Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-11-03

stood him IN good stead for he was given 8
position as line operator on small station.
But such was the boys nature aggressive,
Quick to learn and ambitiovS-that it was
not long before he was promoted 20 the
agency at larger point and we find him, at
the age of II, division superintendent of the
road, with 500 men under his charge.
Then the war clouds began TO gather over
head and young Burke joined his father in
Texas, where he secured a position on rail-
road, but soon afterward joined the Con-
federate army. 1t was not long before an in
cident happened which shows better than
anything else the powers and capabilities Of
the man, and which was the stepping stone
to position OF great influence. 1t happened
that one day the young man who was then q
private soldier WAS in the room OF the COM
manding general CT the army, who was be-
waiting the fact that no wagons or carts
could then be manufactured in Texas. The
Mississippi department at that time
was deficient in its means of transportation
and wagons could not be obtained for love or
money.
The young private, however, was equal to
the occasion. Extremely youthful in appear
ance. only 20 years of age, without beard.
he then and there declared that he would
guarantee to build one hundred wagons and
one hundred carts, with the necessary accom-
paniment of horses and mules, il he was pro-
vided with the money, and, moreover, that
he would do it in sixty days. We can easily
imagine how this proposition, coming as it
did from such youth-and those who know
Maj. Burke can easily conceive how ne might
have looked at 20-staggered the command
orfic oft f,,b
favor The funds were placed at his disposal,
and in precisely the time agreed upon young
Burke drove up, behind him trailing the one
hundred wagons and an equal number OF
carts.
He was at once made master Of Transports
ton of the entire transmississippi department,
and at the close of the war delivered to Gen
Z. Kirby Smith. at Shreveport, La, the larg-
est property account of any officer OF the Con
federacy. His receipt from Gen. Smith, to.
gether with complimentary letter, is one Of
Maj. Burke's most valued possessions.
After the war hewent to Galveston, started
u, the wholesale liquor business and failed
Then, with $50 left, he went to New Orleans.
and there he had for some time the unenvia-
bic sensation of being without work and
money Hedrifted around the streets in day
time, slept where he could at night, and, to
descend to slang, was literally ION lis up
pers."
AT last he got job in a marble yard at 81
day, Juggling marble slabs from the pave
ment to the yard. At the end of week
however, his ability was recognized, and be
was made superintendent of the yard at a
salary of $50 week Here, again, we catch
a glimpse of his extraordinary aggressive
ness. The Jackson railroad was then tho
most important road coming into New Or.
leans, and it was not long before young
Burke was made general freight agent
Gradually he became known throughout the
city as 4 man of good Judgment, great ability
and courage.
In 1872 he was made the regular Democrat
ic nominee for administrator of improve
ments, but owing to a split in the party he
was defeated In 1874 he was again nomi-
mated for the position, and this time elected
by an overwhelming majority During the
campaign of 1876 Major Burke served as
chairman of committee appointed to act as
q check upon the Republican returning
board, and upon his figures and data was
based the claim Of Tilden TO tbs vote of the
state as cast.
In 1877 he received the appointment of
state collector Of the richest district in New
Orleans, an Office worth from $50, 600 to $50
90 year. This be relinquished the follow
ing year to become state treasurer an Office
which he held for ten years-untI lsSS. In
1879 he bought The New Orleans Democrat
and later The Times. The two papers were
consolidated under the name OF The Times
Democrat.
Maj. BUrkes exact age Is not known, but
his friends place it at about 80.