The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-08-31

hv tho prOudest memories L'c'S
actor in it is entitled to the affection.
ate gratitude Of the people, anu all
Of its victims are embalmed to-day IN
undying honor aud reverence. Major
Burke's part in this affair Is not gene
rally known; yet among the leaders
it is notorious that but for him there
would have been, could have oeen'
no fourteenth Of September. On the
night of the thirteenth it became
known to Gen. Ogden that troops had
been ordered from Holly Springs by
telegraph and were expected IN the
city about noon the next day. me
realization of this programmes Hhh'"
rffectually defeat the plans OF the
Democratic leaders. They were re-
solved not to be brought into conflict
with the Federal authorities, aud yet
they we're equally determined to over
throw KelIogg's police and his gov,
ernment. What was to be done
Some of the staff ,ep'ired to MAYOR
Burkc's house at midnight to consult
AZ to ways and means. Their pr"p"'
sj,ion was to burn Manchac bridge,
bnt to- this Major Burke naturally
replied that he was an officer Ut the
road, and, of course, could not con-
nive at any injury to the roads pro-
perty. After some hours OF ANXIOUS
consultation the staff officers took
their departure, leaving the matter in
Major Bmke's hands. His plans
we're quickly formed and as quickly
executed. Before daylight his mes
1 senger WAS flying mp tho road on a
hand car giving the orders to the
f,remen Of the different gangs, then
engaged in mising the road "ed, ana
A few hours afterward the South
bound train with tho soldiers on
board was stopped by a gap of some
. hundred Yards, where tho workmen
had taken up tho track, and were in'
!, dustricusly slovrling away at the
f embankment. There was some pref
r ty loud talk, explanations and ex
: rostulation, and after a delay OF al
:. hour. the track was relaid and tn
= train proceeded on it's way. Iw'
Il miles on the road rej"icing. and an
II other stoppaee. Tw" hundred yar r,
d Of track taken up this time aud tn
:. gang very hard at work. More pa
Il layer, some excitement this time, tai
4 cnna d..| louder and explanation
3. more profuse. In two hours the tra'
IA WAS under way and went alo"
g smoothly for about three miles. Bu
Ii the men were working very deeper
ne ately on that September morning, a"
in here the train stopped at a brea
re Of nearly 500 yards. Then Z"
ne Brook lost patience. He even Ore
tie his pistol aud threatened to shoot
h. foreman. But it is needless to ling
H. over these details. Burke's p lot vi
u success, aud while the regular 40
re djers were building railroads up alb"
he Mauchac, the citizen soldiers we
he thrashing KelIogs's metropolitan
ny and scattering Kellogg's governme
IFS to the four winds Of heaven. 1t "
TO- the grand blow Of the struggle, t
the Inauguration of the era which h
ing now fully davned, and Major Burk
in part in it can hardly be termed a u
css nor one. No one who participated
in the councils of that period will de
jor that he deserves all the credit for
to stroke which delayed the train a
to made the fourteenth Of Septem'
possible.
:. ADMINISTRATOR OF IMPROVEMENT
ong This year Major Burke obtained
18th the second time the regular pa
out nomination for Administrator of |
y a movements, and this time he ,
hv. triumphantly elected. Here, tn
lrke begins his career as a public of1ic
at a and here his record becomes pal
OBJ property. For this record he cot
ght, the most Jealous scrutiny, and 81
3iug it his friends base the largest ella
her. for popular approval and supp
ing, His reports for the years 1875
b 40 1875 are models Of minute aud
at. cumstantiat dclearness, showing
ease only how the peoples money was
rom pended, but where; giving the
end, act locality of every bridge and e
arge ~ bit of street work or banqu
k sou construction, so that citizens Of
,tive locality in question could k
field, whether any exaggeration had
ccess INDUCED or any neglect conces
The He did not content himself vi
esti- vague array of figures, but went
table specifications of such q nature
Just there could be no mistake or ina
~ of racy. Take for instance his rel
and of repairs Of cobble stone pavem
the FIRST DISTRICT.
tran. Y
hun Richard street, from Annuncia'
5. 1t ton to St. Thomas street,
d the two squares entire taken up
rator and relaid. .--......-.-....
ng to Robin street, from Annunciation
epen- to St. Thomas, three. fourths
Beau- taken up and repaired. .....
""S Etc., etc., etc.
r, re- This is the form 10 which q
ls dis. reports were made-a form with
t" , the public has not been trouble
A!ter ton since.
'atlon But the scheme of this record
y, and not contemplate entering into d
lim'n- which are sufficiently fami'
Burke those who watched Major B
n pol course as Administrator Of 1ml
d sue ments. 1t can be- said without
Fduous contradiction that whilst his ad
:: tue traitor showed a vast retrenc
which IN ,ha amount spent, in Or
expose wears, there we're more lab"re
'publi- vloyed and more work actuall,
'e tre' th.u at any time under the
8 ach, system. The difference wa
rclated Burke only gave the pnb''e
n New for honest work, aud exacted
Ognlze consideration for every disburs