The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-01
as GOOD AS HIS WOOD.
abraham Burbank's Resolve When
His Credit Wasn't Good.
From the Post IN teLltoencer,


From the Post Tstelhocncer.
4 TACOMA, Oct. 1S.-George A. Burbank
sill leave tomorrow for Pittsheld, Mass.
IN business connected with the final settle
nent of his grandfather's estate, which is
valued at So 10000 OF this amount about
s21O. 900 goes to Mr.. Burbaak. HIS grand
Ifatuer had twenly-one grs ndchiIdren, TO
ZACH of whom he beqIeathed $4,000. His
Will. written by himself, comprises fifty
three legal cap pages, and provides that the
interest on all of his estate shall go to the
town of Pittsfeld, to be used in the erection
of memorlal hospital and other public
fnildipgs. Just before death Burbank ex-
messed a desire to change his will in favor
n his family. After spending S75, 900 in
LAWYERS fees the city OF Pittsfield com
promised with the heirs for S3OO,OJO At
hat time the heirs had spent $I25, 900 in at
Eemptiug to break the will.
Abraham Burbank. the grandfather of
Mr.. Burbank of this city, made a declara-
ton at PiLtsheld which took him his life-
time to carry out. In carrying it out he
exhibited indomitable pluck and energy,
He was striving to support his young wife
At Pitts6eld in 1885, when he was % years
old. John c. West. then the leading BUSH
ness man of the place and large properly
holder. refused to trust Burbank for a sack
4 l. ~
man. He told " est Of his good Intentions,
Of his honesty and the like, and then de-
olared TO him that he wonld vet own az
Pittsfield as many houses as there were
DAYS IN the year that he would own aud let
90 ma stores as there we're weeks in the
year: ina be would own as many blocks as
there we're months in the year; that he
would own as many hotels, farms, wood
Yards and QuarTles as there were days in
tue EEK.
He had but short time before come to
Pittsfed from West Spring ield, where be
was born i'll 1913, with nothing but an old
nit of clothes, a bandanna handkerchief
With blouse tied up in it, and so cents in
money. At IL he had learned the trade OF
carpenter and joiner. Before West died
h he had failed three times, aud at tho time of
4 bis death he owed Burbank $4,000, which,
4 ID returning good for evil, he advanced
him in order TO keep roof over his head.
B A few years ago, after compile ing the
a Hall block at Pittsfield, being then a man
over " years of age, Mr. Burbank told his
81 grandson. George A. Burbank of this city,
thai be did not care whether be ever saw
Il another sunrise. He had accomplished MS
TASK, as he told John G. West he would &C
a c0mplish it. In three weeks he Was dead
Mr. Burbank worked assiduously until the
last building was completed. He had the
q Ethel Hall block up three stories, when,
owing to defective work by the brick mas n,
it collapsed. At the time the millionaire
was setting a window frame on the third
floor. He was not injured. and IN few
hours had 100 men at work reno wing the
debris, and in three weeks he had the three
stories up again. He never wore overcoat
or gloves on the coolest days, and rarely
ever wore anything but blouse and over
ais. without collar or necktIe. Once while
at Boston in his old working clothes, the
clerk of one OF the leading hStels put him in
the attic to seep, refusing him the usual
courCesles Of guest. 10 the morning the
proprietor upbraided the clerk, telling him
Abraham Burbank could buy half a dozen
hotels like his, and, to square things. took
his guest Co dine Nth him. all of which ia
said TO have amused the shabby-appearin
millionaire immensely. The elerK excused
his action by saying he could not read Mr..
Blrbsnks autograph on the hotel register.