The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-13
LINCOLN'S BODYGUARD
PASSES OFF SCENE
Colonel w. H. Crook Has Been Stationed
at White House During Service
OF II Presidents.

Washington, D. c., March l3.-Colonel
w. II. Crook, disbursing officer OF the
White House, who was President Lln'
coins bodyguard and intimately ae-
ouainted with every president since lsoo,
died to-day. He had been Ill a week
with pneumonia. ~
Fifty wears of service as Wmte
House employe, through the admlnlstra
tions OF u presidents, made Coloiiel
William II. Crook one OF the most "a
miliar figures in the national capital
and in his old age left him rich IN per
sonol "reminiscences of the intimate size
of White House life The assasslnatlons
of Lincoln and Garfield, various weddings
~ tho White House, and the impeacn-
mont of President johnson, were among
numerous events which Colonel Crook
recalled in memoirs of ms nan ce''u''
of White House service.
He was taken from the washington
police force in 1865 and appointed fres,-
dent Lincoln's bodyguard. Prlor 10 tIls
he had served in the Union army. ne
accompanied Lincoln on many OF ms
walks and drives, and it was ms duIy
10 watch over the president during pup
lie receptions.
Colonel Crook told often OF how, on
the afternoon before Lincoln's assassina-
tion. the president had come TO nm IN
confidence end said that on three sue
cessiye nights he had had dreams Whlch
foretoId his murder. Crook thereupon
bepped the president not to go to the
theatre that evening. as planned Ian,
coin insisted. and furthermore. would
not hear of Crook accompanying hlm'
He ordered Crook to 90 home and rest.
As they parted. Lincoln failed TO say
"Cood uight."--the only time he ever
failed to saw it, said Crook.
Colonel Crook also ALWAYS maintained
that the substitute guard that night Pc
"a me interested in the play and iett ms
ros+ of duty. and that If he himself had
haen present. Booth would never have
entered tie theatre box to shoot In
coin. ,.. ~
II was Colonel Crook, who, during the
newt administration. carried to President
Johnson the first news of his aequlttal
IN impeachment charges. He served as
,Tobnson's bodyguard, and on the day
+be verdict was expected he was on
band When he was told the news he
ran all the way from the capitol TO the
yyrI;+o House The presidents eyes filled
,,,;+b taars and he gulped when Colonel
Crook burst in with the tdlngs' ia'ei
thanking him warmly for his trouble
Col. Crook was unusually elose ~
President Grant and the members OF ms
family, and in 1870 he was apPoihteu
"execntive clerk to the president OF the
United States" Later, in 1917 Fresi-
dent Grant made him disbursing oihcer
~ the White House, the position he held
during the succeeding administrations
n was during the Grant admlnIstra-
tion that life at the White House began
10 be more ceremonial
Col. Crook told how he drove Gulteau'
President Garfeld's assassin, away from
tbe White House on occasions before
he finally succeeded in killing the presi-
dent Guiteau had been accustomed to
go into the reception room, ask after
the health of the president, stay snoIt
time and leave. He became obnoxious
one day, and orders We're given TO keep
him away. On the morning OF the as
sassination, the man returned 70 ask
about the presidents health, and Crook
u,as worried when he heard of the aiialr.
Tba nresident was not told of his fears,
however and in one of his books OF
white House memories Crook tells how
he found Garfield turning hand springs
with his sons that morning.
Crook was in one of the White House
windows when Garfield was brought
back after being shot. The president
was conscious and waved his hand TO
group of White House employees. war
rem s. Young, another veteran White
House employe, and friend Of Crook
was with Garfield when he died, and gave
the first announcement to the world
While the president was still hoyerlng
between life and death. Crook heard that
he would be helped by some squirrel
soup. so he obtained a special permit
shot some squirrels, and supplied The
soup.
Col. Crook saw five White House mar
riages lie collected letters and othel
mementoes OF the various presidents un
der whom he served, including notes
from all the presidents, who spoke u
the highest terms Of his faithfalness anS
abilities. On the occasion Of his 5Ots
anniversary Of entering the White hous'
service. which he celebrated January
1915. be was presented beautiful cane
given by President Wilson and member
ii the White House staff.
- asHN AZ