New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-16
NEVER IN
FEAR FOR HIS SAFETY
Seldom Protected by a Body
guard, He Relies on His Own
Strength and Agility.
QUICK IN DEFENDING SELF
Keeps in Fine Physical Condi-
ton by Daily Outdoor Exer-
else and Doesn't Worry
About Any Danger.

About Any Danger.
Chicago, Oct. 15-Although he realized
/ fully the danger Of an attempt at assas-
| slnation TO which he was exposed. Colonel
! Roosevelt gave little heed TO his personal
I safety, and seldom had the protection or
bodyguard after he left the White
| House lie relied almost entirely on MS
own strength and agility to defend him
self
Colonel Roosevelt was asked recently
whether he took any precautions to de-
! fend himself He replied that he never
worried about his own safety.
when a man I do not know comes up"
he said, II take one quick look at his
hands. II both his hands are in sight and
empty think no more about it. II man
attempted to draw a weapon-well, I'm
| pretty quick myself"
! Colonel Roosevelt has a philosophy Of
| his own, which has in It a tinge OF fatal
! ism.
when was IN the Spanish War" he
said, III here was a charge TO be made
or fort 10 be taken, I never stopped TO
think OF danger TO myself. After 'he
| charge had been made or the fort taken.
I might have stopped to think that had
had close call, but that was ALL"
1t was the same way he explained. In
his other affairs. He often gave hint Of
his views In his speeches. saying that
leader in public life should serve to spend
and be spent, and that whatever fate be-
fell him he should not complain II he were
broken or cast aside" He cared mot
rap" he said. what fate befell him"
Expert in Defence.
Colonel Roosevet's expertness I'm de-
Tending himself was demonstrated by the
manner In which he disposed OF a man
who rushed at him through a crowd in
Fargo, n. D.. two years ago. As the man
lunged at him. Colonel Roosevelt shot out
both hands and grasped the mans right
arm with a vice-llke grip. making II Inn
possible for him to draw a weapon. In
fash he whirled the man about and
pushed him back of the platform.
THAT was a trick learned in the COW
country" he said.
The eI-President also knows something
cf jiu-jitsu and considers himself we'll
able 10 handle an adversary who gets
within reach. He realizes. however, that
his ability In this direction is no protection
from the attack OF man IN the crowds
which are constantly around him when
no appears in public
Friends OF Colonel Roosevelt were con-
stantly in fear OF some such happening
as that OF last night. especially during the
heat Of political campaign. but the
colonel himself laughed at their fears He !
would have no guards with him on his |
trips and. although IN the larger towns
and cities detachments OF police we're
usually assigned for his protection. at
other times on his Journeys no such pre- |
cautions were taken.
On his private car during his recent |
trip, aside from his secretaries and Or. |
Terrell, his physician, were Colonel Cecil |
Lyon. OF Texas. and Philip Roosevelt, a |
young cousin, one or both OF whom al |
ways accompanied the ex-President, on |
the watch for any sign OF danger During |
his primary campaign In the spring. |
Colonel Roosevelt took with him Regis |
II. Post, Ex-Governor OF Porto Rico, and |
Travers d. Carmen, OF New York. once a !
football player, who always rode on the /
running boards OF the coonel's automo-
bile or cleared the way for him through
crowd when they were walking. During
the present campaign. however. Colonel
Roosevelt has dispensed with this form
OF protection.
Keeps in Fit Condition.
When he is at home Colonel Roosevelt
is accustomed to ride or walk with per-
feet freedom over the countryside and
through the woods about Sycamore Hill,
frequently walking ten or fifteen miles
unattended. Not once during his years
at Sycamore Hill has an attempt at MS
life been made. although during his term
as President a report was circulated that
he had been shot at. When he is at horne
the colonel Invariably spends a large part
OF each day I'm outdoor exercise. keeping
himself "a trim physically. as II he were
an athlete.
Despite tho fact that he had been en-
gagged In one OF his hardest campaigns for
several weeks, the colonel was in the nest
Of condition. except for a campaign
throat" when he was struck down last
night, and he showed no sign OF weari-
ness II is his custom TO spend two hours
each morning on horseback, and in the
afternoon to play tennis row. chop down
trees, or, in the summer, to go into the
bayfield,.
Colonel Roosevelt never has used tobac-
co. seldom takes alcoholic drinks and al
ways insists on having eight hours sleep
each night. His mode of life, the physi-
"a. III
helping him in the present emergency