The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-12-01
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Story Of President Who Turned
Night Waterman.
How General Arthur Kept Guard Over
the Nations Treasury Department
While Regular Man Did an
Errand for Him.
BY E. J. EDWARDS.

Shortly after Gen. Chester A. Ar
thur succeeded to the presidency OF
the United States, he took into his
cabinet, as secretary of the treas
ury, Charles ]. Folger, whose pre-
decessor In the portfolio, William
Window, had resigned In order to I'M
dertake canvass for a seat in the
United States senate from Minnesota.
For years President Arthur and Judge
Folger had been intimate friends, and
with the latter member of the cab
met that friendship served to secure
Mr.. Folger unannounced entrance to
the presidents room at any hour OF
the day or night. The president, too,
showed his friendship by calling upon
his secretary of the treasury informal
ly whenever the spirit moved him.
General Arthur, incidentally. was as
unconventional and informal in his
relations with his cabinet as Lincoln
was with his, and he was the first
president In years to accept invita-
tions of a social nature at private
houses.
1t so happened that one afternoon,
about an hour after the treasury de-
partment had closed for the day, the
president. having some business to
talk over with Judge Folger. deter
mined to call upon him at the depart
ment. Walking thither unaccompa-
MED and gaining the long main cor
ridor of the building, he made his
way along the deserted passageway
to point near the door which opened
into Secretary Folger's private office
Here he met a man who seemed to
be of some minor authority.
do you know whether or not Sec.
rotary Folger is in his Officer" asked
the president.
No, sir, do not" was the reply.
We'll. are you employed here In
the treasury department."
Yes, sir, l am. l am one of the
night watchmen, and l have just gone
on duty
do you suppose you could find out
for me whether or not Judge Folgel
is in his Officer I'll stand watch fol
you while you are doing So"
yes, sir, l will try to find out fol
| you" And suiting his actions to hi.
words, the night Waterman disap
peared, leaving the president of tn.
United States standing guard in thu
corridor of the treasury building.
Presently the night Waterman re
turned. mo, SIR, Secretary Folger il
not in. He has been gone for abou
half an hour"
II thank you very much" said tn
president. He touched his hat to tn
man before him and was leaving
when another night Waterman cam
along the corridor and, with a pre-
found bow, paid his respects to tn
president of the United States. L
another moment the newcomer ba
turned to his fellow employee. do 20
know who that was I bowed to-"
asked.
: mo, l do not" was the reply, "bu
the gentleman had some conversatio
with me. He asked If Secretary Flo
ger was in his office and said b
would stand watch for me while
found out"
He did," gasped the second nigt
Waterman. well, that was the pre-
ident of the United States, and
never saw a president in this plac
before"
President Arthur, was it?" e
> claimed the other, astonished in, tur
/ "Well, he's a fine gentleman" The
: he added, as the full significance
il the situation sank in upon him: "He
r president all right, but he was
night Waterman In the treasury d
partment for ten minutes just Il
same"
A few days later the night waite
man who had revealed the president
identity to his colleague narrated til
If incident to Secretary Folger, w
!. carried the story to President Arth,
who in turn, assured the secreta
% that the incident had been correct
ri reported. And so far as / know IL
t. is the first accurate publication of t
incident that gave rise to the sto
r. widespread in 1881, that President
-. thur had been night Waterman
the treasury department.
Copyright. 1910. by E. j. Edwards.
III Rights Reserved)