Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-09-18
M'kINLEy'S BODY GUARD
Interesting Recollections Of De.
tective Ireland.
QUIET AID UNosTENTATIoUs.

Observed Him at Work, Says There
II Nothing of the Sleuth About
Hinl-How He Handled a simpleton
at Peoria.
Mr.. Walter b. Stevens, secretary of
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
company. is well acquainted with De-
tective Ireland, the man who has been
engaged for years in guarding the
safety Of President Mckinley and who
was one of the first to seize the man
who shot the president at the Pan
American exposition.
Gle is the last man in big crowd
that you would suspect of being a Sc
cret service man or an official of any
kind" said Mr.. Stevens to st. Louis
Globe-Democrat reporter. "rhere Is
nothing Of the sleuth in his appear
ance or manner. He has always been
quiet and transformations, apparently
unobservant. He appears quietly
dressed citizen, with nothing to dis
tinguish him from others except his
unusual strength. Wherever the presi.
dent went, especially on his trips away
from Washington. he followed. un-
known to every one except the presi-
dent and his party-perhaps few of the
latter. If the president paused. his at
tendant moved quietly about him,
keeping as near as possible without at
tracing notice. or he followed or led
the way through crowds as any citizen
might.
81 remember one occasion which ex.
emplifies his methods. 1t was at Can
ton, o., shortly after the presidents
nomination. The latter was expected
to attend a certain church one Sunday.
and small crowd gathered about the
church to catch glimpse Of him as he
passed ! was among those who watch
ed, and as the gathering increased
noticed that strong looking man who
appeared to know nobody sauntered
up. He edged his way into the out
skirts Of the crowd, as if with simple
curiosity, and when the president ar
rived he removed his hat just as all the
others did and watched him lurriedly
enter the place of worship. Mr.. Nc
Kinley was visible only minute, lift
ing his hat as he passed. The crowd
dispersed, having accomplished their
purpose. Half an hour later, when the
services were over, the same quiet man
quietly appeared near the church doors
and followed.
"At Peoria, on another occasion. he
plt an end to an incident that might
have proved slightly disagreeable If
handled by less skillful man. 1t was
on the occasion Of the unwilling of the
soldiers monument at that place. The
president was making speech when a
man in the crowd became demonstra-
tive in good natured way. He was
known by many of the bystanders as a
harmless simpleton, who played with
the children and otherwise demonstrate
never been known to become violent.
While the president was speaking he
climbed to the platform and slapped
the president on the shoulder by way
Of showing his admiration. The presi-
dent simply smiled. but there was In
stantly strong personality persuading
the simpleton not TO disturb the speak
err The disturber cheerfully consented
to go away. 1t was the same big man
who appeared at the church at Canton.
"He is perhaps. the most unostenta-
tous man in the employ of the treas
ury department.. which has jurisdic-
ton over the secret service. He never
even gives his name to casual acquaint-
ances His principal attention is turn
ed to the mentally unsound. from
pated. He calls them bugs. and has
come, through long years of expert
ence, to recognize them in crowd
long before any one else notices any
thing out Of the way. He will glance
over group Of persons gathered about
the White House gates or within the
grounds and, occasionally. slightly nod
ding toward some person whose fin
gers twitch or whose eyes glance with
abnormal quickness and suspicion or
who talks little out of the way. will
say quietly. Bug! Nor does he ever
mistake his man. These he will en-
counter as II by chance. and when
they ask for information or enter into
incoherent conversations he will quiet
ly persuade them to move away. He
does not compel. as a rule. He accom-
plishes his results by giving friendly
advice. as If he were private citizen.
Those who are familiar. with the scene
about the White House gates know
that never week passes without the
appearance of some unbalanced per-
son who wants to see the president.
They come with grievances to relate
to him, or claims to make which 9TH
ers will not listen to. The big man
deals with these with tact worthy Of
q diplomat Of higher station. He al
ways removes them, and there is never
q display Of violence or the appearance
NJ n natrol vav on Ha diroctS them tO |