The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-06-08
CONTINUED From First Page.)

condition. even for single day. Wash
ingtons asphalt streets are especially
hard on horses feet, and the President,
realizing this, seldom urges Bleistein to
a pace faster than a walk until the soft
roads are reached. Then the pace is
frequently such merry one that the
sergeant of artillery who habitually
rides fifteen PAGES behind the President
has to touch his horse with the spur in
order to keep up.
One Man He Can't Lose.
The procedure when the President
goes for a ride is exactly the same each
time. He leaves the White House by the
side door. His horse is there, as is that
of his orderly, Sergeant Mcdonald, of the
regular army, who is one Of the hardest
riding men in the service, and, in addi-
ton, the surest pistol shot in the army.
Mcdonald has two revolvers, and sits his
horse like a Centaur. 1t is his business
TO be Just behind the President, whether
the latter is allowing Bleistein to trot
slowly along on the asphalt, or urging
him into a wild run over country roads.
He must be always ready, at moments
notice, for a swift and sure shot.
The President has been able to lose
detectives and Secret Service men and
bicycle policemen, but he has never been
able to lose Mcdonald. When they get
on the country roads, they cut loose.
and the two bicycle policemen who al
ways follow, are left pedaling along in
a cloud of dust, sometimes good ways
in the rear.
Senator Lodge Victim.
Senator Lodge is a favorite horseback
companion of the President. The Sena-
tor is a mild and by no means expert
horseman. He carries no revolver, as
does the President. He is unacquainted
with bucking bronchos. 1t is the Presi-
dents delight to ride up TO Lodge and
urged his horse into hard gallop. Then
they go whooping down the road, Lodge
bobbing, anything but serenely, up and
down like a cork in the water, but stick
ing manfully to his task. Mcdonald is
too much of a soldier to laugh, and thun-
ders along in the rear with the stern
gravity of a craven image.
His San Juan Revolver.
The President, in his horseback rides
as well as in his long walks, carries
with him in his hippocket, the revolver
which he used at San Juan. The weap-
on is the regulation army Colt, and
sometimes, when Mr.. Roosevelt is away
out on the borders of the District, he
practices popping at trees The revol-
yer is always where he can get Il in an
instant, and he is so familiar with its
use that, should the occasion arise, it
would have to be an expert assailant
who could get the drop" on him. He
wears loose coat when he goes riding
or walking, and there is not even a
bulge to disclose the revolver's where
abouts.
The Presidents practice of carrying a
revolver is due to his perfect knowledge
of the necessity for preparing for any
contingency. and his dislike for excess
sive guarding. He could not, for physi-
cal reasons, relinquish his exercise.
and 1t was embarrassing and unsatis-
factory to take it in the middle of a
Gordon of guards. So he decided to be
his own guard.
a revolver. He preferred the thirty
eight caliber Colt, and his own quick
ness of the trigger to any defense that
crowd of Secret Service officials could
render him.
Adept at Jiu Jitsu.
In addition to his revolver protection
he called in Prof O'Brien, Of Boston,
and took course in Jiu JItsu, the Jap
apese method of seIf-defense. He is now
an adept at this practice, in addition
to his other athletic accomplishments.
He knows how to grasp an assailant's
arm and break it before any harm can
come to him. He can seize man by
the coat collar and throw him over his
head.
He is an excellent boxer and wrestler.
He is handicapped by bad eyesight in
sparring match, but is tremendously !
strong and very quick. He would prove !
a dangerous customer in a rough-and-
tumble fight until his eyeglasses fell |
off, and by that time he would, if the |
case were serious and called for it, |
probably have his revolver in action.
He is not wholly ayerse TO a fight.
Laid Out Three "Toughs"
On one occasion. when he was police |
commissioner in New York, he was at a |
public park Three "toughs' singled |