New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-27
'Hobey' Baker
Loses His Life
While Flying

Captain Hobart A. H. Baker, more
popularity known as HOBBY" to his
hundreds of friends, has been killed
in an airplane accident in France, &C
cording to a cablegram received here
yesterday.
Captain Bakers death was made
known by Percy Pine, a friend who
stated that the information came from
"Inglehart," member of the former
athletic stars air squadron, and re-
quested that his family be notified No
details were given.
Showing the true Princeton spirit,
and his desire always to be in the
thick of the fighting, Captain Baker
enlisted in the American air service
soon after this country entered the
war His ability to grasph things
quickly resulted in his being promoted
to the rank of lieutenant before he
sailed overseas.
Gets Croix de Guerre
During his early days in France Cap
am Baker was often cited for bravery,
and after less than six months service
abroad was decorated with the Croix
dc Guerrc by the French government
IN recognition Of his skill and bravery
while in the air. His exploits in bring
ing down Hun avators were not for
/ gotten by his squadron commander,
who recommended that Lieutenant Baker
be promoted to the rank of captain.
Bakers prowess as football and
hockey player while student at
princeton University are we'll known to
followers OF sports in the East After
spending his freshmen year in obscur-
lty, Captain Baker "made" backiield
position on the varsity eleven in 1911
and successfully held this position for
the following two years. being elected
captain of the Tiger eleven in his
senior year, 1913.
Captain Baker ended his college days
at Princeton in a blaze Of glory as
member of the hockey team lie was
looked upon as one of the greatest
puck chasers of college days, elusive as
an eel and dangerously difficult man
30 stop on the ice. Captain Baker
played the pivotal position on the col
lege seven, rover, and it was his in
dlvldual brillIancy that usually brought
defeat to his rivals.
In his final appearance on the Tiger
hockey team, Captain Baker scored the
goals that defeated Harvard and made
Princeton the college champions in
/ 1914
After his graduation Captain Baker
was much sought after by the local
hockey teams. He eventually became
a member Of the ST. Nicholas Skating
Club of the Amateur Hockey League.
He again played the rover position and
his sensational work Immediately won
him recognition as the best PLAYER in
the league. Later he was member of
the local all-star combination that
faced the Canadian sevens in their
annual contest and once moro proved
himself equally as great player as
his veteran Canuck rivals.
In 1916 Captain Baker decided that
he had mad enough of othletics and
retired to assume business proposi-
ton in PHILADELPHIA. He was boollod
to play on the Duquesne Arena hockey
team in Pittsburgh early last year, but
he could no longer fight off the desire
to enlist and Joined the aviation
service.
! PHILADELPHIA, Dec. %. Major
Charles J. Fiddle who was in com
mand of the group in which Baker
served, said tonight that the last Ger
man machine brought down by Captain
Baker was an exceptionally fine piece
of work. The German was attacked
10000 feet Up. The German machine
turned over end the observer fell out
and dropped within the American lines.
the German pilot. however. managed
to right his machine and Baker again
attacked him, with the result that the
German ard his airplane fell about a
mile within the German lines. After
the afmistice was signed, Major Biddle
said, American aviators went over the
front and examined the machine whore
It had fallen and found quantity of
German propaganda for circulation
among American lnfantrV
Captain Baker was still at the front
when Major Biddle left on December
There was no finer man nor bet
ter pilot said Major Biddle. "He was
very skillful and particularly fearless.
He would have had an even greater
record if he had been at the front
moro than he was"
Major Biddle said that the Inele
hart mentioned in the cablegram to
Percy Pine, Of New York, announcing
Captain Bakers death. is CaDtain
Francis n. Inglehart, of Baltimore
group operations officer of the 4th
Pursuit Group.
Coach Herman Recovering