The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-01-06

IL was on January 5, 1866 that Col
oiook began his duties in the White
rouse. At that time, the President
mad an office on the second floor com
posed OF two rooms. One of these
PRESIDENT Lincoln used. The other
was utilized by his secretary.
On the day of the night that Pres.
ident Lincoln was sssassinated Crook
was on duty. He told of that day
as follows:
/ was with the President all day.
Late III the afternoon we went IN
the war department where | sat TO,
TWO hours in Secretary Stanton's of
nee while the President discussed
events with him. When we left there
! we walked across to the White House.
Inc President told me that he was
gong to the theatre that night. ask
ed him whether in view of the danger
ought not to go with him. He said
there was no need. AS we reached the
uoor leading into the White House he
turned to me and extending his hand
said
Good,,by, Crook
IL was the first time that he had
ever said that to me and for some
reason, then unexplained, | felt de.
pressed. | left him there and that was
the last time that ever saw him alive.
81 lived out in the suburbs at that
time and as l was en- route to the
"hlte !. the next morning heard
the newspoys crying their extras.
cried as | read the sad news. | have
always felt that if l had obeyed nv
original impulse to accompany the
President the tragedy would not have
taken place."
Or the thirteen Presidents and 20
secretaries to Presidents who have
occupied the White House since then
only President Wilson, Former Pres
ldent Taft and Roosevelt and Score
taries Horace Porter, R. NJ. Douglas
and U. S. Grant, Jr., are still alive
And not one of the men that surround.
ed Lincoln during those tragic DAYS
that perpetuated the United States
is now alive. Col. Crook is the sole
survivor.
Brought Good News to johnson.
President Johnson, on succeeding
the lamented Lincoln, selected Crook
as his personal body guard. He ac
companied the President throughout
the city on his walks and his drives
He sat inside the office during all |
OF the time that the President received |
callers. At the request of the Presi. |
dent he followed the impeachment |
in the capital. When the |
verdict was rendered he ran all the
way from the capitol to the White |
House out-distancing all others and
was the first TO break the news to the
President and his wife that the i'm
parchment had failed.
Il was something of a runner in
those days." said the Colonel, "but
think on that day hung up a record
that stands even yet. You know there
were no trolley cars then, only buses.
And they were too slow for me. When
told the President he looked at me
for a minute, sort of gulped when
told him the vote. Then the tears
came into his eyes and he shook my
my hand and walked away Mrs. John
son thanked me for my trouble"
President Johnson gave Crook a
in the White House. And
when President Grant came into OF.
fice he wrote him a letter in which
he asked that the young soldier be
retained in the job. So soon as Gen.
Grant found out that Crook was a
veteran of the war he ordered him
kept on the force. The relations be-
tween Crook and his chief were pc.
,uliarly close under Gen. Grant. The
after was attracted by the efficient
manner in which Crook discharged
MS duties and on several occasions in
he absence of Secretary Robert T.
Lincoln, he detailed young Crook as
acting secretary. 1t was in this way
nat he received the title of Colonel.
In the days after the war all persons
close to the President received mill