The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-03
OBITUARY..
General Lafayette @. Baker.


of the National Detective Police, died
at early hour this morning. at his
residence in this city, No. 1913 Coates
street, in the forty second year of his age. Tne
deceased was grandson of Colonel Remember
Baker, of Vermont, whose name figures g. pro-
minently in the Revolutionary annals OF that
State. General Bakers father, bearing the same
name as his grandfather, removed from Yer
mont in 1916 and became resident of Stafford,
New York, where Lafayette was born on the
18th OF October, 1926. Three years after the
family removed TO the adjoining town of Elba,
where they resided until Lafayette attained his
thirteenth year. The family then removed to
Michigan, locating on the site of Lansing, now
the capital of the State, but at that time o
dreary wilderness. In 1913 Lafayette left Mlchi-
gan, and after residing in New York city for
two years, came to this city, where he was en-
gagged in business pursuits for about three years.
In 1868 he started for California, where he
began a life of adventure which has been sell
dom equalled. While crossing the Isthmus OF
Darien he became involved in a dispute with
some of the natives, VINO were endeavoring to
impose on an Irish emigrant. Mr.. Baker
espouSed the latters cause, and did not rid
himself of the matter until he had shot two
the natives deadIin self-defense, and remained
concealment several weeks, while their frien
were seeking his life in revenge. After his ar.
rival in San Francisco he engaged in business
pursuits until 1856, when the famous Vigilance
Committee was called into being by the great
disorder and lawlessness which prevailed. This
Vigilance Committee consisted of 2200 men,
each known only by his number. Bakers
being 2OS. He was one OF the most active and
efficient members of the organization, and did
his full share in the work of rescuing San Fran
cisco from anarchy.
Resuming his business pursuits after the dis
banding OF the Vigilance Committee. Baker
remained in San Francisco until 1861 in whicb
year he paid another visit TO New York in
tending to be absent from his California home
for brief period only. Previous TO his depart
ure, the leading merchants of the city present.
ed to him a magnifcently- amounted cane, as an
acknowledgment of his services In the cause
of law and order. Just he was preparing to
return TO the Pacific coast, the first act in the
great drama OF the civil war occurred, and
Baker determined TO enter the national service
in a capacity cOngenial TO his experience and
tastes.
After several interviews with General Scott,
an arrangement was finally effected in accord
Rnce with which ne started on secret mission
to Richmond, to discover if possible the num-
bers and disposition of the Rebel forces in and
around Manassas Gap. Before he could get
through the Union lines he was arrested by Or
tan under guard. Again starting, he contrived 10
get within the Rebel lines, by representing
himself as Southerner long resident In Cali.
fornia, who desired TO return to his native Sec
tion. He reached Richmond, had an interview W
with JEFF. Davis and Toombs, secured an ap-
pointment as secret agent of the Confederate
Government, learned some important facts con.
cerning the disposition of the Rebel troops, and
finally reached Washington to make his first
report to General Scott, after several hair.
breadth escapes with his life.
In this way his work was lnaugurated, and it
expanded in the course OF a few months into
the extensive operations Of the secret service
bureau of the War Department, OF which Baker
was the responsible head. To assist the opera
tlons Of the service, a regiment Of cavalry was
recruited In the District of Columbia, of which
ne became Colonel, his commission as a Brlga-
dler-denefai' long promised him by Mr.. Linz
coin' not Delng made out until after the cap.
tnre OF the companions OF John Wilkes Booth,
In return for his share In which he received it