Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06
A METE0RIC CAREER.
The Louisiana Bond Frauds Direct
Attention to Major Burke,
EX-TREASURER OF THE STATE.
A Man Who Always Rose Above DepreSS-
ing Circumstances.
G-TREASURER OF THE STATE.
THE PROSPECT OF A STRUGGLE AHEAD

rsPKc1AI TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.I
New ORLEANS, October 5.-The dis.
closures recently made in connection with
the robbery of the State Treasury of Louis
lana of a vast, and as yet, indefinitely
known sum, represented by bonds of the
State which were commanded by the Legis-
lature TO be destroyed, but which have in
some mysterious manner, found their way
into circulation, brings into unpleasant no.
toriety one of the boldest, brainlest and most
meteoric figures that have flashed across the
Southern political sky since the close of the
civil war.
This is none other than Major E.
A. Burke, ex-Treasurer of Louis
lana, ex-Direetor General Of the
Worlds Exposition at New
Orleans in 1886, ex-Admlnistrator of I'm
provements OF the city of New Orleans, ex-
State Tax Collector of the richest and most
populous district in the State of Louisiana,
ex-proprietor of the Times Democrat, the
leading daily newspaper of this city and
section, ex-political manager and "boss" in
general of the Democratic party of
Louisiana, and, finally, ex-plotter and
pIanner of the bold scheme by which, in
1879, Tilden lost the Presidency and South
Carolina, Louisiana and Florida secured
local self-government.
Burke has been a truly conspicuous figure
in Louisiana for the past Is years, Whence
he came to make this State his home few
know, and though he has never sought to
preserve q mysterious silence about his
earlier life and history, there are not half
score of men in the State to-day who have
any definite knowledge OF who he was and
what he had done previous to his appear
ance in this city.
HIS NAME Is NOT BURKE.
He declares that his fathers name was
O'Bourke, and he himself was christened
Edward. As he grew in power and influ-
euce, and his wonderful talents and re-
sources gave him glimpse of the political
greatness that was in store for him, he
changed O'Bourke to Burke, and added the
middle name Austin" From Celtic Ned
O'Bourke he thus became the simple Amer
ican Edward Austin Burke
The most authentic story of his birthplace
makes him a native of Louisville, Ky.
How old he is no one knows. He seems to
be 80. He has a fine presence, and is of
afable and winning manners, a iorcible
writer and an eloquent speaker. Versatile
genial, brainy-a man who thinks upon his
feet and follows thought by instantaneous
action-it is no wonder that he has been a
leader of men.
But to return to what is known of his
life history. At the age of 13 Ned
O'Bourke, as he was then known, was 60
ing to school in Louisville. His father had
moved meanwhile to Texas. One morning,
while young Ned was engaged in learning
the alphabet of the telegraph operator in
the school of telegraphy, he received dis
patch from his father saying that he had
Eailad IN bucineSs ond hot 4ha
give up all idea of an education. But the
young fellow had no thought of giving up
that best of all educations which consists of
q knowledge of the world and of men. He
laid aside his books, it is true, but he
WENT TO SCHOOL TO EVENTS,
and in that grand university achieved
'rdouble first" He did not wend his yay
to Texas, but went straightway to a leading
railway official in the city of Louisville and
asked for something to do. He could use the
telegraph instrument to a limited extent
and was given a small station on the line.
Here he remained for some time when he
was promoted to the agency at larger point,
and finally at the age of IL became Division
Superintendent of the road, with more than
500 men under his control.
When the war cloud seemed about to
burst, young Burke for such he had
then become, hurried to Texas, where his
father was living. He was then 10 years of
age. For few months he was in the en-
plOy OF one of the Texas railroads, but soon
Joined tie army of the Confederacy. Anil
ltary career beginning at that age and last
ing but four years in that section of the
country could hardly be expected to furnish
many incidents for a biographical sketch,
yet even here opportunity was found for
the display of his peculiar apti-
tude for overcoming the insuper
able. The Trans-Mississippi Depart
ment was deficient In means OF transporta-
tion. Young Burke, then private soldier,
was one day in the room of the commanding
General, who was bewailing the fact that no
wagons or carts could then be manufactured
in Texas. The 20-year-old beardless boy,
standing by, declared that he could build
the wagons and carts if the money to paw for
them was forthcoming. His very audacitv
charmed his superior, and he was hidden to
20 at once and within 60 days provide 100
wagons and an equal number of carts, with
the necessary horses and mules.
HIS FIRST CONTRACT.
Sufficient funds for the work were placed
at his disposal, and promptly at the ap-
pointed time young Burke drove up, and be-
hind him trailed out 100 wagons and the
same number of carts. He was at once
made master of transportation of the entire
Trans-Mississippi Department, and at the
close of the war delivered to General E.
Kirby Smith, at Shreveport, La, the largest
property account of any officer of the Con-
federacy. His receipt from General Smith |
for the property thus turned over. and |
complimentary letter from that officer, are |
among Major Burke's most treasured pos |
sessions, which he is never weary of exhibit (
ing to his friends.
When the war closed Z. A Burke be-
came a cotton broker In Galveston, Tex. |
He was a bold speculator, and for a time |
made money, but one day the collapse came, |
and with $50 in his pocket be left Calves |
ton for New Orleans. He reached this city |
with $40 in his pocket For several days he |
walked the streets trying to secure work |
until his money had all disappeared. One |
night he slept on bench in public square, !
having no means to get lodging place. |
He strolled up Poydras street, not far from |
the heart of the city, and entered marble |
yard to ask for work. He was given the |
job of removing a number of marble slabs |
from the pavement to the yard, and his |
wages were fixed at 81 day.
Within two weeks he was made superin- |
tendent of the yard and his pay increased to |
$50 week. 1t was not long before the |