New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-25

been decided. The family desire that IT shall be
conducted with all the privacy possible. Inc poo1
will be placed in the receiving vault ri oakIsha
cemetery st loDkerS tomorrow
WHAT MR.. BURNHAM's FRIENDS SAY
Much surprise was expressed IN business circles
md in Wall street when the news of Mr.. Burn
hams suicide was circulated. An old friend of Mr..
Burnham said:
Ihavc not seen him since last Saturday. but mutual
friend him yesterday tell7 me that he was in a
state Oi complete mental proStration lie was prou
having been forcad 10 suspend preyed his mind night
All day. Since his increase OF fortune he has been
carrul aud conservative man OF business, always
strict in fulfilling his oblsa tons and careful
when be I Secame member OF the Cotton Exchange
told hun that there no money in II for him unless he
did what dishou0rable and divided His commission
with his customers He replied that he would not do
such thng for $4,000 IL he could not do business
without breaking his word 10 his associates he preferred
to do II At all have known him for twenty year.
or more and have always looked on him as a man OF
have credited Joe" Burnham with, and am sure he
must have been deIanged when he fired the pistol which
took his life
Schuyler Waldron, former partner OF the firm,
said:
Mr. Burnham was man who had worked himself up
wsri iii The world and naturally intensely proud Of
his business and 1s credit When the crash came he
broke down completely and has not been the same man
euarly anxious and worried He could not speak with
out his eyes filing with tears His nerves were shattered
Tie fact is that the hakage Of the last few days was the
laid the load already too heavy for him 10
bear. OF IL must have been insanity that led him
yesterday.
From another intimate friend it was learned that
for a week Mr.. Burnham had suffered from insom-
MA. On Saturday he procured from TREND who
is druggist, sleeping draught which he took on
Saturday and Sunday nights. On Monday he asked
his friend to put him up another bottle which the
druggist had ready for hlm yesterday morning when
he received the news of the suicide.
AT the Office of Hotchklss, Burnham & Co, No. SO
stated that Mr. Hotchkiss was out of town, having
taken his wife and family to the country. lie was
expected back to-day or tomorrow.
MR.. BURNHAM's BUSINESS CAREER.
Mr. Burnham was born In Connecticut forty-four
years ago. Coming to New-York when young
man he obtained employment with the Western
Union Company as telegraph operator. He soon
afterward obtained the position of manager Of the
telegraph Office in the Fifth Ayenue Hotel when it
was first opened in 1858. and later he was made
superintendent of the uptown branch He carried
on an extensive business IN the sale OF railroad
tickets. and became well known to the
frequenters of the hotel, attracting the
attention of many. prominent men. among
them Ex-Governor AlOn2O h. Cornell, who renamed
q stalch hieud to him. In 1872 lac left the service
of the Western Union and started in business for
himself as falroad ticket agent in the tlth
Avenue Hotel. Later he went down town and be-
gan business as a stock broker. In the year 1879
BE entered the Office of H. l.. Ito chkns~, with whom
he soon alter went into partnership; they soon
had ilouriShng business and were the first firm of
brokers 10 establish an uptown oitce, at first at the
Fifth Avenue and subsequently, at the Windsor
HOTEL IN 1881 ilf niul bftdlf Nitu INC
celebrated American District Telegraph Com
pany blind pool IN which ex-Goy-
ernor Cornell chiefly Interested
Mr. Durham also attracted attention % being he
first shareholder to bring suit against the Manhat
tan Elevated Railroad 10 upset the merger agree
mcnt.
Two years ago they were considerably mbar
raised through the failure of some of their Gus
TONERS TO meet their Liabilities, but they success,
fully wcatheIed the STERN and were considered
entirely safe. Last May, however, when a sudden
call tOr 5000 600 was made upon them, they were
unable to meet II and were forced 10 suspend pay
ment Their reversal OF fortune procured much
sympathy for them IN business circles.
l. is said that Mr. Bumham mover forgot his
Obligations TO the Western Union, and at the time
OF the late strike he walked into the operating
room one night took Oft his coat and set to work at
the key, aud continued working for them at night
as long a they needed his help lie lived for many
years at the Fifth Avenue Hotel from which he
moved to the Windsor, and on January to the
Langham Hotel. where he lived until about two
weeks ago. Until about three years ago he lived
plainly but then IS to have spent large snIns
IN tho purchase of pictures and other objects Of
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