The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-04-14

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othce, he dismounted, and leaving his
horse, very leisurely,walke in, salut-
ed tho Major, took a seat and started
conversations about the rewards that
had been offered for "ths' notorious
Baker" The military hero began
boastipg what he would do if he could
Hay his hands upon him. Suddenly
raising from his chair the desperado
said "Well, Major, you want Bakers
head, and you say you are willing to
give ten thousand dollars for it; we'll,
| am Cullen BIker, and am ready to
furnish the head on your order when
the money is paid"
The MAJORS face turned deadly
pale, his eyes started from their SOCK
etc, and in half gaspiug tone, he said .
"Keally, sir I was not aware I was
talking with Mr.. Baker himself. OF
course, | could have nothing personal
against you, and I don't see that it's
any of my affair to be running myself
into danger to take you"
"No," said Baker, conc should not
always be ready to do other peoples
work; and turning, ne left the Office
of the Najpr with as much uuconcern
as he had entere cd IL, and, mounting
his horse, he rode out Of town and
sought his hiding place in the wilds
of Sulpher.
4 Assoon as the major could recover
from his fright3he rallied his aboys.in
blue"and put after tho sdaripg Wig.
ard" Reavhipg B,wie cotinty, the
majorand his party learned that Bs-
ker and companion wore at the stip-
Eping house enjoying driuk." The
public square was. at once surrounded,
and demand Z mnde upon Baker to
surrender. Baker responded call
right" mounted his horse and throws
! ing his pistol in tho air, keen oraok
was heard, which was the announce.
ment of Cullen Bakers determination
never to be taken alive. His shot
was responded to by the Federal
soldiers, and his companion fell from
his horse mortally wounded. Baker
looked down upon the face Of his dy.
ing friend, and q moment after he was
galloping away, shooting back atthis
pursucrs. IIo reached Dooley's Ferry,
having evnded the Federal party, aud
crossed into Arkansas, telling the fer.
ryman that if ho permitted any one
to cross over on that boat after him
that night he would kill'him the next
evening The ferry man scuttled his
boat and sunk it, and thus Cullen Ba-
ker, for tho second time, beat the ma
jor.
Subsequent to this time he sur
rounded a small town 10 Texas alone,
and by demanding the unconditional
surrender Of the place the command
ant started courier post hast to Mar.
shall, Texas, for reinforcements ts whom
Baker meeting with, made 90 back
and tell the commander of the trick
Long chapters might be added to
this ono of tho bold doeds, some of
chem romantic and invested with an
interest not shocked by crime, but
more often da,k and bloody. It hns
been estimated that in his lifetime he
killed or caused to be killed, fifty
men. He married in Lafayette coun
ty, Arkansas, some time during the
year before his terrible character wa,
developed. He rode the swiftest horse
and knew all the intricate paths OF
swamps and dense forests, and to tax c
himwus next to Impossible.
The people had such fear of him
that they never dared to report his
movements, and their fear was a.
valuable to him as their friendship
would have been. But he fell at last
by the hand Of his farther, in,law and
brother'in.law in their own yard. Ill
had threatened their lives, and they
killed him in self-defence. Mau,
people in Arkansas, Louisiana md
Texas, will feel safer now that Bake,
is dead.
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