Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-03
AWAKENED Mckinley TO TELL
HIM THE MAINE HAD BEEN SUNK
Policeman Jamison Recalls
80 Years of Guarding
White House.
Stood Watch Over Gifts to
Presidents Daughters at
Their Weddings.

Three decades under the same roof
with the President of the United States
with daily contact with the Chief
Executive and members Of his family
is the record of John S. JamiSon. 20
year-old policeman, of TAI + street
southeast, who served al years on the
force 80 of which were spent at the
White House.
Reclining in an easy chair at the
home of his son, Roderick. NJ JamiSon,
1903 Minnesota avenue southeast, where
he had gone to recuperate from seri-
Gus Illness. Policeman Jamison recalled
a few of the outstanding happenings
of those eventful years.
In a modest way he told of the time
he received the first telephone message
TO reach the White House telling OF
the destruction of the Maine: of awak
ening President Mckinley on that &C.
caSion; of guarding the elaborate we'd
ding presents of Alice Roosevelt and
Jessie Wilson and of serving as pail
bearer at the funeral of the first Mrs.
Wilson.
Appointed In 1887.
Jamison was appointed to the force
on July !. 1887 The old horse drawn
patrol wagons stopped answering calls
after 10 o'clock at night, and many
time the young policeman. then IN the
sixth precinct had to walk his prison.
erS all the way 10 the station house,
In five years Jamison was assigned
to the precincts front beat which
took in Pennsylvania avenue from Sixth
to Seventh streets. The young patrol
man made many friends among the
Avenue merehants--who stood by him
when he went to the White House, and
years afterward signed a petition re-
questing his promotion.
Jamison'S chief" at the sixth pre-
cinct was Lieut.. John Kelly. father of
Lieut.. Ed Kelly. present chief Of the
homicide squad.
One day. at afternoon roll call. the
desk man" st number received q
phone call TO send Jamison to the super
intendents office at once. Lieut.. Kelly
kiddea the private by telling him he
would lose his buttons now all right"
Very nervous and totally at loss as 10
why the big boss wanted to see him.
Jamison was driven in the patrol 10 the
Office OF William G. Moore, then major
and superintendent OF police
Selected ON Ills Record.
The major sized Jamison up and told
him he had been selected---entirely on
his record-to go to the White House
The next day. December 10, 1892, he
again appeared before Maj Moore and
was given card of introduction to Col.
Crook, in charge OF the White House
employees. Jamison still has the card
Harrison was President when JamiSon
reported at the big front door for his
first days work. The number of EN-
ployes was much smaller than 1t is now
and family spirit" and informal
atmosphere" prevailed at the White
House then, he says. None of the police
stationed there wore uniforms and there
was no colored help. Neither were there
any secret service men to follow the
Presidents every move Both Presidents
Harrison and Cleveland would go cut
for walk without the police even know
ing they had left the White House. ac-
cording to Jamison.
One Summer. during Clevelana's adj
ministration, when the President and
his family were going. as was their Gus
tom. to Buzzards Bay, Mass. for vaca-
ton. Mr.. Cleveland requested Jamlson
TO look after q pet collie Jamison took
the dog home and gave 1t careful atten-
ton, but one day ii strayed away. An
"ad' in The Star Offering reward,
however, quickly brought It's return.
President Repaid Him.
The following Christmas Mr.. Cleve-
land gave Jamison $40 in remuneration
for the sum offered as reward, but
gift which he prizes even higher was re-