Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-15

The most engrossing topic Of cOnyersa-
ton in all circles at present, says a Lon
don letter, seems unquestionably to be the
proposed reinstatement in the army Of
Col. Valentine Baker-or Baker Pasha,
as he is best known Eowadays-and the
incidents Of the event which caused his
social downfall are called back TO mind
and discussed with an interest as keen as
though they took place yesterday. In
order TO understand the matter properly
it will be necessary 10 go back 10 the year
1910, in the summer OF which year Nalen-
tine Baker was Lieutenant Colonel Of the
10th Hussars. one Of the, if not the swell
est light cavalry regiments in the service.
He had been in the service since before
the Crimean war, and had served through
out that campaign as a Lieutenant in the
18th Lancers. After that he saw service
in India and China, and became noted not
only for those dashing qualities and good
looks which are supposed by the readers
Of "Ouida" to distinguish all typical
''plungers," as light cavalry officers are
called, but for a thorough knowledge Of
his profession, particularly that branch
which embraces light cavalry tactics.
Indeed. when he became commanding
officer Of the famous 10th he was looked
upon as the finest light cavalry officer in
the service, and his career as a successful
General in the next European war that
should break out and involve England
was accepted as a fOregOne conclusion in
the minds of his admirers.
Although a married man, with nearly
grown children, and although streaks of
white were growing painfully marked in
his dropping mustache, he retained with
the fair sex those fascinating graces Of
speech and manner which had ever made
9 .hn l..
alike IN draWing-rOOm, bOudOir, club,
smoking-rOOm, or at regimental mess
table. Brilliant, handsome, gifted, clever,
brave, and able, be was faYOrite among
men and pet anon. women. He was
great friend of the Prince Of Wales-Or,
rather, more properly speaking. the
Prince OF Wales was a great friend Of his.
The Prince was the Colonel of the 10th
Hussars IAN honorary position which
gives pay and uniform without requiring
any duty In return), and his being so Of
course gave an extra eclat to the corps
and its officers.
In June. 1875, the 10th was quartered at
AldershOt, and on the afternoon of the
18th day Of that month Col. Baker left
North Camp station by the Southwestern
train for London. occupying a first-cIass
compartment all 10 himself. At Working
station, Just as the bell was rung to
start the train on again, a wagOnette and
pair dashed into the statiOn-Yard In it
were Mr.. Dickinson, a gentleman residing
in the vicinity, who was driving, his wife,
daughter, and groom. With barely time
to catch the train, the first compartment
Mr.. Dickinson reached he opened the door
of and put his daughter into. 1t happened
TO be Col. Bakers. 1 don't know if her
father thought anything about it at the
time, but as it turned out it was the most
unfortunate selection that could have
been made for both its passengers. Had
Miss Dickinson been put into any other
compartment in the whole train her name
and fame would not be the public property
they have been for years, and the prOmis-
ing career Of one Of the cleYerest officers
in the army blighted.
Miss Dickinson was known as a great
beauty At this time. 1t was the period
when blondes were all the rage, and she
was regarded as a sample to swear by.
Her brother was an officer in the royal
engineers, and she herself was by no
means unknown at garrison balls and
places were officers do most resort: and
her golden hair and azure eyes were set
of by form and figure that might have
been model for sculptor. Nor was her
dress the least Of her attractions. On the
present occasion she was dressed in a
short travelling costume of blue serge,
which fitted her like n glove, and dis
played beneath her scant draperies-it
being the zenith Of the ''pull-back'' period
"a pair Of fairy-like feet in patent-leather
boots and golden clicked blue stockings
A jaunty blue velvet round hat, with a
white CULTS feather in it, crowned her
head. while narrow strip of black lace
served as an excuse for mask veil.
4 friend of mine who happened to be in
the train has given me this description
accompanying it with the remark:
''If the Judge had seen her then, perhaps
he wouldn't nave been so hard on Baker,
1t may. perhaps, be only fair to remark
here, without wishing TO say aUght
against the young lady, that her reputa-
ton among those who knew her was one
that would lead person into calling her
free in her manners with men.
AT all events, the train went putting on
again. and everything seemed all right
until II stopped at Chaplain junction.
Then the passengers were thrown into a
great state of excitement bv the intell-
gence that when the train had come dash
ing up TO the platform, the door Of Bakers
compartment was wide open and the
Colonel holding fast to Miss Dickinson.
Who stood hatless on the step outside. A
great cOmmOtiOn followed. With many
tears and sObs the golden-haired beauty
told her story, the gallant Baker was
taken into custody, the young lady's rela-
on Its way again.
Briefly, Miss DickinsOn's story was that
she did not know Col. Baker even by
sight: that the train had hardly left Wok-
ing when ne entered into conversation
with her; that her short replies had no
effect, bat that in spite of her GOODNESS his
manner became more familiar and his
language improper, his offensive actions
eliminating in his STOPPING down and
grasping her by one of her ankles: that
thereUpOn she jumped up and tried to set
the alarm in motion, but being intercepted
by Col. Baker, and not knowing what else
TO do, she sprang 10 the door, burst it
open, and swung herself out upon the
steps. the train going at that time at the
rate Of forty miles an hour; that Col.
Baker sprang after her, and, unable to
draw her back into the compartment,
held her firmly from falling, as she might
otherwise have done. In reply Col. Baker
had not a word to say, except to give an
absolute denial to the whole story, or at
least Miss DickinsOn's version of it. The
affair happening during the height of the
London season, and Col. Baker being so
prominent a member Of society, the con-
sternatiOn il created in all quarters can
be imagined. Many people simply
wouldn't believe il. and Miss Dickinson
was sharply criticised, by women especi-
ally. No young lady ever travels by train
alone IN England. at least no parent who
has his daughters safety at heart would
permit her to do so, and that was ad-
Yanced as excuse enough for whatever
happened. But at length at the Croydon
AssiZes, before Mr.. Justice Lush. of the
Queens bench, Col. Baker was tried for
criminal assault, and Miss Dickinson re-
peated her tale under oath. Naturally, in
"A case Of the kind, a woman, II she be a
lady. and especially if she be pretty, has
1t all her own way. In England, too, a
man can't testify IN his own behalf, and
the stunning beauty of Miss Dickinson
captured every heart. What were a
mans past services to his country, or
future career, put in the balance with an
injured woman like that, even though her
story lacked a tenable cOrrobOrative cir
cumstance 10 bear out her unsupported
statementsg Col. Baker was defended
by Mr.. Hawkins, Q. c., the leading Grim
inal lawyer at the time, who has since
become a Judge Of the High Court of
Justice, and | remember that his defense
was thought to be far from an able one.
Among many points missed by him was
failing TO lay any stress on the fact of
Baker holding Miss Dickinson from fall
ing Had he been the scOundrel she
described him, or had he any reason to
expect she would accuse him Of anything,
ne would not have been so anxious to
save from Injury the only witness against
him.
However. Col. Baker was convicted