The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-10-02
CRAIG The DETECTIVE
Stories Related Of the Presi-
dents Brave Bodyguard.
BELOVED BY ROOSEVELT CHILDREN

! tening to His Experience as "a S0.E-
! d1er 80 How He Handled "a Militia
man at Sea Girt, N. u.
William Craig, the secret service
agent killed in the wreck of the rresi-
dents carriage, was a splendid athlete
an able detective and man of sterling
character, says the New York World
The president and Mrs. Roosevelt es~
teemed him highly, and the Roosevelt
children were devoted to him.
! Craig was born in Glasgow forty-two
| years ago. He was more than six feet
tall, weighed 208 pounds and was as
active and enduring as the best ath-
! late. For years he was member OF
the Queens Grenadier guards. He
went into the Sudan with the Gordon
relief expedition under Lord Wolseley
Craig was fencing master and boxing
Instructor Of the camel corps. He was
considered the most expert broad
! swOrdsman in the English army, and
he won d medal and a cross for pro
! 1ciency with the sword.
/ When Craig came to the United
/ States fourteen years ago, he Travelled
with Duncan G. Ross and gave broad
sword exhibitions. One Of his tricks
was to place an apple between Ross
chin and thOrax, the athlete pressing
| the chin down so as to hold the apple
| Craig would then stand off, whirl his
|
lightning cut the apple in halves. An
other trick was for Ross to hold a
| stick about the size Of a brOomstick in
! his mouth. Craig would cut it in pieces
| without any shock to the jaws Of his
/ companion.
Chief Wilkie selected Craig from
among his corps of agents because of
! his physical prOWess and alertness to
guard President Roosevelt At first
| the president resented being accom-
! panied by q detective and frequently
| sought to give his protector the slip,
/ but Craig was the presidents equal
! physically and seldom let him out Of
sight. Finally the president became
! attracted to Craig and made no objec
grew to like him immensely.
On more than one occasion Mr..
Roosevelt showed his liking for the big
guard When Lieutenant Robert Fer
| guson Of the rough riders was visiting
Mr.. and Mrs. Roosevelt at Oyster Bay,
as they We're leaving church and Craig
was on duty, the president called to
! ~ IN
land:
'Say, Ferguson, here's my big Scot
Mr.. Craig, let me introduce you to my
friend, Mr.. Ferguson"
Craig was a favorite with the Roose-
yelt children, particularly with Archie,
who hung about the big man when he
was out guarding the house. Craig
was very fond of the boy, to whom he
told tales of Scotland and particularly
| stories Of athletic sports.
All the children loved the big athlete
and ex-sOldier. He was a hero to them.
It was Quentin who called him Foxy
Grandpa" and was never so happy as
when Craig was rolling of with his
Scotch burr quotations Of ford humor
er children were wont to consult him
as q sage Of great wisdom In matters
of personal prowess. They loved to
hear him tell his experience as & sol
der in Africa and elsewhere, and they
liked to have him try his strength by
| lifting them off the ground as they
grasped his ponderous wrist while he
held his arm almost at a right angle
from his body.
Only a few weeks ago he had a mar
row escape from injury at Sea Girt,
n. J. The president had gone there
10 review the Second brigade of The
New Jersey militia. Craig was at the
presidents heels as Mr.. Roosevelt en-
tered the camp. A militiaman tried to
stop Craig and stuck a bayonet against
his breast Instead Of arguing with
the soldier Craig laughed, caught the
bayonet in one of his powerful hands,
pushed 1t and the soldier aside and
walked on. It was half a minute be-
fore tbs militiaman recovered from
his surprise and the shock to his dig
nifty. By that time Craig was along
side the president ready to guard him
against danger.
At Pittsburg when the president was
there for the Fourth Of July celebra-
ton Craig was very apprehensive lest,
under cover of celeb rating the patriotic
day, some crank hould menace the
presidents safety. Extra police pre-
cautions were taken, and prohibitive
regulations along the line were pro-
mulgated, but still his unusual anxiety
was noted by the other detectives.
Probably the only time when Craig
gave much evidence of this feeling,
however, was when the president had
arrived at the Hotel Sohenley grounds,
about 7:3O o'clock in the evening, to at
tend the dinner given in his honor by
Attorney General Knox. AS the cav
airy escort drew up as the salute to
permit the presidents carriage to
wheel into the grounds alone the presi-
dent ordered his coachman to halt in
order that he might express to the
troopers his personal thanks for their