The Washington times., 1907-08-10
LITTLE BARKER BOY
RESTS IN HOSPITAL
Child Shows No Evidence of
III Effects From Long
Exposure.
He VIII Remain at Camp
Good VIII For Remainder
Of Season.

Little Robert Barker. the modern babe
of the woods who wandered away from
Camp Good VIII Wednesday afternoon
and was found after a two days search
yesterday noon. is resting contentedly
at the Children's Hospital IN this city
today. where he was carried after hav-
ing his immediate wants administered
TO by loving hands at the camp.
The little wanderer. however, shows
but little evidence of his forty-two
hours in the woods, and MS removal to
the hospital was purely a matter Of
precaution on the part Of Secretary
Weller. Of the Associated Charities. and
others in charge Of the camp.
Reports from the hospital this morn
ing indicate that Robert has no fever,
IS taking nourshment regularly. and
seems bright and cheerful. apparently
all oblivious TO the fact that for two
days and nights his mysterious disap-
pearance excited a whole city.
Mother and Guardian Happiest.
Perhaps there were no happier persons
sn the whole city today than the boys
mother, Mrs. Ida Barker, of 3JI II street
northeast, and his guardian, Mrs. Ferry,
OF 629 X street southwest. with whom
the little fellow has lived for the last
year. Mrs. Ferry, who carried Robert
70 the camp, was overcome by JOY fol-
lowing a long period Of suspense when
the soldiers Of Troop f, OF the Thir-
teenth Cavalry. who discovered the
youngster. bore him triumphantly into
camp yesterday afternoon.
As soon as the hospital physicians
think il safe, Robert will be carried
back to Camp Good VIII and placed
under Mrs. Ferry's care. Secretary
Weller has stated that a special dis
pensauon might be granted allowing
Robert TO remain at the camp for the
balance OF the season in consideration
of the near-tragedy in which he was
involved, and the great public interest
taken n the case.
To Remain With Mrs. Ferry.
Mrs. Barker has expressed no desire
10 take Robert away from MIS-. Ferry,
but instead has reafhrmed her apDre-
citation Of Mrs. Ferry's services and the
fact that her child is in good hands
while she is at work. She said that
her life had been one OF trouble and
that she had found difficulty in sup
porting her two children, Robert and
an infant Of about two months of age.
The finding of little Robert has lifted
great load of my mind, however,
she said, and perhaps things viii
grow better for me from now on.
Everybody has been sc kind that
have had reason to be thankful even
Mrs Barker is now at the home Of
Mrs. A. l. Traphagen, at sol II street
tary Weller and the Rev. John Van
Schaick of the Church Of Our Father.
will interest themselves in her behalf
and obtain a permanent homo for her.
Mrs RallrnT states that she does not
know Of the whereabouts Of her hus-
hand
Since the recovery Of the child by the
soldiers Of Troop T, OF the Thirteenth
Cavalry, under command OF Capt. Guy
Preston, who took charge or the search
early yesterday morning, a number OF
how narrowly little Robert escaped the
fate Of young Horace Marvin.
Interest Was Widespread.
The deep interest felt by the public in
the recovery of the missing boy was
evinced by the frequency with which
The Times telephone rang yesterday
prior TO the finding Of the Doy. As
the day wore on and nothing but dis
couraging reports were received, the
calls increa sed as though many who
were not a,.tually engaged in the search
were with the searchers in spirit, and
eagerly awaited things from Camp Good
VIII. Seldom has more joyous news
been carried TO the citizens Of Wash
ington than that contained in the first
edition Of The Times yesterday, which
announced that the boy had been found
at last
That is the most cheering piece CT
news that I have read in many a day"
said one father. II became as mucn in
terested in the search as though the
child were my own and as I would pic
ture this little tot wandering helplessly
IN the woods. the thought almost drove
me mad"
A mother said: II looked at my little
ones a dozen times through the night
Thursday each time thankful that they
were both with me. I could not sleep
for thinking Of that other mother and
her little three-year-old boy who had
spent two awful lonely nights in the for
est. subjected TO privaJion, exposure. and
fear. Its similarity TO the Marvin case
made the child's disappearance all the
more heartrerding."
A pTiOr incident