The Minneapolis journal., 1904-11-25
SURROUNDED By GUARDS
President Protected by Railroads and
Secret Service Men.

Washington, Nov. Extraordinary
precautions have cen taken by the
railroad companies and the government
secret saryice agents to prevent acci-
dent to President Roosevelt and his
party. which left for ST. Louis on
In addition to the precautions of the
railroad companies to have a pilot en-
gine precede the presidential train and
a track walker for every mile of road
over which the train passes, secret
service agents numbering a dozen will
be with the president. More than one
thousand men will be engaged solely in
inspecting the tracks.
Every available secret service man
has been ordered either to accompany
the president on his trip to st. Louis
or to join him during his stay there.
The president has become SO accustomed
to the secret service men always being
at his elbow that it no longer irritates
him. Secret service operatives from
many points in the west have been
ordered from their territories to report
on the arrival Of the presidential train
at st. Louis and to remain constantly
with the president until his departure
on Sunday night.
Chief Wilk1e in Charge.
Chief Wilkie of the secret service has
given personal attention to the plan OF
guarding the president on this trip. He
and will see that his force is on hand I'd
protect the president should that be
necessary.
Before leaving the Pennsylvania sta
tion every part Of the presidential train
was thoroly inspected by one OF the,
most competent men in the company g
service. Every wheel was tapped and
sounded with hammers, the air brake
mechanism was thoroly tested and
orders have been issued to car in
spectors at various points to overhauI
every part of the running gear OF the
train upon its arrival
The engines which are to haul the
president 8 train are to be the best in
the service, and the engineers have been
told that they will be held to strict ac-
counting for any accident or delay
which may happen to the train. Only
the most trusted engineers on each d.
vision are to train out, and the pest
crews have been instructed to hold
themselves in readiness to handle the
presidential special.
No general inspection OF the roaoss
over which the president Iacr W1l s1asqa sIassa
entrusted with the duty Of seeing that
the roadbed is in good condition must
walk over the section which they have
in charge Immediately preceding the
passing Of the pilot engine of the presl-.
| dent g train and must not leave the
section until after the special has:
passed.
Chief Wilkie said that only the usual
precautions were being taken, but.
never before, not even during the civil
war. have such extraordinary precau.
tions been employed. S
| Presidential Party. s.
| The president is accompanied by
Mrs. Roosevelt, Miss Alice Roosevelts
Mr.. and Mrs. Douglas Robinson of New;
York, Surgeon General Rixeyo Of thenayys
Secretary and Mrs. Loeb, NJ. G. Latta,:
and the representatives Of three press.
associations In addition to the secret
service men several maids and person.
/ al servants accompanied the party: #
Spick and span from locomotive
headlight to brass buttons on the una,s
forms of Pullman porters, the speclal|
train is one Of the most superbly ap-l
pointed that ever pulled out OF the
Pennsylvania station.
The Pullman private car Slgnet was:
set aside for the exclusive occupancy
of President Roosevelt and his immedl-'
ate family. The signet is one OF the
j mos owned by the Pullman company.
Constructed Of steel, it is furnished IN
i mahogany, oak, walnut and mar
queterie. AT. one end is canopy topped;
i observation parlor and drawingroom.
4 with accommodations for abont six
4 teen persons. This will be used also as
the diningroom for the president and
Continued On, Second gaga. e