The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1910-02-04

~ venture In the Central
E&NS1 American republic. The IL.
state department IL full Of
seoofes OF insurrections and expedi.
eSoas which had to do with Nicaraxuan
okairs and the United States connec.
ton herewith
II IL said in WASHINGTON that there
vas living at last reports 4 man named
y. II. Baker. who Is perhaps the sole
survivor OF the famous. or notorious.
as you will. Walker filbustering expe- &
1ition Into Nicaragua more than half . "
century ago.
Nj. Baker at last accounts was lv.
ing In the city Of Chicago where his
friends knew him as Dad" Baker The
full story Of Bakers Central American
adventures Is told by man who re-
centiy saw Mr. Baker and heard the
story OF the Nicaragua expedition from
his lips.
Dad" Baker was a fortyniner. He
LEFT with party from Dayton, O., and
W ~ days reached Independence, Mo-
from that place the expedition, l20
men strong. started across the plains
When the heart Of the Rockies was
reached there were Just five men left Z
IN bakers party. the others having
died. or deserted for other caravans
on the way. When part way across,
80 ~SAo'o SAo UiSluteSTat1On OF the
outnt, there was hard fight with the
Indians. who attempted to stampede
the stock. This fight lasted for some
time with heavy losses to both sides
out the light. 10 Mr.. Baker saws vas
not haif SO severe as was that which
they encountered when they struck
mountain fever. when a man h..
mountain fever and nothing to eat but
nara bread and bacon. he has the fight
aNf kAN o.
Dad" Baker put It.
I shaved death then" he said q.
his story goes. but did not actu.llv
die until after had reached Calisor.
mia. There. in company with a .cor.
OF others, had smallpox We were IN
bunks In huts and We had. Won NAV
believe, none of the delicacies of ~.
season. 1t was there that I died. The
foctor was overworked and when he s.v th.
Nwas pound to die anyway he simply stonne,
eivins me medicine and told one OF the NV
who was not yet stricken down iust IA ~,
me 10 comfortable position and let mo die
neafd this bit Of cheerful instructio,
given. but was at that low ebb when a ma,
takes death as a relief. By and nv 7 Ildiad
You may not believe this when you see ho,
strong and healthy I look to-day. but m. dor
Tor said was dead and all the Others agree.
WIN MN MY Jaw was set and my eyes ver,
hxed felt dead. and yet, withal. I had ,
semiconsciousness that somewhere about m,
there was spark of life. though It mtxht b.
as far away as my toes
4 was laid out there and expected IN
subconscious way to hear soon the funer,
discourse. but then all at once began to fee
symptom OF returning life Something Ik
glow came over me-and in q few minute
mad strength enough to wink and move m,
Jaw. 1t Is my belief that they were Just abou
to bind up my jaw as they do after peopl
have died. When I literally gave them tn
wink that was alive some of them cam
pretty near dying themselves. think tn
maddest man In the party was the doctor I
doctors had been plentiful in those digging
this one would have lost his practice then an,
there. for by coming to life after being prc
nounced dead BY him I nearly ruined his med
ical reputation. When you are getting read
to die Just ask some Trustworthy friend Z
stick pins into you or do something else lfk
that after the doctor has pronounced 20
dead. to see II he knows his business, for
i've you the word of a man who has bee
AeFe that its not pleasant to be "oficially
dead. to be unable to move a muscle and ye
to realize. even though dimly, that you ms
soon hear the clods falling on your cofin lid.
After Mr. Baker came back to life he too
up a mining claim. He worked it a day-Mor
day--and saw but comparatively little pro,
poets of success ahead. Monday night tw
Dutehmen offered $500 for the claim. Bake
gave It to them and took the money. Tuesda
the purchasing Dutchmen took out $500
worth Of gold. Then Dad Baker became
bit disguised and struck out for San Frar
cisco and 1t was not long before he made u
his mind to cast his lot with William Wake
and see what he could do in the way of picl
ing up some money at Nicaragua.
1t is a good many years since the hibui
tering expedition started for the Centra
American state, ostensibly to aid the popula
side in a civil strife waging in that country
but in reality probably to see how muc
money could be picked up loose in tn
streets"
William Walker was newspaper man,
lawyer and physician. but primarily. intrtl
sically and before all he was an Adventures
In the year 1858 he started out to captur
Sonora from the Mexicans. He actually SUI
ceeded In getting a grip on lower Californi
and probably would have succeeded In takin
Sonora but for the fact that his supplies CAV
out Notwithstanding the fact that Walker al
tually invaded Mexican territory with a
armed force. he was acquitted by the Unite
States court by which he was tried after hi
arrest, Of any violation OF neutrality law
After his acquittal in San Francisco he b.
came acquainted with Mr. Baker, who. as ha
..Sd a., rrohshlv the last surviving men