Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-09-25
PRESIDENTS BODYGUARD.

PRESIDENTS BODYGUARD.
The Institution Had It's Origin In
Cleveland's Time.
The idea of a president Of the United
States having a body-guard was first
suggested during Grover Cleveland's
second term by Mrs. Cleveland, says
William P. Hazen, former chief Of the
secret service, to the New York World.
I was chief of the secret service at that
time and made the detail. 1t came
about in peculiar way.
I think it was in February 1895, that
we were informed of plot to capture
the Cleveland children and hold them
for ransom. There was threat against
the life of the president If he failed to
comply with the demands Of the kid
nappers or attempted to have them
captured.
Mrs. Cleveland insisted that some one
must be engaged to guard the children
and the president. Secretary Carlisle
called me in and we talked the matter
over.
It was finally arranged that we should
pick out three men from the secret SER
vice to act as body-guard. They were
to have eight-hour watches and were
never to leave the house unprotected
day or night.
When President Cleveland heard Of
our plans he objected very strongly.
He did not like the idea: but Mrs. Cleve-
land put her foot down and insisted.
and the body-guard became a matter Of
fact.
Later it was arranged that the
house should be guarded by the district
police and that the secret service men
should act as a guard only when the
president left Washington. His Wash
ington home at this time was out at
Red Ton. about five miles from the
White House. Every morning when
the president drove IN in his victoria a
mounted policeman followed his car
riage at a respectful distance. The
same policeman was always waiting to
escort him back home.
The marching to washington OF the
Coxey army in 1895 was what first
prompted the detail Of secret service
men to the White House receptions. 1
had my agents marching with the army
all the way from Denver to Washing
ton, and the reports they sent were CO.
gerly and anxiously scanned by the
president and his cabinet.
It was decided, against Mr.. Cleve-
lands protest, that 1t was advisable to
have experienced detectives near him
during these receptions to prevent any
attempt on his life. We always had
two of our best men close to him dur
ing these functions.
If a person in the crowd attracted
their suspicion they would quietly in
vite him to step aside, and If he could
not give a satisfactory account of him.
self he was turned over to the police at
the door.
In one thing Mr.. Cleve.and always
had his way. He would never let his
body-guard go with him on his fishing
trips. They always went with him to
Buzzard's Bay, however, and when he
was around in the woods they were
never out of hailing distance.
There were a good many curious peo-
pie who used to trespass on his prem
ises at Buzzards Bay. and it was
part of the duty of the secret service
men to see that the trespassers did not
annoy Mrs. Cleveland or the children.
For a long time Mr.. Cleveland's
body-guard consisted Of an old secret
service man and my brother, who had
had much experience under myself and
my father. Cleveland was always on
very friendly terms with them, and
Mrs. Cleveland was lovely to them.
They Just worsniped her and would
have given their lives for her or the
children, or the president either, for
that matter. Mr.. Cleveland gave them
many souvenirs and valuable tokens Of
his esteem.
When President Mckinley came into
office he formed a great liking for
George w. Foster, who was then clerk
in the secret service bureau. He was
big, handsome fellow, and quick and
ready to oblige He has been with the
president almost constantly ever since.
Mr.. Mckinley caused us some worry
because he went ABOUT in Washington
more than Mr.. Cleveland did. He often
rode horseback and went driving alone.
Foster is the only man who is regu-
larly employed as the presidents body
guard; but whenever he goes travelling
secret service men along the route are
detailed to meet his party and aid Fos
ter in any way they can.
For instance, Sam Ireland, one of the
men with the president when he was
shot. was specially detailed from the
Rochester headquarters, and Gallaher,
the third secret service man, was sent
on from Chicago.
At the time of the shooting, Mr. Mil
burn was in the place beside the presi-
dent which should have been occupied
by Foster, and the passing line Of men
and women were between Foster and
the president.
The two other secret service men were