The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-06-22
WASHINGTON
GOSSIP
President Was in ban
ger on Late Trip
WORK OF SPECIAL DETECTIVES
They Were All Famous Athletes and
Boxers and They Were Ever
on the Alert.
WORK OF SPECIAL DETECTIVES

WASHINGTON. ID. ct VIII never be
known now close President Roosevelt
was 10 assassination during his long
tourney lust completed At times he
was probably very close, but even the
xacrcr service men who guarded nm
are satisfied to have no more speclnc
knowledge There were no less than
thirty occasions when a quick eye
and a muscular right arm were called
INTO nest aggressive action. to ward
of what might nave been hostile al
tack.
Four strong men. III citizen S
clothes. accompanied The president
from the beginning OF the trip to the
, finish. Whenever the president ap-
peara1 in a crowd these n were at
his elbow. They made 1t thelr puSl-
ness 60 see that no suspiciOus-Io0kng
characters got in striking distance OF
Inc president At times they found
this a difficult task, and on numerous
occasions lhey found themselves III
free fights with some husky fellows.
The PRESIDENT witnessed these fights
and. several times. came 10 the aid
of his men with advice and encourage
memt
In getting in and out of his carriage
the president was brought in closer
contact Win the crowds than at any
other time. and II was during these
periods mat the four secret service
men had most Of their work. 1t was
almost certain that some one would
make a quick run for The presidents
carriage breaking through the regular
police lines and getting almost within
range. Quite a number of these par
ties were rough, spiciOUs-Iooking
foreigners: they might he cranks or
something worse. Their Intentions
might be good or they might be hos
tile The bodygUard could not afford
to wait for further investigations;
their cue was to grab the man b. the
neck and the middle and pitch him
back into the crowd.
They did not hesitate at rough
methods Often the victim would re-
Sist ana it became necessary to pol
ish him off before turning him over
to the local police. At ST Paul one
Of the crowds was so dense that it
broke through the barriers and the
president was in danger Of being
carried off his feet in the rush. Then
il was that his four huskies closed
in about him and fought a desperate
hand-to-hand battle with the mob.
One Of the detectives found himself
beset by three rOughs at once and
was forced 10 draw his 'blackjack"
ana hit one Of them over the head
with ii b. ore he could escape. The
carried Of by the local police
That vaa the only time when the
guard us -" anything but their fists.
Al are fin athletes and expert boxers
and Wres 5 and the things that hap
pened 10 the people on whom they
laid their hands came so suddenly
and so unexpectedly that they prob
ably wondered afterward what had
happened. One of the presidents
guard is noted for his beautiful
hands; they are gracefully formed
white and soft as a WOman'S: but
their owner is the best Of the quartet
as a boxer. and these hands will
double up into fists like sledge ham
mers and the arms which back them
are like steel fails.
In some cities there were slight
misunderstanding as to the authority
of the men guarding the president
the local police being unwilling tC
admit that the strangers had any
rights. In Los Angeles. a mounted
policeman insisted on riding toe
close to the presidents carriage. and
when asked by the secret service mer
to step back few PAGES the officer
refused
Il take orders from my captain" hi
answered. and not from you"
WhereupOn the president. who hal
witnessed the proceedings, interfered
"Will you take orders from me?'
he demanded of the officer, and. or
receiving a reply in the affirmative
Then take orders from my guard"
AT the close Of the trip Presiden,
Roosevelt congratulated the four mer
on their fine work and thanked them
all in person.
GOV Ci1MMINS VIII cnChK