The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-20
Baker, q DsssTtsT, Gave Him
self Up 10 Save an American
LATTER ALSO A OEstRrER.
FlllpIass Ordered His Execution, and Then
Baker Suusadsrsd-.llis Imprisonment
Punishment for FsIty and BrivsE

Washington, March 2o.--Love for a Fill
pino girl led Private Frederick NJ. Baker,
OF the United States Marine Corps, to
desert TO the enemy and TO ana the IN
surgents In their operations against tho
American troops.
Friendship for another American, con-
demned by a Filipino court martial to be
executed, caused him to surrender him
self In vain effort To effect his rescue.
His punishment and reward are life i'm
prisonment In the state prison in San
Quentin, Cal
This is the first desertion of marine
to the enemy. and the blot IL places on
the escutcheon OF the corps is not rel
ished by officers and men. but they find
soiace in the bravery of Private Baker
in surrendering himself TO save another
man, though in so doing he knew that
death would probably be his own fate.
LOVE LED THE WAY.
Records of the Marine Corps show that
Private Baker made good record from
the time OF his enlistment in 1894. at Mare
Island. Cal. lie was assigned 10 duty
member of the marine guard OF the
Charleston.
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. II Is apparent that her influence
resulted I'm his desertion, which occurred
on June II. 1899.
Before deserting he gave information
concerning movements of American
troops which was of great value TO th,
insurgents.
Baker was commissioned a lieutenant
In the Filipino army, and was assigned
TO duty as drill master. He found that
another American. q private In the army.
was also commissioned officer in the
same insurgent force. and q warm friend
ship sprang up between them. II was
this friendship that triumphed over love
and fear of death.
The two Americans succeeded In evad-
ing duty which required them to oper-
ate against the American detachments
sent into tho interior OF Cebu until last
summer, when the friend OF Private
Baker was directed 20 command an ex-
pedition under orders to ambush an Am
erican force.
Although In the power OF the Filipinos.
the man refused, and 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 was selected to give the
order to the platoon which was to exc
cute the sentence.
FACES DEATH FOR FRIEND.
Baker was confronted by terrible al
ternative--death for his friend unless an
effort was made TO save him. or death
for himself IL he surrendered TO the Am
orleans to plead that an expedition he
sent TO effect the formers rescue lie
was not long I'm reaching a decision
Scorning subterfuge, he went to the AM
erican camp attired In his uniform OF a
lieutenant of Filipino Infantry and gave
himself up TO the commanding officer
He related his story, and detachment
OF troops was Immediately sent 10 the
point where Baker stated the camp of
the insurgents had been established.
Apparently alarmed at Bakeps flight,
the Filipinos had Ned. and 1t has not been
discovered whether Bakers companion
was executed or is still alive.
Private Baker was turned over 10 the
commanding officer of the gunboat Cas-
tine. He was tried by court martial and
found guilty OF "deserting to the rebel
forces I'm time of open insurrection
against the United States, giving interi-
gence TO and holding intercourse with a
rebel without leave from proper author
ity," and bearing arms against the gov
ernment of the United States and aiding
and abetting the rebellion against the su-
preme authority thereof"
The court took into consideration
Bakers action In surrendering himself to
save fellow-American, and instead of
recording death sentence the court rec
commended that he he imprisoned for life
at hard labor and lose all pay and allow
ances except 50 month for necessary
prison expenses.
BY order of Secretary Long. issued
yesterday. Private Baker will be taken
20 the prison in San Quentin to serve his
sentence.