Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-05-26
HOW IT FEELS TO BE HANGED.

HOW IT FEELS TO BE HANGED.
An inmate OF the Jail in Santa Fe, N. NJ,
is Theodore Baker, who is about to be tried
for crmo for which he was once hanged.
Baker was brought there from Colfax county,
where his crime was committed, for sale
keeping.
About two years ago Frank S. Unruh, g
civil engineer, was married in Germantown,
Pa, and with his bride moved to New Mex
leo. As there was demand for bis services
as an engineer, he was frequently away
from home two or three weeks at u time,
leaving his young wife practically alone in
q wilderness. She demonstrated with him,
and finally, to quiet her, he agreed to call
on one of their neighrors and see if some.
thing could not be done to give her protec-
ton during his absence.
The nearest neighbor was Theodore Bak-
er, young and strapping pioneer, whose
house was fully ten miles away. He proved
10 be of an accommodating disposition, and
o bargain was stuck between him and the
husband that when the latter was away from
tomeBaker would 90 over to the Unruh ranch
each night, and remain in the house with
Mrs. Unruh until morning. In this way
Baker and the young woman were thrown
together q great denl and became quite
friendly. On returning 10 his home last
December Unruh quarreled with Baker and
the next morning the dispute was renewed
in the presence of Mrs. Unruh. Before it
had gone very far, Baker drew revolver
aud fired two shots ut Unluh, killing him
instantly. The story told by Baker, who
reported the shooting, was to the effect that
the husband had attacked him first without
cause and that he had shot in self-defence.
In this the young woman concurred. Five
or six men soon reached the ranch and
made thorough examination They found
that the wounds in Unruh's body indicated
that he had been shot when down, and as
Baker and Mrs. Unruh appeared to be very
fond of each other, they surmised that the
murder had been arranged between them.
Taking Baker and Mrs. Unruh into custody
and loading the body into wagon, all were
conveyed to Springer, where an inquest was
held. Mrs. Unruh was held in S. 900 bonds,
but before Bakers case had been disposed
of mob surrounded the Jail on the night of
December 81, compelled the sherif to give
up the keys and took Baker out with the
intention oflynching him.
Realizing how futile would be any attempt
at escape Baker resigned himself to bis fate.
Not far FROM tho ja! he noticed a rope with
moose at one end swinging from the cross
bar of q telegraph pole, and moment later
the Moose was over his head, while twenty
men stood ready with tho other end of the
rope in their hands to hoist him. Some one
gave the siena to hoist, and before those
who were nearest :he culprit knew it al
most he was kicking 10 the air. After hang
ing five or ten minutes some one in the
crowd seized hold Of Bakers legs and pull
ed them down with all bis might. AS he
then hung motonless it was assumed that
he was dead, and the lynchers, feeling that
they had done a good job and saved the
county considerable expense, separated
They had hardly vanished when the jailer
appeared on the scene, with three or four
citizens, and the body of Baker was quickly
cut down and conveyed to the Jail. 1t had
been hanging for fifteen minutes, and ply
sician who was summoned pronounced the
man dead.
Nothing daunted, the jailer Insisted on
trying his hand at resuscitation. Ordering
a liberal supply of whisky, he began work.
First, he poured about pint down Bakers
throat. Then he rubbed him, rolled him
over and over, and tried TO walk him up
and down; and when one man got
UlEGu duOtuSI OLO lOOh luC oupJCSp
in hand. Daybreak found the toilers
nearly exhausted and Baker apparently as
dead as ever. Before separating the men
concluded to try it once more, and they gave
the remains furious shaking up. More
Whiskey was poured down the swollen
throat, and the body was rubbed more Wig
orously than ever, and Baker at last opened
his eyes. Color began to appear in his face
and slight warmth was noticeable all over
his body, and at o'clock in the forenoon,
more that eight hours after the lynching,
Baker was able to move and to utter few
words.
As soon as Baker was strong enough to be
moved the Springer authorities took him to
Jail for safe keeping. He was suffering ter
ribly, and it was not until several weeks had
elapsed that he grew strong enough to sit
up. Even then he was subject to spasms of
Inconsistencies for day or two without
recognizing anything about him. When not
suffering from these attacks he is bright and
cheerful.
In answer to question as to how it felt
to be hanged he said:
"You don't have time to think much
about it, They pulled me up before I was
ready, and the first sensation was one of
suffocation and pain. now remember that
I was conscious of kicking, and my head
seemed to puff up enormously, and |
thought could see thousand men around
me. There was buzzing in my ears, a
dry. choking sensation in the throat, and
frightful shooting pains in the back My
toes and fingers tingled as they do when
they are "asleep," and different colors flash.
ed before me. could hear words pow and
then, but could not recognize the voices,
which seemed to come from great dis
lance. After little remember that be-
gan to struggle harder than ever, and then
came q sudden weight on nv feet which