captain Goddard were William G.
Howison, Edward ]. Ellis. Thomas Mac
GIL William Cox :. Howard Taylor. John
L. Fowler, Joseph Smith, William B. Guy,
johnson Wimonds Thomas Sessford. John
T.. Little, Joseph Goodyear. Patrick Swee-
ney. Edgar II. Bates, and Soloman Hub
bard Five OF these men were paid $3i
per month for their services and the re-
naming ten received $50 per month each.
The scale-hoUse Of what was then the
old Mash Market was converted into the
headquarters Cf the Guard. Calls were
received there and there the guardsmen
assembled nightly and received instruc-
lions before starting on their patrols Not
less original than the organization itself
were the uniforms OF its members. Caps
trousers, and Goals were made Of light
grey cloth, and decorated with large brass
buttons bearing The letters "A c." The
caps were also decorated with similar let
ters.
Fbc Gunrdsmen'. SpOutoons.
Each guardsman carried a hardwood
stick about two feet long and tipped with
a spearhead, giving the club the appear
ance of a iavelin. These were known as
spontoons and were patterned after the
weapons originally carried by the ser
geants of General Braddocks army when
they set out from Alexandria for For-
uuquesne In 1855. These sticks were used
by the earliest nigh;watchmen Of the Ma
tional Capital, and we're handed down the
line by patroimen until adopted By the
Auxiliary Guard.
Ihe sPoBtoon WAS = useful instrument
for forcing open doors during fires In
CHASING q thief or feion the guardsInen
frequently hurled their spontoons at the
fugitive with such precision as to bring
him TO the ground Immediately The
Saardsnien also used Tsttles instead of DO
lice whistles. which were unknown in the
time of the "Auxiiiaries."
Guards were detailed for duty each night
AZ O'Clock. one-haf working from that
hour until midnight and the other from
midnight until O'Clock In the morning.
Signals were struck Oh the bell OF the
Perseverance Fire Company. which had III
engine house on the sna;h side of the Ave-