Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-24
GUARD OF Mr. SUMNER
RecoIIections of His Former
Private Secretary.
A. B. JOHNSON'S STORY
The Massachusetts, Senator Threaten
ed by an Unknown Caller.
MANY PR0FFERs OF SERVICE
Mr.. Sumner Without Apprehension,
but His Friends Believed That He
Needed Protection.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald
Mr. Arnold Burgess Johnson. chief clerk
of the lighthouse board, who was private
secretary to Senator Sumner tells me that
the late Senator Dawes had evidently for
gotten several important facts when he re-
lated the story l told some weeks ago
about an alleged practical joke designed
by certain roysterers from Virginia to
brighten the great Massa chusetts states
man. Mr.. Johnson was an active participant
in the affair, and wrote detailed account
while the circumstances were still fresh in
his mind. Mr.. Sumner himself, in referring
to the matter in his memoirs page 100, vol.
V, expresses his gratitude to his private
secretary, A 3. Johnson, esq, afterward
chief clerk of the lighthouse board, who,
untiring in friendship and fidelity without
consulting him, arranged protection for the
night and bodyguard between his lodg
ings and the Senate The latter service was
generously assumed by citizens of Kansas,
who, under the captaincy of Augustus Wat
ties. insisted upon testssJiag in this way
their sense of his effort for them APP
prised of Mr.. Summers habit Of walking to
and from the Capitol, they watched his
door, and as he came out, put themselves at
covering distance behind, with revolvers
in hand. and then, unknown to him, fol-
lowed him to the door of the Senate. In
the same way they followed him home"
Mr.. Johnson told me the other day that
Senator Sumner himself wrote this para
graph, not only to record a fact, but to
crafty who took pride in his service.
This has been brought to my knowledge
since his death by a friend to whom he
read it when it was fresh from his pen,'
said Mr. Johnson. 1T shows something Of
the warmth of his attachment and the kind
ness of his heart
Mr.. Sumner Threatened.
''On June IA, 1860 Mr.. Sumner spoke in
the Senate for the first time after the in
juries inflicted by Brooks. His speech was
on The Barbarism of Slavery and pro-
duced a tremendous effect. Four days
after, while he was sitting alone In his
lodgings F street opposite the Ebbitt
House, a man entered who announced him.
self a STAKEHOLDER, and declared that he
had been slandered by Mr.. Sumner and pro-
posed to hold him responsible. The senator
quietly told him If he did not go at once
he would be thrown out of the window
The intruder dropped his stilted tone, and,
while treating, threatened vengeance.
Among other things, he said he was one
of the four men who had come from Viz
ginia for the express purpose Of holding
Mr. Sumner responsible and that they
proposed to do it al all costs. This person
had been gone but few minutes when
came in. and 1t was not until had spent
some moments at my DESK Indt JUe senator,
in a calm and almost Indifferent manner,
told me what had occurred and suggested
that l had better tell Senator Wilson and
ask him to step in If he were passing that
way in the course of the evening.
Naturally much moved. / started at
once continued Mr.. Johnson, when 1t oc-
CURED to me to offer the senator my re-
volver Mr.. Sumner looked at it curiously
and asked how it was worked. When 1t
was explained, he declined to accept the
pistol, and when urged, on the ground that
his visitor might return with Others to
back him, replied that he thought he could
do better service with the poker than with
the revolver for he was used to one and
strange to the other.
Gen. Wilson was easily found and he
quickly Joined his colleague. Mr.. Burling-
hame was then sought, and found with sew
eral other congressman in the room of Mr..
John Sherman. On being told why he was
wanted, he at once informed the others.
and they all but one went directly to Mr..
Summers rooms. That one spread the news
that the senator was again in danger. and,
in consequence, there was a constant sue
cession of calls and proffers of service,
only ceasing when the house was closed
for the night.
Several Unknown Callers.
while Senator Wilson was with Mr..
Sumner, and before the arrival of the others.
a person came to the door and asked par
ticularly to see Mr.. Sumner alone, but when
tOlu VINO was Win HifIl, utCllHeu 10 enter
His manner was so singular that the ser
want girl was alarmed, and declined to
answer the bell again that night. At about
o o'clock and while several friends were
in the rooms, three persons came to the
door and they also asked to see the sena-
tor alone. On being told that others were
with him, they sent this word by the ser
want: Tell him that Mr.. and two
friends called to him privately, but
not finding him alone, they would call again
In the morning fer a private interview and
IL they could not have 1t they would cut
his throat before the next night Mr.. Sum-
ner laughed at this the vaporing OF
drunken men; but his friends viewed 1t
more seriously. especially when they found
that three different parties had called on
the same errand at three different times.
Hence they remained.
mfr. Sumner had returned to his desk
after going through his evening mall and
though chatting at intervals, was occupied
in writing, and from time to time urged
his friends to leave him. He had no appre-
tensions He felt there was no danger.