The Washington times., 1901-08-26
SERGEANT MARKS CAREER
The Veteran Policeman to Go on
Retired List Today.
A Long Service of Thirty-fvc Years
on the Force-At the White House
md Police Court-Wiid Ride on the
Bnck of nm Angry Washington Cow


on the Forc--At the white House
md Police Court-Nyild Ride on the
Back of nm Angry Washington Cow
After a service of nearly thirty-five
| Years of active police work. Henry h.
| Marks. seventy-eight years of age, and
| one of the oldest members of the Metro
politan Police Force of this city, VIII to-
| day appear before the police retiring
| board. composed of Captain Gessford.
Lieutenant Swindells. and Captain Heff-
ner. to be examined for retirement
| Mr.. Marks, or as he is Familiarity known
among Washingtons bluecoated guard
ans as plain Marks is undoubtedly one
| of the most popular veterans on the force
| today. During the past thirty-five years
in which he has been prominently identi-
fed with the workings of the local po-
| lice department. he has served at numer-
Gus stations. After having done twenty
| years of active street duty, Mr.. Marks
| was sent to the White House under Pres
/ ident Cleveland's regime. and remained
| there for a number Of years. He was
| then transferred to the First precinct
| station, where he did duty for some time
as patrolman. after which he was sent
| TO Police Court. where he OBLIGATED AZ a
| guard for over eight years.
But Sergeant Marks was not to stay IN
one place long. for he was ordered to re-
port for duty at the House of Detention
when that institution was opened short
while ago. All this time the sergeants
sight was gradually failing him, ow-
ing to the fact that a number of years
ago. a bucket of lime had fallen into his
face and eaten away one OF his eyes, and
had greatly affected the sight of the
other. Sergeant Marks had not been
long at the House of Detention, however.
before Major Sylvester created new po-
sition in local police annals. 10 be known
as that of turnkey, and decided to
send Sergeant Marks to the Second pre-
cinct as the turnkey of that station, to
look after the prisoners confined in the
cells.
The advancing years of the veteran,
however. failed to fit him for that posi-
ton, and feeling unable to cope with the
difficulties which might arise from an un-
ruly prisoner. Sergeant Marks several
days ago sent in his application for re-
urement.
Sergeant Marks made his reputation
long ago story teller and many
stories credited to him are still told in
the bunkrooms of the various police
stations by his younger brother blue
coats Many of the stories are upon the
sergeant himself. Probably the one which
is known by nearly every bluecoat in the
National Capital and one which was told
a number of distinguished statesmen by
Marks himself, while he was doing duty
at the White House, is the time that
Marks gave a bareback riding exhibition
before his brother policemen one evening
on the back of an irate COW in the north
eastern section of the city.
At the time of the occurrence Sergeant
Marks was stationed in what was then
known as the Eighth precinct, but what
is now called the Fifth precinct. Twenty
years ago, when the incident took place,
the Police Department was not as ef1-
cient a body as it is now. The bi.iecoats
in those days were forced to irag
prisoner to the stationhouse on treir
back. having no patrol wagon nor boIas
from which they could turn in el -
hour. At the time of the COW lnci9e
Lieutenant Milstead was in comm 10 W
Sergeant Marks citation, and theF' W
located in the northeastern sectian iIS
city a large picnic garden, whtf Fl" IS
freuuented By rather lawless eli 1t.
Every night that a picnic was givoIs the
lieutenant in command of the precinct
ordered the entire reserve force OF the
station to the picnic gardens IN order 10
prevent trouble among the plcnickers-
ono morning when the reserve force were
vending their way home from the picnic.
after having secured their usuai aiilouht
of beer, they passed large neid Oh
Fourteenth Street northeast. where a
number of cows were grazing sergeant
Marks who was in command OF the men,
had with him his flute. which he was
nlaying to the amusement OF the men
when he espied the harmless cows lying
down in the adjacent held
Turning to his men he Informed them
that he Sergeant Marks would then ana
there give his men an exhioitloh OF rlu-
ing a cow bareback. the equal OF whlch
could not be reproduced In the states.
His men tried to prevent MIN, OUT II Wa
no use, and the wiry little sergeant WIN
f11u Uniform on sauntered over to one OF
the largest COWS in the field. The COW
was lying down when the doughty
sergeant came, Up TO her, but the minute
he had straddled her. cad IN UNIFORM;
bsIroet and baton at his side the animal
arose with a lump and started on a dead
run down Fourteenth street Inc ser
geant was soon. nearly eXhausteu ny me-
iurlps and the whole reserve force start.
ed in pursuit adding TO the excitement
by throwing tin cans at the animal ana
CRYING at the top Of their voices; 20 II.
Marks The scared animal broke INTO
South Carolina Avenue and ran down TO
Seventh Street southeast with the dare
devil sergeant still astride or her, nam
tanning a strong hold on her hOrns, WIN
kers blowing i'll the wind like a nag OF
distress. it,,
cred that the COW, for some unknown
reason insisted on going past his house,
and not wishing to see himself dlsSraceo
by galloping past his home on the Dach
of a COW, he decided II was time TO ahgnt,
which he did very successfully with the
aid of the COW The sergeant landed
square in a puddle of water, and the !
COW. wheeling quickly, came back at him
with her head lowered, but fortunately
for the sergeant he was possessed OF re
markable speed as Splinter ana ne los.
no time in seeking refuge in his front
door where he stood bedaubed with mud !
his uniform In tatters until his brother /
bluecoats put in an appearance. |
Sergeant Marks for over ten years pa
tr1yed the beat known as the COM
mons running from Maryland Avenue
northeast to the Eastern Branch, ana
from Eighth Street southeast to the jan
and he can still relate many thr1lilnS |
stories of his encounters with contra
bands army stragglers, and the lawless
element that Infested that section OF the
CITY shortly after the war.
Probably the closest escape Marks hau
from death was when a notorious negro |
by the name of John Hail, VINO was
known on the Commons as an all
around bad man. attempted to assault
another member of his race one night II
was ALWAYS customary for two men TO
run the Commons beat at night, but on
this occasion Marks partner. man by
the name of Blandford. was SICK, cohse-
ouentlv he was patrollinS the beat alone
In those DAYS the reVolverS carried by the
police were so large and cumbersome that
many of the bluecoats frequently torsot
hem and went on duty armed oIly Win
their night sticks Such was the case
with Marks this night. When Han start
ed the trouble Marks. who looked ike a
dwarf alongside of the negro, who stood
six feet in his stocking feet. placed him
4 fip followed |