The San Francisco call., 1905-02-11
With a Bullet in His Head
Herbert Smith Baker Is
Found by Soldiers Near
Lands End Almost Dead
DECLARES HE WAS
FOOTPADS' VICTIM.
Stricken Man Says That He
Was Held Up on Monday
or Tuesday and Deserted
in the Cavern to Perish

With bullet wound in his head and
Smith lay for several days in q cave
near Lands End.
The unfortunate man says he was the
victim of two highwaymen who as
saulted him, and. after taking what
money he had, carried him to the cave
to die. When found yesterday after
noon by three soldiers from Fort Miley,
Smith was delirious from the pangs of
thirst. and unable to stir limb.
Dazed and on the verge of insanity
he is unable to recall whether it was
on Monday or Tuesday that the assault
took place. The bullet entered near
one of his eyes and the blood that
gushed from the wound became caked
and blinded him. Tortured by pain
the man could keep no account of time.
When a little water and nOuriShment
had been given to him at the Fort
Miley Hospital Smith revived enough to
tell something of his adventures.
He was walking near Lands End
either Monday or Tuesday Two rough
ly clad men approached him and de-
manded his money. Smith started to
run, whereupon one of the men struck
him a stunning blow on the head with
revolver. Smith struck back at him
and the mans accomplice fired.
Smith dropped to the sand, partly
stunned and the footpads emptied his
pockets, getting about $22 Raising
their helpless victim the pair carried
him to one of the many rocky caves in
the vicinity and left him there for dead.
Some time after the assault Smith re-
gained consciousness, but could not see.
He was terroriZed, believing that he
had been blinded. Desperately he tried
To ,-.- l@,,t lit
and he was like one stricken by paral-
ysis. He shouted till his throat became
dry and parched and when he tried to
cry aloud he could only raise a husky
whisper.
Time dragged on slowly. Every hour
added to the pain in his head thirst
choked him, and hunger gnawed at his
vitals.
Outside the cave he could hear the
water tapping noisily on the beach The
sound added to his distress. He longed
to reach 1T, to cool his burning head in
it. But the ripping water only seemed
to mock him, and with its monotonous
music in his ears he gradually lapsed
into a delirium.
At times he gave up hope, and prayed
that he might die. Then the ruling in
stinct would assert itself, and the man
would concentrate his faculties and try
to move his leaden limbs. AT first he
feared the tide would reach him as he
lay helpless and gradually choke out
| his life. By yesterday merciful stupor
overcame him.
In the afternoon Privates w. T.
Looman, H. ]. Royston and ]. Hunter
! of Fort Miley passed the cave. They
heard faint groans issuing from it and
on entering found Smith all but dead.
They bore the wounded man quickly
to the post hospital at Fort Miley
There he was treated by Dr. Short
ridge. A little water was poured into
his parched mouth and the blood clots
were washed from his eyes. Smith ral-
lied wonderfully when his eyes were
opened, for he was certain that he had
been blinded.
His cries for water and food were
pitiful, but the surgeon could give him
only a little at time owing to his
weakness.
Though the mans head Is in a ter
rible condition, blackened near the
wound, and though he is weak from ex-
posure, it is thought that he may live
Smith was able to give a description
of his assailants. One is about 80 years
| old, feet 9 inches tall, heavily set and
wore a dark mustache He wore over
alls and a black felt hat. This one did
the shooting. The other Is described as
being feet inches in height, smooth
! shaven and wore overalls and a felt
hat.
| The police are inclined to doubt
! Smiths story, believing that he at
| tempted suicide, but the soldiers found
/ no revolver in the cave Smith is a
/ baker, 80 years old. He gave his ad-
| dress as 92S Jackson street