Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-01-27

ure In political and newspaporial
circles, and the story of his life is
in many respects as fascinating as it
is remarkable.
The writer knew him personally, not
intimately, of course, but well enough
to remember many spicy, interest
ing description of scenes in which he
had played no Insignificant part. His
nature made him singularly compan-
ionable, and it was this quality that
gained him the confidence and friend
ship of such men as ex-senator II. G..
Davis; the great jurist, Jere Black
the matchless orator and statesman,
James g. Blaine; the stern and state
ly Simon Cameron; the brave and
generous L. S. Grant In fact his
whole life was spent in commingling
with such men, and they respected
and admired the shrewd, jovial cor
respondent.
He was loyal Union lnan-one
who believed that "Old Glory" was
the prettiest and grandest flag that
ever waved DER land or sea. When
that civil strife came-although only
lad Of IS years, he joined the rank
and hle," and so attracted the inter
est of the discerning Zach. Chandler,
by his bravery and discipline, that he
finally was made an aide on Gen. Al
gers staff When but nineteen he
was captain in the Fifth Michigan
Cavalry, where he won distinction
and record, and disabled leg, car
ried by him to the day of his death,
tells the story of his services to his
country At the close of the war Col
Burr commanded a regiment of caval-
ry. Directly after the war he located
in Martinsburg, and for two years
practiced law here, being a member OF
the law firm of Blackburn, Haldeman,
& Burr Then he met and married
Miss Emma J. Malonev, one of the
bellies of this city The humdrum and
slow practice of this city became mo-
notonous TO him, however, and he
went to Washington. At one time he
was chief of the Patent Office Gazette,
which position he sacrificed to accept
the nomination for Congress in this,
Second Congressional District, on the
Republican ticket. There was no
hope to carry the district, then over
whelmingly Democratic. but Col. Burr
reduced the majority by some 1900,
Afterwards by virtue of the influence
he had in this State he was of mater
ial assistance to II. G. Davis (who
started like himself, poor boy, and
who is now millionare), in winning
a seat in the L. S. Senate.
But his signal success was in the
newspaper world. He could not re-
sist its fascination. He became the
Washington correspondent for the n.
y. Times, which position he filled for
years. Afterward he became travel
ing correspondent for the Philadelphia
Press. In 1884 he became travelling
correspondent for the Philadelphia
Times, which position he held at the
time OF his death. He was in the ac-
tive pursuit of his profession, honored
and influential, at the time of his fatal
illness. His writings mainly concern
ed public measures, and consequently
public news. No man in his line of
work was i'll closer touch with the
historic figures of his day and coun-
try, and we regret exceedingly that
he did not write a book of reminis-
censes. 1t would not only have
thrown a side-light upon men of re-
nown, but would also have given an
insight into political affairs of endur-
ing value even to the historian. His
literary work was in the main of that
character which appertains to most
newspaper endeavors. 1t breathed
for but day He was the author of
three biographical volumesU. S. Grant,
Russell A. Alger, and James A. Bea-
yer. These works are written in a
terse, catching style and are very enter
tanning
And yet, this man was vigorous and
aggressive-widea awake to the impor-
tance of first move In the Black
reply TO Jefferson Davis, published
after ii he great jurists death; in
Blaine's famous deliverance on the
distribution of the surplus between
the States, and as the mouthpiece OF
Jefferson Davis to the world after a
silence of quarter of a century, he
was acted upon by a great force that
simply used him as channel Of COM
munication. But to be chosen by
such men for such purposes, shows
remarkable character. He was not
to be easily bluffed 1t was the most
natural thing in the world for him to
walk in upon Jefferson Davis in his
Mississippi home and demand that
the ex-Confederate chief should no
longer continue his absurd silence.
If the thought occurred to him that
Judge Black was living in retirement
at York, the certainty of the Judges
making Col. Burr's acquaintance very
soon was fixed from that moment. He
was in England twice. Once as for
eign correspondent for the n. II.
Times Herald nnd Void another