The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-08-09
Dramatic Death.
REMARKABLE SUICIDE OF AN ADvEYTUR-
Err

REMARKABLE SUICIDE OF AN ADvENTUR-
CAPRoN, ILL.,, July "a On the ID day of
last May there arrived at our village rather
distinguished looking young man, who
gave his name as George w. Burleigh, and
who said he was prospecting for a location
to open tonsorial establishment. After
looking our town over for a day or two
| Burleigh concluded to remain here, and he
accordingly rented small room suitable for
his purpose in an upper story of one of our
business buildings and fitted it up with some
| decidedly primitive and original tonsorial APP
pointments and appurtenances. Though well
dressed, and having the appearance of a
man who had known the luxuries of wealth
and refinement, Burleigh seemed to be the
possessor of a decidedly attenuated pocket.
book. During ten weeks acquaintance
with him some of our most inquisitive towns.
men have elected the following facts-f
facts they are-of his history He stated
that he was born in Cincinnati in the year
1S4S and that he resided in divers parts of
Ohio until his 2lst year. At that age he
had acquired an excellent education, and an
extensive fund of general knowledge. To
use his own words, "From his fourteenth to
his twenty-frst year medical, metaphysical
and scientific works were his food, and poe.
try and standard fictions were his drink"
An acquaintance Of two months duration
has given the Times correspondent no reason
to doubt the truth of his statement. In the
spring of 1871 he left his native state for the
far west, being possessed with an .uncontrol.
liable desire to explore and roam over that
vast and interesting region. For six years
he followed the bent of his nomadic inclna-
tions, visiting during that time, California,
Oregon, Utah, the Black Hills, Nebraska
and Kansas. In the course of these ramb-
lings his occupations were various. He min
ed, wrote for the newspapers, taught school
practced medicine, and examined crani-
ums phrenologically, in consideration of
fees. He seemed to have been one of those
versatile and brilliant, but unstable, char
acters one occasionally comes in contact
with in this sublunary life. During the
brief space of the Times correspondents &C.
quaintance with him he has frequently re.
marked that she was one of those rolling
stones that gather no moss;' that 'the or
gan of continuity in his Uranium was repre-
| hu itu
impossible for him to stick to one pursuit
long enough to perfect himself in it and ac-
cumuate property by it." BY reason of the
limited extent and population of our munic-
ipality Burleigh's revenues from his busi-
ness have not been on Vanderbiltian scale.
And he seems to have been very susceptible
to depressing influences He would walk the
streets for hours ogether,w his head bow.
ed, his hands clasped behind him, and appai
emily buried in gloomy meditation. Amy in.
terruption of these deep self communings he
would answer in the cru stiest monosylables
After his gloomy spell passed off he would
be as unnaturally vivacious and etiervescen,
as he had been depressed and mOrose be-
fore. Since his advent into our somewhat
fossilized village he has caused decided
furor among our marrageable young ladies
and, as he was a man of uncommon person.
al beauty, gallantry, vivacity, wit and intel
ligence, this was but a natural sequence Of
his coming. 1t is hardly necessary to say
that his success among the pretty girls did
| not tanH IN oommand him yary strangely IN
the favor of certain class of our young
men. They looked upon him las an interlo-
per whose rights of conquest should not be
recognized. Burleighs talent Tor debate has
been the means of stirring up our fossils OF
the medical and legal profession, and, also,
our chronic political controversialists and
he has frequently experienced the pleasure
of vanquishing these various disputants, His
untimely self destruction last night has given
rise to an unusual sentiment of one who GER
tainly was gifted young man; but the man
ner 10 which he accomplished his taking off
is what gives peculiar interest to the occur
renee. Last Saturday morning Burleigh went
| to the proprietor of the only entertainment
hall in in our town and engaged the hall
| for the following Tuesday evening, saying to
the proprietor that he intended to give
dramatic entertainment on the evening
named. Having completed this prelimina-
ry, he returned to his room, locked himself
in, and was seen by no one for the next
forty. eight hours except two clerical gentle
men. During Saturday number tof his
patrons raped on his door, wishing TO gain
samittance for tonsorial treatment, but they
bre answered from within that "a work of
keater importance would preclude the pos
dbility of his doing any tonsorial work that
day." As the curtains were all drawn, no
one OF the disappointed applicants could dis
cover what "work" it was that engrossed
Burleigh's attention so entirely, and many
conjectures were INDUCED in by the patrons
as to the nature of it, The sequel, however
proves that Burleigh was far from being idle
during those long hours of seclusion. On
Sunday morning the following startling no.
tice Was found posted in various public
places of our hamlet, and also on the outer
side of Burleigh's room door,
To THE WORTHY CITIZENS OF CAPRoN
AND VIcINIrY; Having, since the great
sensation in Chicago-tbe hanging of Sherry
and Connolly--heard sundry citizens of Ca
prom and vicinity express strong desire to
witness some such tragedy, have concluded
to crafty their lust tor the horrible by shoot.