The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-23
SAVANNAH KNOWS HIM.
MAI. BURGESS OF MILITARY
SCHOOL FAME.

he Makes himself Acquainted in a
California Town. and the Town is
Sorry 1t Ever Saw Him-A Man Who
Doesn't Stay Long In ANY Place.
Los ANGELES, CAL, Aug. 15.-Maj. John
Burgess, "A. NJ, dropped into San Bernardino.
Cal, about two weeks ago, and has since
dropped silently out, much to the confusion
of about twenty creditors to whom he owes
in the aggregate about 81 900.
Mai. Burgess will be remembered In Sa-
vannah as the professor who appeared in
that city in 1881 and enlisted the aid
of a number of Savannah mer chants
aud lumber men in the building OF the
Georgia Military Academy. This was
S-story frame structure erected on Abercorn
street, near Forsyth park, which l presume
still stands. The building was built by tue
carpenter firm OF Dorne & Cameron, who
went to pieces in doing it, and the company
who was putting up the cash lost money on
the enterprise. When the building was
completed Maj. Burgess opened In 1t mill
tary school. 1t was a private affair, though
an acs or the legislature had been procured
Incorporating IL. In this school boys were
dressed, drilled and trained la West Point,
and it was thought that the discipline AZ
forded by military codes would 60 far IN
training the youth in the way be should go.
The manner and causes of Maj. Burgess
removal from Savannah are familiar, no
doubt, to readers Of the NEWS, as well as
the causes Of his non-success In conducting
the Georgia Military Academy. Anyhow,
after leaving Savannah in 1885, Maj. Bur
CESS went TO Maryland with his staff Of
teachers and succeeded in opening a like
school in one of the large towns in one OF
the lower counties. The ma jor had not OPP
Grated this long, however, when he and bis
staff began to be unpopular with the schol-
airs, who did not relish the majors ancient
pedagogue idea Of correcting crooks in the
ways of cadets with a stout rattan, and es-
pecially did their increasing indignation
find vent against one Prof. John
son, thin individual with an
erratic air and long red set Of whiskers:
The cadets, on one Silly night, captured
this learned master wandering outside the
lines, aud a party of them threw him TO the
ground, while cadet artist, with q long
pair Of shears, rendered him suddenly bereft
of his whiskers.
This was blow from which the school
could not recover aud the institution broke
up. Prof johnson wandered away to grow
new whskers and Maj. Burgess went west
to start new school.
He turned up about two years ago In
Council Bluffs, Ia, started a military
school there, and remained until this year,
when his creditors swamped him and he
disentaugled himself from thence and moved
further west.
Five weeks ago he turned up in San Ber-
nardino This is a beautiful little town
in the heart of the most prosperous and
wealthy citrus fruit-growing regions in the
southern counties. The idea Of military
school is new here. There is no such thing
in the state, and the major, who at once set
about starting such an institution, met with
a favorable reception and assistance on all
hands. The major was dead broke. be
had not even a trunk. He carried only a
hand-sschel as his baggage, but he dressed
well. wore military cap and exhibited tes-
timonials from Prof Collier of the Collier |
Military Institute of New York city, from |
Prof. James of Lake Grove College, Bethel. |
n. c., and other educators OF reputation.
The 'majah," as he is now designated by |
the press OF this section, at once leased a |
house known as the Waters mansion, on |
Cotton avenue, and this he was TO use as a |
school building. He bought lumber ex-
tensively, had carpenters at work in a |
lively fashion about the premises, and was |
rapidly remodeling 1t to suit his purposes |
Of a school.
Meanwhile the major had typewriter
at work, writing letters to every officer Of
a bank on the Pacific coast, TO leading mer-
chants and others, inviting their attention
TO his school. He procured the names OF
most Of these from copy of the American
Bank Note Register, which, after his dis
appearance, was found in his room.
To raise money be borrowed on every
hand, got credit for all he could and made
friends with every one by liberal ID vitations
TO the bars Of principal saloons He went
20 all the banks In the town and presented
drafts on Baltimore, asking at the same
time a small advance. From only one OF
these did he receive any money. From this
bank he got $3.50, and since this draft
turned out TO be worthless the officers are
now looking for the "majah" very hard.
All this rush and skurry of business about
the school building came to a sudden close
on Saturday night a week ago, when the
major did not appear to pay Off his hands.
Search was made for him and he was
nowhere to be found. When his room was
examined it was found that his valise was
gone, but his hotel bill was unpaid. There
were a number OF papers and envelopes in
the room which had been forwarded from
various places to R. Braxton Thomas at
San Bernardino, showing that the major has
lately been travelling under another name.
The major did not carry away any money
with him on leaving these parta All he
gathered here he spent here. He lived high,
took long hack rides, drank much, and
spent money freely where he could not get
credit. He leaves behind him a large batch
of unpaid bills and a number Of angry peo-
pie, who, If he is ever gotten back to San
Bernardino. will not make bis second visit so
pleasant for him as was the first.