The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-01
LITTLE DOCTOR DEAD.
sudden and Untimely End Of q
Life Full Of Promise.
WHILE COMING HERE roa AID.
Df' -. J. Baird. strsskss BY Paralysis
- Psshassts. Dsss q Gle Elsn-
4 LssAA;e CAa,setsr.


sent wave Of sorrow over the wide circle
IN this city in which the s.listie DOCTOR
was known and loved. No particulars
were given In the dispatch. and II was not
rnfii later in the day that IL was learned
that swo days ago he suffered . Partial
stroke Of paralysis as Psshasfin. where he
had recently located a. resident physician
OF the Biewett Gold Mining Company,
and that he was being brcuehs 70 Seattle
for medical aid when death overlook him
At the end Of the frss stage Of his journey.
The sad intelligence carried poignant
grief into many fissside circle - il Was
enjoying the genial benincencs Of the
DAY, Tor the .slitsle doctor WAS widely
known and Vas bound up in the affections
OF all who had been thrown into contact
with him.
20 Seattle In June, 1889. from Wheeling.
W. Va, In which city he was born twenty.
-FOUR years ago last January. His father.
now deceased. was leading physician and
man Of means and high standing. Two
OF his brothers adopted medicine - pro-
fession and another Ia . large manufacs-
nrer In the South. One married and thres
unmarried sisters completed the family,
which 10 one Of the first IN
Wheeling. DR.. Baird was given excellent
educational sdvantsges. and altar being
graduated from Lehigh university. took .
three years' course at the University Of
Pennsylvania medical school, from which
he Was graduated with honorx. While At
school be formed . close attachment for
John Billings, ciassmate, who In .
hrother-in-law Of William II. Wilson. sec
rotary to the commandant st the Port
Orchard naval station, who WAS then liv-
ing IN this city, and he then decided to
come here after securing his degree. After
graduation he spent some time IN WASH
ington City introducing . patent letter
box for residences, in which he had an In
tsresI He succeeded in securing the APP
provai Of the postotiics department. for the
Invention.
Soon after this he came to Seattle in
pursuance of his school-day determine
tion. He had no personal acquaintance
here, but brought letters Of introduction
10 number Of leading citizens from John
Wanamaker and other prominent men
and college chums. From almost the day
Of his arrival he WAS general favoritc.
He made acquaintances with astonishing
rapidity and held them By his geniaiisy Of
manner and unfailing courtesy. He
stepped into . good practice ~ though
. place HAD bsen prepared for
him. and before hs had been here
half year Was recognised - one Of the
rising practitioners Of the city. Being
small Of stature, frail in constitution and
boyish in appearance. a. indicated by the
title of little doctor" by which he was
generally known, he had heavy odds
against Hmm. but he overcams them by
his abilities a. = physician. coupled with
the confidence he inspired In those whom
he met DR.. r. II. Coz, who took Q great
deal OF interest in his progress. was deeply
touched when he heard the sad news yes
terday, and said: ''Dr. Baird was ex-
ceedingly bright and one of the
best assistants I have ever seen
In cases requiring rare skill,
! often wondered where tho young man
had picked up all he knew: but he knew
IL % well that WAS assured that he had
been and still was IN earnest student. He
was . good surgeon. and that means q
good deal coming from member Of the
profession. All he lacked was stature, q
beard and a little more age TO give
him the high place in his chosen profess
sion that his talents deserved"
DR.. Baird's chief characteristic was his
unfailing good humor. He was the life of
every social circle he entered. He was
not only capital mimic. but he possessed
o vein OF original hnmor from which he
could produce bon mots upon call. He
knew every popular song and could sing
IL well, and Just as the man who had sung
IL into fame had rendered It. Those who
attended the minstrel show of the Seattle
Athletic CLUB viii remember the great hit
made by the ''little doctor as end man.
At social affairs this talent was
often called into requisition tor the enter
tainment of those present His social
standing was due not only TO these quail
ties and his breeding, but also to the fact
that he was always cheerful aud uniformly
courteous and atfable. he was popular
with men aud women alike-a rare thing
in man. lie was q member of the Rainier
Club and the seattle Athletic Club. and
played quarterback with the first eleven
Of the latter organization last season.
About two months ago DIR. Baird ae-
cepted the position of resident phi ysieian
Of the Biewett Gold Mining Company at
Peshas;in. There were numerous acct
dents at the urine and his skill in surgery
was often required. Three weeks after
mis- arrival there he suffered serious
attack of mountain fever, and DR.. shar.
pies. who went from this city to
attend him. upon his return said
he MAS afraid the little Doctors"
constitution was seriously impaired. Dur
ing this illness miner had his shoulder
fractured. ard rs thare was no other physi-
clan la camp he was taken to DIR. Baird,
~ho, we'll propped up in his bed, reduced
the fracture. fainting three times before
the operation Was completed. This and
other instances OF pluck and hrs good dis
position made him great favorite among
the miners
He became con valescent after hard
pnA and resumed active practice. Two
days ago he Was str!ken hy paralysis, aud
as there was no cue there TO treat him he
took the desperate bat only chance of try
ing 20 reach Seattle. /. Is supposed tina.
be leit Peshsssin for Seattle szrly yes.er-
day morning. After drive OF Thirty
miles he reached cls-Elum aad probably
died soen aftsgsard. lie dad an organic
heart trouble. which Was doubtless the
immsdiase cause Of death. /. l. Patrick,
superintendent Of the Blewsts mine,
was with him when he died aud viii bring
his remains here en- the overland train to-
day. They wlll be taken 10 the residences
of J. LoFsnr Whissingion, on Seneca
street. where they Will he efnha.mea. Ga
Sunday 81 O'Clock Rev. d. G. Garrett.
rector Of ST. Marks, viii held brief serv-
ice at the house and the remains viii he
sens 10 wheeling, according To the request
Of hss family.