The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-09-07
NEWS OF CENTRAL CITY
QUEER CHAIN cF EVENTS FOL
 LOW ERROR IN TELEGRAM.
Appeared That Bert Baker Was Dy- ing, But He Was in Good 0ood-Elks to Build
 a Home.
Advertiser Bureau.
 Gnlrno aopf (

- so
 Advertiser Bureau.
 Selma, Sept. 6.
 The unfortunate "buir' of a Western Union telegraph operator was the cause of deal of uneasiness and anxiety in this city Friday night, and as a consequence several mon and women spent sleepless night. and two young men took a mid night rid ethat caused them to lose a nights sleep. Early last night telegram was received in this city addressed to Mir. John E. Norris. As there is no such person in Selma, it was supposed at the telegraph office that the telegram was intended for Mir. John G. Norris and the message was delivered to him.
 When the message was delivered to Mir. Norris he was dumbfounded at its con- tents. It was dated at Gurnee Junction. and said tell J. N. Baker that his brother Bert is sick in bed in his room at the hotel here dying of heart disease. The sad news contained in the telegram flew like wildfire over the city, for all in Sel- ma know and hold in high respect Bert Baker. the popular travelling salesman for D. R. Dunlap & Co. of Mobile and as Bert had been seen on the streets of the oity Thursday apparently in good health. the news was all the more astonishing. Immediately upon receipt of the telegram Mir. Norris looked up MT. J. NJ. Baker and informed him of the contents of the telegram, and he immediately made prep arations with Mir. Paul Stewart to go on the midnight train to Gurnee Junction and render such assistance as he could and to bring his brother back to this city and place him in the infirmary where he could receive medical attention.
 On Friday evening Mrs. R. H. Baker. the mother of Messrs. Bert and Joe M Ba- ker. had left on visit to friends and rel atives in Norfolk. Va, and immediately upon the receipt of the sad news of the condition of Bert, her youngest son. tele- grams were sent in every direction so as to catch her and stop her and at the same time convey to her the news of the seri- ous illness of her son. But fortunately Mrs Baker purchaser a ticket to go to Norfolk by any route that she chose, and as consequence none of the telegrams that were sent her were received and she knew nothing of the mistake that was made.
 The horrible mistake that was made by the operator was backed up in many in- stances with facts which made the tele- grams received here of all the more inn portance. Thursday MT. Bert Baker left this city for Maplesviife, and it was also known that he would spend a short time at Gurnee Junction with one of his cus- toners. Messrs. J. M Baker and Paul Stewart left here at 1 o'clock this morn- ing for Gurnee Junction for the purpose of bringing MT. Bert Baker back to this city and while they were gone on their supposed sad errand. Rev. W. P. Hurt and several friends of the family had a room prepared at the infirmary for the young man to which he was to have been taken immediately upon his arrival On the Birmingham train this morning. Upon arriving at Gurnee Junctien at an early hour this m 1rning Messrs. J. M. Baker and Paul Stewart found out that MT. Bakers brother had not yet arrived at the place and that the telegram which had been received in Selma was sent by MT. J. M. Huston of that place and was addressed to MT. John E. Norris at Sl- luria. .f 4
 E lrly this morning MT. J. M. Baker telegraphed the conductor of the Bir- mingham train asking him If his brother Bert was on that train and soon after wards he received an answer stating that he was and that he was well and strong So the two young men who left this city with heavy and sorrowful hearts at an early hour this morning waited for the train and came on back to Selma with the young man whom they thought would be dead before they could reach ,Gurnee Junction. Arriving In Selma they found many friends and an ambulance at the depot to convey Bert Baker to the infirm- ary, but upon the arrival of the train and when the three young men got off of the cars instead of tears to greet them there were hugs and kisses of joy that greeted them.
 The Elks' Home.
 At meeting of the Selma Lodge B. P. O. E. No. 167 held Friday night. MT. ". B. Atkins. Chairman of the Board of Trustees. made an interesting report to the Lodge as to the amount of money that the trustees had in hand for the purpose of building their home MT. At kins report showed that besides having a desirable lot in the business part of the city already paid for the Lodge had about Sl.s00 cash on hand and about s2. 800 out on notes payable each month; that he thought that the Building Committee would be able to start to work on the building of the home for the Lodge in the spring; that when work was once started it would not be stopped until the build ing had been finished. It Is the purpose of the Lodge to build beautiful $25. 900 home on their lot on the river bank at the lower end of Water Street and every member is working and striving for that purpose. The Lodge was never in a more prosperous condition than 1t is now and new members are being initiated into the mysteries of Elkdom at nearly every meeting.
 An Old Selmian Dead.
 Tor ceived a telegram from the Mayor of Dublin. Ga. asking him to inform the relatives of Ed. Bowe in this city that he had died in that city at an early hour