New-York tribune., 1912-04-19
81 KNOW BUTT WENT, TOO"
So Mr.. Taft Said When Told
Hundreds Had Gone Down.
from The Tribune Bureaul


Washington. April 1S-Presdent Taft.
whose sorrow over the loss OF Major
Butt is apparent to all who meet him.
paid the highest possible tribute to his
former aid tonight. declaring that he
had no hope that he had survived the
Titanic disaster.
'I never had any idea that Archie
was saved at ALL" said Mr.. Taft. AS
soon as | heard that | 200 persons went
down | knew he went, too. He was
soldier. and he was on deck, where he
belonged"
No one is more widely mourned In
Washington than the officer who had
been the friend and companion OF two
Presidents President and Mrs. Tart re-
garded Major Butt almost as a member
Of their family, and he was held IN the
same affection by Theodore Roosevelt
and his family
There are others in Washington not in
high places who mourn for Major Butt
Among these are the "shut-ins' at the
Home for Incurables, In Georgetown
who recall his sunny face and merry
greeting when he visited that institu-
tion TO see one of them, woman, whom
he numbered among his friends.
Visited Invalid When Tired Out.
After standing by the side Of the Presi-
dent for many hours during a New
Years Day reception. and with fatigue
written all over him. Major Butt took
time to visit the home and pay ms re-
spects TO this woman. who wished TO see
him in the splendor Of his full dress uni
form The call was short, but when ne
left there were fruit and flowers as an
additional New Years greeting. and
there was a happy smile on the face OF
the invalid.
There vas another visit when clad IN
his khaki uniform, the major called after
n rambe through the woods with MS
dogs. Then, too, he thought OF MS
friend. and. with the dogs leaping at his
heels he stopped to show them TO her.
When the cripple at the door opened
small space to admit the major the dogs
bounded past him and raced wildly up
and down the halls, Some OF the IN
valids were alarmed, but Major Butt
smiled and introduced his pets, giving a
little exhibition OF what they could do.
He went around smiling. but not one
whit happier than the woman AT the
door. who had read him the law about
dogs when he entered.
Not long ago another little friend also
an invalid. who lives in the home OF her
ancestors. in West Virginia, wrote to
Major Butt that she was giving n bazaar
to restore the church her grandfather
had built and asked him to send some
thing for IL.
"Of course" remarked the major,
nothing that have is worth while. but
will Just ask the President for one OF
his handkerchiefs."
The President promptly granted the
wish. and an autograph note accom-
panied the gift.
Did Favor for Hanna.
Ii was a bit of unconsciously per-
formed service for the late Senator Mark
Hanna that gave Archie" Butt some
thing Of a start early in his career. He
was private secretary for the United
States Minister to Mexico at the time.
Fresh from the newspaper field and the
news instinct fresh within him. he wrote
series of articles on free silver in Mex
leo. These letters were published In
various widely read papers just at the
time when the free silver question was
beginning to be rife in American poll
tics.
Z Mr.. Butt rAtnrnAd Ia WaAhinatnn In