The Washington times., 1902-07-05
All Sorts of Material Car
rled Away as Souvenirs
OF the Mansion.
COLONEL CROOKS MEMENTo
Secured Section of Floor on Which
President Lincoln Stood When He
Made Speech to His Advisers After
Being Inducted Into Office.

The relic funters and souvenir fends
have found another and a new field for
exploitation in Washington. Since the
| dismanteling of the White House began
the place has been besieged by these fad
dists In search OF whatever bit of rub
bish they might carry away from the
| historic building as mementos. The in-
terror Of the building has been so en-
tirely Quilted that the White House Do
lice have been Obliged to exclude all the
curious who have sought admission. and
those in search OF relics have been
obliged to search among the debris
which is thrown out and piled up in the
grounds
Colonel Crook, the disbursing officer
at the White House, has obtained one Of
the most unique souvenirs OF the man
sion He has been employed there ever
since Lincoln's first Administration, and
when the floor was removed in what was
recently Secretary Cortelyou's room
since President Roosevelt assumed Office,
and which was used by the late Presi-
dent Mckinley as a reception roou.
Colonel Crook had the carpenters saw
out a portion OF the flooring for him
He was particular about having a cer-
tain spot In the door and none other.
The boards which he obtained are those
upon which President Lincoln stood
when he made little speech to his ad-
visers after he had been inducted into
Office
Colonel Crook was present and re-
membered exactly where the President
stood and when the floor was removed
he expressed a desire to have the spot
as a souvenir, and bis request was
granted
Among the relic hunters there has
been a great demand for pieces OF
charred wood. which was burned when
the British fired the White House and
Capitol during the war of 1912. The
ends of several large beams and parts
of door castings when torn out were
found TO be charred, and there has seen
a scramble to get bits of these. A stick
several feet in length, bIackened and
charred. was found in tearing away the
castings in the state dining room. The
wcrkmen and others. about the building
obtained the greater portion of this. and
they have been besieged by the relic
hunters for pieces CT IL
Nails and Bolts.
Hand wrought nails and bolts, forged
more than a hundred years ago. are still
plentiful in the ruins. although hun
ireds OF them have been pulled from
the boards and beams and carried away.
no effort being made by the police Or
contractors TO prevent the people from
getting them. One young lady had
riend obtain a pound or more of these
nails from which she made paper
weights. Taking three of these wrought
nails. she first gilded them, then tied
them together with piece of pink or
blue ribbon and sent them as gifts -
her friends.
Others have carried away big sticks
orn from the floors and walls for the
purpose of having them turned into
.anes. The small pieces Of mosaic OF
which the flooring of the lobby OF the
White House was made have also been
EAGERLY sought as relics. although they
ire not as old as the nails and other
ouvenirs.
The big beams which have been re-
,ovad from the building are being re-
,laced with heavy iron girders set IN
rick masonry. and new flooring is 10
e put in throughout the house