The Washington times., 1915-01-04

J. cannot spare them."--A Lincoln.
alexander, have been drafted, and
"Your long service in the office
Of the President Is a testimonial
to your fidelity to duty. y."--william
Fl. Taft.
Stretched between the periods
OF the two notes above is a note.
worthy career of a typical Ameri.
can citizen. They both refer to
Col. William H. Crook, chief dis.
bursting officer at the White
House. Tomorrow Colonel Crook
will round out a complete half
century in the service of the Gov
ernment. During that entire Pc
riod he has been on duty at the
beck and call Of Presidents. All
he has served we'll, and among his
most priced souvenirs are letters
attesting to this fact in their own
handwriting.
Crook has had an active part in writ
ing the history of the last fifty years
Of the Executive department. Today,
straight as an arrow. his white beard
squarely cut. his eyes sparkling with
the vim and vigor Of youth, he appears
younger than many Of his associates.
And he takes as deep an interest in
current affairs as the youngest ap-
pointed clerk.
War Drives Him From Home.
The colonel was born in Prince
George county. Md. In the troublous
days before the war. between the
States, he espoused the cause Of the
North. As a result he was driven from
home on January I, 1861, taking refuge
In York. Pa. He came to Washington
on Washinston's Birthday Of that year.
and following President incoln's first
call for troops enlisted on April Is, 1861.
Colonel Crook served as q member Of
the First District Of Columbia Volun-
teers, doing duty along the railroad
lines at Alexandra, Va. and OH tho
Long bridge, across tho Potomac over
which. q short time later. tho defeated
army OF the North retrested from Bull
Run. Immediately after he was dis
charged from the army Crook was
appointed a member Of the Metropoli-
tan police. as the District Of Columbia
police were then known. He served
With distinction for some time. Finally
for policemen to act as special guards
to President Lincoln, and Crook vas
one Of those detained. There were four
of these men. and their orders were
dent to 70 out of their sight.
Last Good.by to Lincoln.
1t was on January 5, 1865. that Colo
mel Crook began his duties in the White
House. At that time the President had
IN office on tho second floor, composed
Of two rooms. Ono Of these President
used. The other was utilized
by his secretary.
On the day of tho night that Presi-
dent Lincoln was assa ssinated, Crook
was OH duty. He told Of that day as
follows:
IT was with the President all day.
Late in the afternoon We went to the
War Department. where sat for two
hours in Secretary Stanton's ofrlce
|hile mi I'll, the 3 President disguised events
President told me that ne was going to
he theater that night. J. asked him
whether in view of the danger I ought
not to 20 with him. He said there was
no need. As We reached the door lead
ng into the White House he turned to
ne .acdde and eSStendins St s his hand. said
1T was the first time that he had
ever said that to me. and for some rea-
son, then unexplained. felt depressed. |
left him there. and that was the last
time that / ever saw him alive.
II lived out in the suburbs at that
time. and as ] was en- route to the !
White House the next morning I heard
The newsboys crying their extras. I'll
cried as I read tho sad news. / have
always felt that If I had obeyed INV
original impulse to accompany the
President the tragedy would not have |
taken place"
Few He Knew Now Live.
OF the thirteen Presidents and twenty
nine secretaries TO Presidents who have
the White House since then
only President Wilson, former Pr.si-
dents Taft, and Roosevelt, and Secre-
taries Horace Porter. Il. NJ. Douglas,
md L. g. Grant, ir, are still alive.
And not one Of the men that surround
I'll Lincoln during those tragic days
hat perpetuated the United States is
now alive. Crook Is the sole survivor
President Johnson on succeeding the