New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-03
A ONE-SIDED DUEL.
BAKERS PISTOL WAS NOT DISCHARGED.

COUNT OF HOW HE SHOT THE sECRE-
TARY OF COL. INGERsoLL-THE
WOUNDED MANS CMTI-
CAL CONDITION.
Few men who have received wounds similar
to those inflicted upon |. Newton Baker, private
secretary Of Colonel Robert G. Ingersol in the
shooting affair at Croton Landing, Westchester
County, on Saturday night. have lived twenty
four hours; nevertheless he is alive, although his
condition at its best is critical One Of the three
shots fired at Mr.. Baker by Orville NJ. Anderson
entered the left breast about two and half
inches from the nipple and the same distance
from the breast bone. 1t took an oblique course
through the body and came out of the right
armpit. 1t passed through both lungs and
mysteriously escaped the large boodvesscls in
that vital part. Yesterday morning the patient
was not troubled with cough, which was one
of the favorable symptoms. Should that ap-
pear, the slightest internal wrenching would pro-
duce a hemorrhage, and that would cause i'm
mediate death.
Another shot fractured the bone Of the right
arm about midway between the elbow and the
shoulder The ball is still in the nesh although
its removal will be an easy matter when the
wounded man is strong enough TO bear the opera
ton The third shot was fired, it is supposed,
while Mr. Baker had his left arm raised, pre-
sumaby to shield his face The ball made a
flesh wound in the left forearm, and after nlict-
ing o slight scalp wound. glanced up through
the brim of his hat This wound was about
healed yesterday. The fractured arm may have
to be amputated.
Twenty -four hours sometimes intervene before
Inflammation sets in. The attending physicians
are trying to guard against this almost inevitable
result. All the shots were fired at close range
The one which passed through the body made
clean hole not only through the flesh, but also
through the clothing
Last night Mr.. Baker was conscious, and it
was a great effort for the male trained nurse
and Mrs. Baker to restrain the stream of words
which the wounded man would pour forth, when
not constrained to remain silent
Since the shooting Mrs. Baker has been con-
tinually in attendance her husband. She has
not left him night or day for more than five
minutes at time. Saturday night Mrs Robert
G. Ingersoll and her son-nlaw started from
Dobbs Ferry, where they are staying, for Gro
ton They remained for some time and did not
return to Dobbs Ferry until long after midnight
Yesterday morning member of the firm of
Griffin & Prosser, with Which Colonel IngerSoll
is connected, as is Mr.. Baker, called upon the
to say anything whatever for publication. About
2 o'clock yesterday her brother BENJAMIN r,
Myers, her sister and niece, the Misses Myers and
her nephew, j, Howard Irving, arrived. All of
these relatives live in Philadelphia, and first
learned in the morning papers of the shooting.
Mr. Myers and Mr.. Irving started again for
Philadelphia last evening. without having seen
Mr.. Baker.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning DR.. Acker Of
Croton, DR.. Helm, of Sing Sing. and Dr. Coutant,
Of Tarrytown, held consultation. They found
that the puncturing of the lungs had produced
enphysema, or air in the flesh This bad symptom
was not so largely developed as it was on the
night of the shooting, and the physicians were
corrcspondingly encouraged, because it shows the
lungs have not been injured to any great extent
They also concluded that no bones were broken
by this shot, which has produced the most serious
Of all the wounds. The next point to guard
against is the infammatory process Of the chest
wound. The wounds in the arms are not of so
great importance. If worse comes to worst, the
right arm will he amputated and, in fact that
measure even now is contemplated should sup
puratiOn begin.
On Saturday. before the wounds of Mr.. Baker
had been dressed, Coroner George II. Sutton, Of
Peeksl,i arrived at CrotOn The condition of
the patient at the time critical that it
was deemed best to take his antc-mOrtcm state
ment at once He was almost pulSeeSs and in
morhund state His mind was calm and quiet.
He stated that he met by Anderson, on the
road that they had short but exciting talk,
not lasting more than fifteen minutes; Anderson
said Baker must not hold any intercourse with
the servants he employed. Baker told
Anderson no one could teach him what to do.
lie had right to act like gentleman, and Nlr.
Anderson or nobody else had a right to dictate
whom he should spcas to. The shooting began
about > 80 p III. Anderson fired first, ana MI
Baker says he did not draw his revolver at all.
In the same house where the unfortunate man
is living on his bed of agony living the sisters
of the man who did the shooting One-haf Of
the large, rambling house since April has been
devoted 10 the exclusive use of the Bakers. The
other half is now taken up by Mrs. Anderson.
the mother of Orvilc NJ Anderson Mrs. Tinsey
and four Children Of Louisville, ky and Miss
Lillian Anderson Mr.. Anderson was seen by
Tribune reporter in the Crotcn Landing
iail. lie is about thirty-one years old,
and naturally of retcent disposition. The
shooting has had the effect of making him more
reserved than usual. lie has a refined, cIean-cut
face. His head is well developed, and the light
brown hair is growing thin.
The statement lie gave to The Tribune reporter is
as follows:
Il was going down to the pOstoflice TO get
the mail. ] understand Mrs. Baker says | went
down TO meet Baker, but that is not So He
generally ca n on the ) 80 train, and under
stood his habits. The mail comes in at o'clock.
There was no intention on my part to meet him.
I had pistol in my pocket, but was not in the
habit of carrying one. | have always kept orc
in the house. When / at first vert out nights
around here ! sometimes pnt it in my pocket /
took the pistol on that occasion because of threats
and motions made toward me two days before
by Mr.. Baker. At that time went to him at the
station TO have talk with him about our troubles
He became so excited ond talked so loudly that
the people around could hear what was beng
said | did not want that, and told him We
would talk it over alone in some other place.
lie very angry and stood in 'front.' oil NE
ecowiiur Gercply He then made motion toward