The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-14
HUNTING UP MR.. BAKER.
The News Man the First to Find the
VenJuresome Journalist.

The News Man the First to Find the
Venturesome Journalist.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Sect 13.-In the
press reports of Monday appeared the an
nouncement that DIR. Baker, editor of the
Cincinnati Post, had packed his valise and
started for this city, against the protests OF
his friends and his associates on the paper
He seemed determined to jump into the
thick of the fever, and was
off before he could be stopped.
This was on Friday or Saturday,
and newspaper men were therefore on the
lookout for him Sunday or Monday, but
to their knowledge Mr.. Baker did not turn
up. On Tuesday kilograms began pouring
into Jacksonville from Cincinnati inquiring
for Mr.. Baker and his condition. The Post
had heard nothing from him, and feared
that he might have reached here and sud
denly taken the yellow fever. Wednesday
the local newspapers and correspondents
all received kilograms of inquiry couched
in the most anxious language.
ON THE, SEARCH.
The newspaper men at once began a
search for Mr.. Baker. Every physician in
town was queried on the subject. The
sanitary guards, board of health, relief
committees and the police were all put on
the scent, but no clue to his whereabouts
could be found. Wednesday noon I'll chief
operator in the Western Union Off ce was
handed long special" by an aged
colored man. It was addressed
to the Daily Post. Cincinnati. and signed
d. R. Baker Not knowing any such man,
cials over that signature, the telegraph Off
cials refused to receive 1t and sent it back
by the bearer.
NO ONE KNEW HIM.
Later he returned with note from Mr..
Baker stating that he was an editor. As
this was not official, and Mr.. Baker neither
presented himself In person nor showed Gre
dentials from the Post, the message was
returned again. The colored man gave no
address, simply stating that the man was
sick and unable to leave his house. This
was clew. but even the newspaper men
were unequal to tho task of running it
down. This morning the Times Union aud
several of the correspondents here received
the following telegram:
Wire us IL D. r. Baker. editor of the Cincin-
natl Daily Post. is sick Of yellow fever in Jack
sonville.
FOUND BY THE NEWS CORRESPONDENT.
Just at noon the NEWS correspondent was
coming from DIR. Neal Mitchell's Office
and met Officer Smith of the
police force and asked Smith
il he could assist him in finding a
man named Baker Smith replied Oh,
yes, he is at my house" The
officer and reporter at once
started for the house. On the way Officer
Smith told the following story: II was en-
my beat late Monday night. 1t was raining
hard, aud 1t was as dark as n pocket. A
man accosted me and asked for directions
to a lodging house. An the hotels wore
closed, ami be could find no room. / am
living alone, my wife and family being
away, and my furniture all packed up OK
cept In one room, but as no place was open
at that hour,
/ invited the stranger to share my
house, took him home, made up bed,
left him and went on my beat again. Pho
man had told me that he was representing
q Cincinnati newspaper, but did not give
his own name nor that Of his paper. got
Off al midnight, went home and found the
man restless and nervous, but he
refused to have anything done for
him, sa,ilg that hs would be
better In the morning. Whom morning
came he was quite SICK, had a slight fever