The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-03-28
PYTHIANS IN REAL LIFE.
Surrendered as a Traitor to Save u
Friend.

Friend.
for Filipino girl led Private Frederick
NJ Baker, United States marine corps, to
desert to the enemy and to aid the in
surgcnts in their operations against the
American troops. Friendship for another
American condemned by a Filipino court
martial to be executed caused him to sur
render himself in 4 vain endeavor to
effect his rescue. His punishment and
reward are life imprisonment in the Cali
fornia State prison at San Quentin, Cal.
The records of the marine corps show
that Private Baker made a good record
from the time of his enlistment in 1894
at Mare Island, California. He was as
signed to duty as member of the marine
guard of the ill-fated Charleston. When
that vessel was at Cebu, Baker, who was
given liberty ashore, made the acquaint-
ance of Filipino girl, and while the
official papers do not give any particulars
concerning this part of the story it is ap-
parent that her influence resulted in his
dcsertion, which occurred June 10, 1899,
but before desertion he gave information
concerning the movement of American
troops which was of great value to the
insurgents.
Upon his entrance into the Filipino
army he was commissioned lieutenant
and was assigned to duty as drill master.
He found that another American, a pri-
vatc in the army, was also commission
ed officer in the same insurgent force, and
it was strong friendship formed be-
tween the two that triumphed over love
and fear of death.
The two Americans succeeded in evad-
ing duty which required them to operate
against the American detachments until
last summer, when the friend of Private
Baker was directed to command an ex-
pedition which was under orders to
ambush an American force Though in
the power of the Filipinos, the man re-
fused, and persisted in his refusal to shed
the blood of his countrymen. He was
tried by court-martial and condemned to
death. Baker used all his influence to
save his friend, but was unsuccessful
To his horror and indignation he found
when the orders were issued, that he had
been selected to give the order to the pla.
toon which was to carry the sentence into
execution.
Baker was confronted by two terrible
alternatives-death for his friend unless
an effort were made to save him, or death
for himself if he surrendered to the Ameri-
cans to plead that an expedition be sent
to effect the formers rescue Scorning 9
subterfuge, he proceeded to the American
camp attired in his uniform of lieuten-
ant of Filipino infantry and gave himself
up to the commanding officer He re,
lated his story and detachment of troops
was Immediately sent to the point where
Baker stated the camp of insurgents had
been established. Apparently alarmed at
Bakers flight, the Filipinos had fled, and
it has not been discovered whether
Bakers companion was executed or is
still alive
The private of marines was immediate.
ly turned over to the commanding 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 con-
sidcration Bakers action in surrendering
himself to save fellow-American, fol
instead of receiving the death sentence
the court recommended that he "be i'm
prisoned for life at hard labor in such
prison or penitentiary as the secretary of
the navy may designate; to lose all pay
and allowance now due or may become
due except the sum of So month for
necessary prison expenses"
BY order of Secretary Long issued to
to-day Private Bakers tragedy will end
when the prison at San Quentin receives
him in the course of the next few weeks.
Chicago Record