The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-08
TOOK THE OFFICE
UNCLE" BILLY BAKER GOES On
THE WAR PATH.
He Invades the Western Union Telegraph
Once and Puts Operators and Messen-
gers to Fiight-He Makes One Boy Climb
Telegraph PoIe-He Then Quietly Pro-
ceeds to Ratify the Election of Jerry
SImpsOn-Bis Wild Yells Make the Win
dow Panes Rattle-Finaily Captured by
the Police After Taking the Town.

The Western Union Telegraph office
was the scene Of excitement last night
that will not soon fade from the memory
OF those men who earn their bread there
by the sweat of their face.
Uncle Billy Baker was in town and ne
made himself as familiar around there
as if he was related TO the Baker who IS
one of the big managers Of the company.
Uncle Billy Baker is a farmer near
Sedgwick and is holy terror whenever
ne takes one of his spells. The police
would sooner tackle circular saw any
time than tackle Billy Baker when he is
in one Of his tantrums.
It Is said Mr.. Baker killed his brother
in some manner about twenty years ago
and ever since then is subject to spells
that are very close to insanity, il not in
sanity altogether. Whenever he gets
these spells and adds to them little
liquor any person he takes a dislike TO
is better be in another county.
Last night he left saloon bowling like
an enraged bull and sauntered east Oh
First street. AS he was passing the
Western Union telegraph Office he saw
one of the red-headed messenger boys IN
front and Immediately concluded to de-
molsh that boy. The boy ran into the
office for protection and Mr.. Baker fol-
lowed him like cyclone. He raised a
yell that could have been heard in Kan
sas City and Immediately the entire force
Of operators and messengers swept like a
torrent through the back door, carrying
wires and batteries and everything else
a-,on of0
Baker was monarch Of all he surveyed,
took a seat in the managers chair, and,
like a steam caliope, proceeded to sing
the praises Of Jerry Simpson and held a
ratification meeting there ali by himself.
One Of the red-headed boys went to the
police alarm box TO ring up the station.
Mr.. Baker saw him and made for him,
but the boy was equal to the occasion
and didn't do a thing but climb the tele-
graph pole while Mr.. Baker stood at the
foot of 1t looking at his prey on top, like
a great big grizzly bear. Mr.. Baker re-
turned into the Office and took a seat in
the chair and swore like mad at the teIe-
graph keys because he thought they
were ticking on purpose to annoy him.
All the messenger boys and operators
were out hunting policeman, but for
some reason no policeman could then be
found. Finally some patron of the Of
flee entered and Mr.. Baker raised anoth-
er yell that put unparalleled speed in the
heels Of the frightened patron. There be-
ing no prey in the office for Mr.. Baker
he took to the streets and held a matinee
on the steps Of the old court house.
While he was there some enthusiastic adj
mirer of the sockless statesman shouted
'Hurrah for jerry across the street,
and Mr.. Baker responded with a similar
shout that made the glass in the windows
rattle.
On the west side Of the street he met
lady AMI going up in front of her he cried
in voice like thunder Il am holy ter
TOR, are you afraid of me?'' The Eagle
didn't know whether the poor
lady died or not for just then Deputy
Sheriff Lee Cone and Officer Stewart
took hold Of Baker and he went with
them without a murmur until he got TO
the alley near Douglas avenue when he
protested that he was an American Cit
izen and the man did not live VINO could
take him. He was right, but fortunately
by this time there were four policemen
present and after a hard struggle they
landed him in the city Jail. The other
prisoners took to the roofs of the cells
and flattened themselves out SO as to es-
cape the eye Oh tne terrlDle Billy.
Mr.. Baker is an old bachelor who lives
on farm near Sedgwick. 1t is said that
he has about two hundred cats on his
place and when he lies down at night
they are trained so that they nestle
around him and keep him warm. Will
Ayers knows him for years, as do Bed
ford Wood and the older officers on the
force.
After he was safely landed behind the
bars in the city Jail the operators and
of the Western Union went
to work again with pale faces and nerves
IN strrIpC