Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-05-02

saw inc graves OF the three men with
whom had changed numbers, so he il
fairly well concealed by having been
buried three times.
He entered one village, entered a bar
room, and ran straight into the high
sheriff OF the town. He had his story TO
tell Of himself as a rich young nobleman
with broad estates, ETC., and had pass
port to show Fictitious of counsel. He
called for cup Of tea, aud threw in pay
meut what would be here a iive-dollar
| gold piece. Then TO carry out the idea OF
his wealth, he invited the sheriff to drink
with him, ordering champagne, which
every Russian Is very fond OF. Mr.. Baker
/ said:
ut is very expensive drink, and /
feared he would ask for the second bottle,
but we were interrupted by a man dashine
mp to the door, his horse. covered with
foam, and, coming hastily in, he told the
sheriff that band OF thieves, murderers
and cut-throats who had been sent to
Siberia, had escaped, and one had been
traced to that town.
''imagine my fselingsl But, however
astonished he was that one OF them should
have the audaeity to enter his town and
disturb his peace of mind, was still more
astonished, and further stated that IL he
would give me mount, ] would, in his
company, scour the country in search of
this thief, murderer and cut-throst! lie
did so, and for three days rode with him,
hunting for myself and the people who
had placed themselves under my leader
ship. II we went in direction in which
knew my friends to be, was sure to see
thom moving way of in the opposite
direction.
"At the end OF three days told him |
was very sorry, but my estates now claimed
my attention and | must go. then
shook off tie dust OF Russia from my feet
forever, and made my way to London.
Butt must have name. Standing on
one Of the streets Of London, turned
three times, and the first sign upon which
my eye fell was MIR. So-and- So "A baker.
Well, Baker should be my name. / tried
again, and another sign gave me the name
Of John. John Baker was thenceforth.
a WV NbA Athhka va " ntt Y W E1A~A "hA
put ii inside my hat. then became very
polite, raising my hat to everyone so that
| should not forget what my name vas"
Since living in Boston, the Russian ships
were in that harbor, and the mayor sent
for him TO go board ship as an interpreter.
He says, unfortunately, | was very i'll
about that time, so could not go. Had
~ q 4,
have been on Russian ground, and should
have been arrested and carried back to
Russia, and no power in this country could
have helped me, as am not naturalized
citizen. 1 could not become one, as have
not the consent of my government to
my being in the country at all.
''rhey do not know who am there, but
they do know that one John Baker in this
country is aiding the reyolutionists. l
sm, thank God, I am! Only a few weeks
ago | sent very bad, seditious, revolu-
tionary document TO my people-an what
do you think it vas? A copy of the Bin
OF Rights and the Constitution OF the
State OF Massachusetts, The word 'con-
stitution' il a forbidden one in Russia.
There Is only one public library in Russia,
that at st. Petersburg no books are
every taken out OF it, Should book
chosen chance to have the words 'consti-
tuition or freedom in il, the person who
chose il would be closely watched, and, in
two or three weeks, under some pretext or
other, would be arrested as nihilist, and
sent to Siberia"
All escaping Russians who have come
here have found a home with Mr.. Baker
till he could make a home for himself,
and needless TO say his home is the head
quarters OF the movement for freedom in
this country. All returned Russians are
watched with suspicion for fear they will
teach the people independence, and should
an American have gone there, before the
war with Japan, unprotected, and acted
his natural self as he does here, he would
have been arrested as a nihilist inside Of a
month.
When the Christian Endeavor Society
celebrated some anniversary in Boston not
many years ago, Russia, as a Christian
country, OF course had TO send representa-
tives. She sent some of her priests who
were paid to keep their eyes closed while
here and their mouths shut when they
returned to Russia. Mr.. Baker addressed
one OF them, and upon being asked who
he was, replied; 81 am known as John
Baker"
The priest turned as II to run, evidently
having been warned to keep out of the
way of one John Baker and his revolu-
tionary ideas. However, Mr.. Baker had
a three hours conversation with him that
night In a private room in hotel, and as a
result that priest, Father Gapon, was one
of the leaders in the latest effort of the
people for freedom.
Mr.. Baker says: sin helping along the
cause OF freedom / would first wipe out
the Russian church-mind you, not the
Christian church, but the Russian" He
then read the catechism which every
Russian has to learn, in which they are
exhorted to love, honor, obey and cherish