River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-05-15
BAkER PASHi.
History of the AFFAIR that Blasted His Life
-ESorts TOR His Pardon

n -hftA4As
History of the AFFAIR that Blasted His Life
-ESorts for His Pardon.
london Letter to San Francisco Argonant
The most expressing topic Of CONVEX
sation in all circles at present seems I'M
qnestionably to be the proposed REIN
statement in the army of Colonel Val
entine Baker-or Baker Pasha, as he is
best known nOwadays-a the incidents
of tho 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 to 90 back
to the year 1875, in the summer of winch
year Valentine Baker was the Heuten~
ant-colonel of the Tenth Hussars, one
of the, if not the, SWEETEST light cavalry
regiments in the service. He had been
In the service since before the Crimean
war, and had served throughout that
campaign as Lieutenant in the Twelfth
Lancers After that he saw service in
India and China, and became noted not
alone in those dashing qualities and
good looks which are supposed by the
readers of "Ouida" to distinguish all
typical ''plungers" as light-cayalry
Officers ar called but for a thorough
knowledge Of his profession particularly
that branch which embraces light cavalry
tactics. Indeed, when he became com
handing officer Of the famous Tenth,
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 foregone conclusion in the minds
of his admirers.
Although a married man, with nearly
grown children, and though streaks of
white were growing painfully marked
IN his dropping mustache, he retained
with the fair sex those fascinating
praces OF speech and manner which had
ever made him the charming companion
he was, alike in drawing room, boudoir,
club smoking-room. or at regimental
mess-tabIe Brilliant, handsome, gift
cd, clover, brave, and able, he was IA
vofite among men and pet among wO-
men. He was a great friend of the
Prince of Wales-or rather, moro prop
erly speaking, the Prince of Wales was
a great friend of his. The prince was
the colonel of the Tenth Hussars tan
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 it's
officers.
In June. 1875, the Tenth were quar-
tered at Aldershot, and on the afternoon
of the seventeenth dav of that month,
Colonel Baker left North Camp Station
by the southwestern train for London,
occupying first-class compartment all
to 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.. Click
enson "a gentleman residing in the vi
cinitv). who was driving his wife, daugh
ter 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 Colonel Bakers. |
don't know if her father thought any
thing of it at the time; but as it turned
out it was the most unfortunate selec-
ton that could have been made for both
It's passengers. Had Miss Dickinson
been put into any other compartment in
the whole train, her name and fame
would not I've the public property it has
been for years, and the promising career
of one of the cleverest 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 u sample to swear bv.
Her brother was an officer in the Royal
Engineers, and she herself was by no
means unknown at garrison balls and
plac 5 where officers do mostly resort !;
and her golden hair and azure ewes We're
set off hv form and figure that might
have been n model for a 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 glove. and
displayed beneath her scant draperies ~
it being the zenith of the pull back"
period-a pair of fairv-like feet In pat
ent leather boots and golden-clocked
blue silk stockings. A iauntv blue vel
vet round hat with a white gull's feath-
er in it crowned her head, while mar
row strip of black lace served as an ex-
cuse for a mask veil.
\ friend Of mine who happened to he
in the train, has given me this descrip-
ton, accompanying it with the remark ;
eff the Judge had seen her then, per-
haps he wouldn't have 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 repu-
tation 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 putin &
on again and seemed all right until 1t
stopped ut Chaplain junction. Then
the passengers were thrown into a great
state of excitement bv the intelligence
that when the train had come lashing
up to the platform, the door of Colonel
Bakers compartment was wide open,
and the colonel holding fast with one
hand to Miss Dickinson, who stood hat
less upon the step outside. A great
ccmmotiou followed. With many tears
and sobs the golden-haired beauty told
her story. the gallant Baker was taken
into custody, the young ladv's relations
telegraphed for, and the train went on
its way again.
Briefly. Miss DickinSons story was
that she did not know Colonel Baker
even by sight; that the train he'd hardly
left Working when he entered into con
versation with her; that her short re-
plies had no effect, but 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 therupon she jumped
mp and tried to set the alarm in motion.
but being intercepted by Colonel Baker
and not knowing what else to do, she
sprang to the door. burst it open, and
swung herself out upon the steps, the
train going at the rate of forty miles an
hour: that Colonel 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. Colonel Baker
had not word to say, except
to give an absolute denial to the whole
story or at least Miss Dickin-
sons version of it. The af-
fair happening during the height of the
London season, and Colonel Baker being
s. prominent a member of society,
the CONSERVATION it created in all quar-
ters can be imagined Many people