The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-06-08
HOW THE BAKER
CHILDREN DIEO
PTOMAINE POISONING KILLS
LITTLE GIRLS OF PARENTS Of
\ PLEASURE TRIP HERE.
KILLS

SAN FRANCISCO. May 25.-The
final chapter i'm a most sorrowful and
heartrending story was closed yester-
day when the cruel hand of death took
away Doris Baker. the four year-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Baker.
Only last Wednesday Jacquelen, the
two-year-old sister of the little one.
passed away Ptomaine poisoning is
ascribed as the cause of both deaths.
What makes the case all the more
pitiful is that the parents of the chill
dren are now in Honolulu on a plea
sure trip, and when they left the city
about ten days ago both children were
in the best of health and nothing was
further from the thoughts of the par
ents than that they would never again
see their little ones alive.
An air Of mystery surrounds the
deaths of the children and the physi-
clans who attended them are at a loss
to know how they absorbed the poison.
Baker is the manager of the Union
Oil Company and is one of the most
prominent oil men in the city. About
ten days ago he left here with his wife
for an extended pleasure trip to Homo
lulu. When the couple left here they
gave the two children into the keeping
of Mrs. King, who resides in the same
house with the Bakers.a at Nv Ashbury
street. Mrs. King is an old friend of
the Bakers and she thought a great
deal of the children. They were much
attached to her and it was with the
utmost confidence in her ability to take
charge of the little ones THAT the
parents left them behind
Both children We're in the best of
health up to last Wednesday, when
Jacquelin, the younger of the two. sud
denly became ill., Drs. Hubbel and
Clark We're notified after all home re-
NEEDLES failed, and the physicians work
ed all through the night in vain en-
deavor to relieve the intense sufferings
of the little one.
All attempts on the part of the medl-
cal men, however failed. and on We'd
nesday afternoon she passed away in
great agony. The doctors stated that
the child died from the effects of pto-
maine poisoning, but failed to notify
the Morgue officials, so nothing was
heard of the childs death by any one
outside of the family of Mrs. King and
the doctors themselves.
The parents of the children were no
titled by cable and they Immediately
wired that they would hurry back by
the next steamer. They wired instruc-
tions to have the body placed in a vault
in Laurel Hill Cemetery, which was
accordingly done.
The second child was taken suddenly
i'll on Saturday night and her symp
toms indicated that she was suffering
from the same disease that killed her
sister and died at $3.50 yesterday morn
ing after suffering after the manner of
her sister.
Deputy Coroner Meehan learned that
the children We're in the habit of play
ing in the yard back of the house and
were known to have eaten a quantity
of wild berries which grew in the gar
den. This may possibly be what caused
their death, but so far the Morgue Off
Gals as well as the doctors who attend
ed the little ones are at a loss to know
how the poison entered their systems.
The parents of the children were no
titled of the death of Doris yesterday
morning and they will leave Honolulu
as soon as possible.