The Ekalaka eagle., 1916-11-03
PIONEER WRITER
LOSES HIS VISION
TOM BAKER WAS STAR RE-
PORTER WHEN STATE
WAS YOUNG.
Spending His Declining Days in the
Home of His Son, John Baker of
Helena; Started Life With the Lon
don Times.

Tom Baker, one Of the very good
newspapermen Of pioneer days, and
editor Of the Madisonian half CEN
tury ago, has gone blind. He is very
old, and is spending his declining days
in comfort in the home of his son.
John Baker, the we'll known Helena
printer.
His mind is as active as it was
in the old days, and he keeps abreast
Of the times through his relatives, who
read the daily papers to him. He
takes keen interest in Montana's de-
velopment.
Worked for London Times.
Baker began life as printers ap-
prentice in the London Times, 70 years
ago. He happened to "pie" a page
form of the paper one day. The type
represented the work of four or five
printers for one day. To him it was
catastrophe. He hunted up his be-
longings and left the Times office. He
ran away to America, and was among
the early arrivals at Alder Gulch.
Tom wore a glass eye, having lost
the sight in one of his optics in his
youth. He was endeavoring to i'm
press a Grow chief who happened to
be in Virginia City one dav, by pull
ing the glass eye out Of it's place.
"Huh," said the chief, who had
been watching the process closely.
''Now pullem out other eye." Tom
, declined.
Was Star Reporter.
For many years he was the "star"
newspaperman Of Virginia City. He
reported all of the sessions of the ter
ritorial Legislature. In those days it
was customary for the statesmen, at
, the close Of the session, and always
e providing the newspaperman gave the
4 members the kind OF publicity they
liked, to pass an emergency appropri-
Y alton which went to the reporter.
t This pleasant procedure continued
Y for many years. Finally some mem
r ber Of the territorial council, Of dema-
gogic bent, made a protest so loud
/ that the appropriation was defeated.
: Tom wrote resume Of the work
i of the legislature. His criticism was
}, so bitter that it excited comment all
n over the state.
: Went on Strike.
- When the next session Of the legis-
lature convened Baker went on a
strike. AS he was the only reporter
in the territory there was no report
published of the legislative proceed.
ings. A committee of the statesmen
self appointed, went to placate the
aggrieved reporter. He told them what
his grievance was, and the Legislators
promised him relief. Thereafter ap-
peared in the columns of his news
paper daily story of legislative do.
ings. At the end Of the session the
usual appropriation was passed.
Two Nailed By Dollar.
Butte-A silver dollar, dated 1880
which J. L. Churchill testified he had
carried as a memento for years, was
the principal exhibit at hearing ir
South Butte justice court that re-
suited in Frank West and Harry Stem
being bound over to the district court
- on charges of highway robbery
10 Churchill testified that he had just
% % arrived at his home and was preparing
to put the key in the lock when two
II men stepped out from the shadow Of
;s the porch.
- "Come on down here and don't try
70 any funny business" one Of the high
waymen commanded
-, Churchill identified Stem as tn,
'd man who pointed revolver at hin
~ and West as the man who wen
"a through his pockets. He was robbed
" of $3.50, the silver dollar mementt
,f and an old watch, he said.