The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-19
A MAN WITH A HISTORY.
FINANCIAL RUIN-FAMrLY BEREAvEMESr-hoi
OVER BY THE CARs-sUICIDE-A SAD STORY.
from the osveeo On. T. Palladium ]

[From the Oswego (N. ~ Palladium
During the oil excitement, j. J. Burrel!, OF
NIartville, Cayuga county, man VINO mao
travelled the country considerably, and who
was n person of refined tastes and fair de-
gree of cultivation, invested IN pennsylvania
oil lands and made o fortune amounting to
$50, OOO or theteabou!s. He put most OF the
money into buildings in Pithole, then grow
ing town, and believed by oil spectators to
be the coming queen OF that section. Soon
afterward the great fire at Pithole swept away
his entire possessions, upon which he had
not cent OF insurance.
Before he had fairly recovered from the
stroke of fate which impoverished him, he re-
ceived a telegram from Martville, stating that
his only children, twin boys, were drowned.
He went home and found that one Of his boys
bad broken through pond while skating the
other heroically attempted to save his brother,
and both persisted. Mr.. Burrell buried his
boys, and, shattered in fortune and mind
went back to Pithole to gather up the REM
nants OF his business. Soon thereafter he was
notified of his wife's death, she having fallen
n prey to grief growing from the death of her
caildren. He buried his wife beside his boys,
and, stripped of family and fortune, started in
to buffet the evil tide which seemed setting in
SO sternly against him.
In early life Burrell had learned the trade
of shoemaking. and he started a shop at Mart
vile. 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 sue
ceeded handsomely, and, when starting for
home. found that the ticket agent was not in
the Office. and paid the conductor 81 on the
train. He believed that there was oh lnge
due him, and had some words with the con-
ductor about that matter, but did not receive
The change which he claimed. At Sterling
Junction, he got off to speak to lady whom
be saw upon the platform, and continued
alking to her until the train was under head
way. He then caught the platform rail and
swung himself on. As he was about to open
he door of the coach. he alleged, the conduc-
Tor met him. thrust his dollar bill in his face
10 rudely and with such force that he was
pushed off the platform. and, MS he fell, his
.rn struck across the track and was cut OM
between the wrist and elbow.
He was now deprived not only Of fortune
nd family, but the hand that had earned his
,wn scant living. He authorized Churchill
nd Nutting, Of this city, to commence action
ga;nst the Southern Central Railroad Com |
AMY for damage. and came to Oswego to
top. He engaged little fruit stand ne r the
7itzhugh House and took a room in the hotel.
One morning this week he was found stupid
n bed; physicians were called and found
hat he had taken morphine in fatal quantity;
lext day he died. It was said tina. he was
Iason but examination failed to show that
o be true, and he was buried with other
uicides aud paupers in Potter's Field.
1t i, a plain bit of true history, told with
he daily newspapers reportorial terseness and
luntness: but what page of fiction reveals u
more dramatic story?