Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-03-25
MODERN PYrHlAs IN REAL LIFE.
American Marine Faces Death to Save
a Friend.


Love for a Filipino girl led Private
Frederick NJ. Baker. United States ma
rine corps, to desert to the enemy
and to aid the insurgents in their op-
erations against the American troops.
Friendship for another American Goa
demned by a Filipino court.martial
to be executed caused him to sur
render himself in vain endeavor to
enect his rescue. His punishment
and reward are life imprisonment in
the California state prison at San
Quentin.
The records of the marine corps
show that Private Baker made a good
record from the time of his enlist
ment In 1894 at Mare Island, Califor-
MIA. He was assigned to duty as n
marine guard of the Inflated Charles
ton. When that vessel was at Cebu.
Baker, who was given liberty ashore,
made the acquaintance of a Filipino
girl and while the official papers do
not give any particulars concerning
this part of the story, it is apparent
that her influence resulted In his de
sertion, which occurred June IL, 1893;
but before desertion he gave informa-
tion concerning the movement of
American troops which was of the
greatest value to insurgents.
Upon his entrance Into the Filipi
no army he was commissioned lieu
tenant, and was assigned to duty as a
drillmaster. He found that another
American. private in the army. was
also a commissioned officer In the
same lnsurgent force, and 1t was a
strong friendship formed between the
two that triumphed over love and fear
of death,
The two Americans succeeded in
evadins duty which required them to
operate against the American detach-
ments until last summer, when the
friend of Private Baker was directed
to command an expedition which was
under orders to ambush an American
force. Though In the power of the
Filipinos. the man refused, and perish
ed In the refusal to shed the blood of
his cOuntrymen. Baker used all his
influence to save his friend but was
unsuccessful. To his horror and in
dignation he found. when the orders
were issued. that he had been select
ed to give the order to the platoon
which was to carry out the sentence
of his friend.
Baker was confronted by two terri
BILE alternativesr-death for his friend
unless an effort were made to save
him mr. daath to hirncalf ~ ho e,r
rendered to the Americans to plead
that an expedition be sent to effect
the formers rescue. Scorning sub
terfuge. he proceeded to the American
camp attired in his uniform of lieu
tenant OF Filipino infantry and gave
himself mp To the commanding Off
GER. He related his story and de-
sent to the point where Baker stated
the camp of the insurgents had been
established. Apparently alarmed at
Bakers flight, the Fiiipinos had fed,
and it has not been discovered wheth-
Ell Bakers companion was executed
or is still alive.
The private of marines was imme-
uiattiy tui hcu oFCT W tHe
ing officer Of the gunboat Castine. He
was tried by court-martial and found
guilty of bearing arms against the
United States. There Is no doubt
that the court took into consideration
Bakers action In surrendering him
self to save a fellow-American. FOL
instead Of receiving the death sen
tence the court recommended that hi
be imprisoned for life at hard labo
in such prison or penitentiary al
the secretary OF the navy may desia
nate; to lose all pay and allowance
now due or that may become due cs
oept the sum Of % month for nee
essary prison expenses"
BY order Of Secretary Long. Issue
March 18, Private Bakers tragedy wi
end when the prison at San Quentl
receives him In the course OF the nes
few weeks.