Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-31
A Man With a HistOry-A SAD Story.

man Win q HiSluTy ~ SdA SlVt e
DURING the oil excitement J. J. Bur
rell, of Martville, Cayuga County, a man
who had travelled the country consider
ably, and who was person of refined
taste and a fair degree Of cultivation, in
vested in Pennsylvania oil lands and
made fortune amounting to $50, coo or
thereabouts. He put most of the money
into buildings in Pithole, then growing
town, end believed by oil spectators to
be the coming queen of that section.
Soon aflerward the great fire at Pithole
swept away his entire possessions, upon
which he mad not cent of insurance.
Before he had fairly recovered from
the stroke of fate which impoverished
him he received a telegram from Mart
vile stating that his only children, twin
bows, were drowned. He went home
and found that one Of his boys had
broken through a pond while skating;
the other heroiCally attempted to save
his brother, and both persisted. Mr.. Bur
rell buried his boys, and, shattered in for
tune and mind, went back to Pithole to
gather up the remnants of his business.
Soon thereafter he was notified of his
wife's death, she having fallen prey to
grief growing from the death of her
children He buried his wife beside his
boys, and, stripped of family and for
tune, started in to buffet the evil tide
which seemed setting so sternIy against
him.
In early life BurreIl had learned the
trade of shoemaking, and he started
shop at Martville One day this fall he
concluded to go down to Fair Haven and
pick up few orders for winter boots
among his old friends who, knowing his
misfortunes, he believed would help him
at least to earn his bread. He succeeded
handsomely, and when starting for
home found that the ticket agent was
not in the office and paid the conductor
one dollar on the train. He believed that
there was change due him and had some
words with the conductor about that
matter but did not receive the change
which he claimed At Sterling Junction
he got off to speak to a lady whom he
saw upon the platform, and continued
talking to her until the train was under
Roadway. He then caught the platform
rail and swung himself on. AS he was
about to open the door of the coach, he
alleged, the conductor met him, thrust
his dollar bill in his face so rudely and
with such force that he was pushed off
the platform, and, as he fell, his arm
struck across the track and was cut off
between the wrist and elbow.
He was now deprived not only of for
tune and family, but the hand that had
earned his own sclnt living. He author
ized Churchill & Nutting, of this city, to
commence action against the Southern
Central Railroad Company for damages,
and came to OsVego to stop. He en-
gagged a little fruitstand near the Fitz-
hugh House, and took a room in that
hotel
One morning this week he was found
stupid in bed; physicians were called
and found that he had taken morphine
in fatal quantity; next day he died. 1t
was said that he was Mason, but ex-
animation failed to show that to be true,
and he was buried with other suicides
and paupers in Potter's Field.
/ It Is 8 plain bi; of true history, told
with the daily newspapers reportorial
terseness and bluntness; but what page
! of fiction reveals more dramatic story?
-Osaoego (N. " Palladium.