Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1889-10-19

Ions district ~ The State of Louisiana. expro-
prie,or uf The Times Democrat, the leading
Tally newspaper of this city aud section.
ex-po!i,ca manager aud ''5oss in general
81 the Dem ,crarh. party of Louisiana, and,
finally. rx-plni,rr and palmer Of the bold
scheme by whwh in 1916 Tilden lost the
pre- sii-ncy and South Carolina, Louisiana
aud FIoriia secured io"al seif-government
Burke has .en uoiy conspicuous figure
in Louisian, for the pas, fifteen years.
Whence he came 10 make this State his home
n preserve n mysterious silence about his
earlier life aud history there are not a half
score of men in the State to>day WHO have
any definite know ledge of who he was and
what lac hai done previous TO his appearance
in this city
HIS NAME Is NOT BURKE.
He declares that his fathers name was
@ Ronrke, and he himself was christened Ell.
ward. As he grew in power and influence
. al his wonderful talents and recource tave
him q glimpse Of the political greatness thai,
was in store for him. he changed O'Bourkr
to Burke, and added the middle name,
"Austin." From Celtic Ned OBourke he
thus became the simple American Edward
Austin Burke
The most au,hen:ic story Of hi, birthplace
makes him native of Louisville, Ky. How
old he is no one knows. He seems to he fiiy
He has fine presence, and is of atiabie and
winning manners, forcible writer and al
eloquent speaker. Versatile. genial, 5rainy-
a man who thinks upon bis feet and follow
thought bv instantaneous action--it is no
wonder TIA, he has been leader Of men.
But to return TO what is known of his life
history. At the aye Of thirteen Ned o Bourke.
as he was then tnown, was going TO school
in Louisville. His father had moved means
while to Texas. One morning. while Young
Ned was engaged in learning the alphabet Of
the telegraph operator in the school Of teleg-
raphy, he received dispatch from his father
saying that he had failed in business, and
that the son must give up all idea of an edu>
cation. Blu, the young fellow had no thoa2h,
Of giving up that best Of all edncations which
consists Of knowledge of the world and Of
men. He laid aside his books, i, is tue,
but he
WENT TO SCHOOL TO EVENTS,
and in that grand university achieved a
''double first" Tie did no, wend his way to
Texas, but went straiRhiwsy to a leading
railway official in the city Of Louisville and
asked for something to do. He could use the
telegraph instrument to limited extent and
was given a small station on the line. Here
he remained for some time when he was pro.
NOTED to the agency at a larger point, and
finally at the age of seventeen became divis>
ion superintendent Of the road, with more
than five hundred men under his control.
When the war-cloud seemed abou, to burst
young Burke" for such he had then be.
come, hurried to Texas, where his father was
living He was then nineteen years of age
For few months he was in the employ of
one Of the Texas railroads, but soon joined
the army Of the Confcderacy. A military
career beginning at that age and Iesting but
four years in that section OF the country
could hsrdl, he expected 20 furnish many in-
cidenrs for a biographical skeicli, yet even
here opportunity was found for the display
Of his peculiar aptitude for overcoming the
The Trans Mississippi Depart
ment was deficient in means Of uanspor,a-
ton. Young Burke. then a priva,. soldier,
was one day in the roof, Of the commanding
general who was bewaiIins the fact that no
wagons or carts could then be manufactured
in Texas. The twenty yearold, besrdless
boy standing by, declared that he could build
the wagons and carts il The money to ray for
them was forthcoming. His very audscity
charmed his superior. and lie was hidden to
20 81 once and within sixty days provide one
hundred wagons and an equal number of
carts. with the necessary horses and mules.
-nllicien, fun Is for the work were placed a,
his disposal. and promptly at the appointed
time young Burxe drove up, and behind him
,railcd on; one hundred wagons and the same
..,mber Of carts. He was al once made
nasi.I nj transportation Of the entire Trans.
Department, and at the close OF
The war delivered Gen. F.. Kirby Smith. at
Slrevr port. Ls the largest properly account,
Vi any officer OF tho Cnufedsracy. His receipt
from Gen S,snl, for the property thus turned
ovsr. and complimentary letter from that
oiIi-er. are among Major Burkes most treas
nreI possessions. which he is never weary Of
rxhilinrg 10 his frieuis.
When 'ly war eli. s-d f. A. Bu,ke became
, cotton broker in Galveston. Tex. He was
BOLD sPEcuLAToR,
aud for . time made money. hut one day the
.oIlsp>r came. aud viii $50 in his pocle, he
ri, GsIv-ssa sor New Orleans He reached
ti- city with $40 in his pocket. Fer several
hays he walked the s'reets nyinv 10 secure
rork until his money had; all disappeared.
De night he slept on lench in public
rlasrr, having mn means =" get lodging
haze lie .tmli-d M Poydrass street, not far
,ss., the heart OF the city, aud entered