Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-09
TRIBUTES TO CAPT. BOURkE
Paymaster General Stanton Tells of His
Service With Gen Crook.
Made Special Study of the Indians,
Which Was of Great Value
to the Country.

General T. H. Stanton, paymaster gen.
eral of the army, who has a great repu-
tation as an Indian fighter was intimately
acquainted with Captain John G. Bourke,
who died in Philadelphia yesterday Morn
ing result of an operation.
Il have known Captain Bourke since
1871" said General Stanton to a Star re-
porter at the War Department today,
having mot him first in Arizona while
he was serving with General Crook in
the Apache campaign. He was a man
of quick perception, especially in seeing
the salient points of a campaign. He
knew everything that was going on around
him, and made 1t a habit to take vol
luminous notes Of the country and the peo-
pie, including the Indians He made
special study of the habits and manners
of the Indians, and became thoroughly
versed in their folk lore, not only with
respect to those in Arizona, but also with
respect to those with whom he came in
contact later in the campaigns further
porth, in Utah, Idaho, Montana, the Da-
kotas and Wyoming.
Gen Crook appreciated Capt. Bourkes
notes very highly and often referred to
them for information as to time and place
of events in his campaign. Capt. Bourke's
loyalty to the general in all his Indian war
fare was splendid, and his courage and gal
lantry are byWordS in the army. He rem
country in those long campaigns against
the Indians, and this service ought to have
mad greater reward. He was with Gen.
Crook in New Mexico in his memorable
campaign against Geronimo, well as in
all the other campaigns comma nded by
Gen. Crook from 1871 to 1880. The hard
ships which he endured, including long eX-
posture to great storms, doubt FASTENED
the termination of his life. lie was q
natural-born wit, full of mental vivacity,
and remembered pretty much everything
he ever read.
His mind was stored with knowledge of
the Nestern country and its people, includ-
ing the Indians, to a greater extent, per-
haps, than any other officer of the army.
OF late years he devoted himself al
| most entirely to chronological work, and his
standing in scientific and literary circles
was very high. He was altogether the
| highest type of the soldier and scholar, and
| there are very few like him. My personal
association with him during these years
was of the closest and most intimate char
| acter. We had always been the warmest
| friends. l have hundreds of his letters,
| written while he was serving with Crook.
| l have carefully preserved them and some
| day, if l have time l intend to edit them,
| together with letters from Cen Crook, COW
ering the period of his Indian campaign.
| Capt. Bourke's letters contain vast
| amount of valuable information on all
| sorts of subjects, and would make an in
| teresting publication"
The Tribute of One Friend
Mr.. David Fitzgerald, librarian of the
War Department, who was one of Capt.
Eourke's intimate friends, said this after
| noon:
| Captain Bourke was a man whom to
| know was to love and admire, one of the
| bravest of soldiers. kind husband, Il good
| father and a devoted friend. AS a soldier
! he served In the volunteer army from 1862
| to 1859. going out as a private in the
| fa rl,.a1 N-1l W han
| a mere boy, and obtaining medal of honor
| for ''salantry in action" at Stone River,
| Tenn, in December, 1862, which was earn
| ed again many tires later on in the reSu-
| Ia, army. He was sent to the United States
| Military Academy in 1865 on the recon-
incubation OF Gen. Geo. II. Thomas, under
| hon he had served, and i'll June. 1859, he
vas appointed second lieutenant in the 30
| Cavalry, a regiment then continually op
! posed to the savage Indians of Arizona
| and New Mexico.
| 1t is not my purpose to dwell upon his
| military career; that will be done by ADLER
pens than mine; but it was honorable and
| credtab!e to the greatest extent, he har-
| ing the distinction of receiving two hrevets
| one of captain and one OF major-for gal
| liant services in Indian warfare, and had
| the honor also of serving ten or twelve years
! on the staff of General Crook. the gray
! fox of Apache notoriety, who was well
| aware of Capt Bourke's capacity and
! ability, and had the highest regard for his
services.
| LAS an authority on anthropological and
| chronological subjects Bourke had but very
| few supcriors, and the several religious
| cults had no more profound student than
| this remarkable captain Of cavalry. AS a
| writer on folk lore, anthropotogy, etc, his
| fame extended to Europe, where his works
| were read and admired by the best known
| and most distinguished of European SCI
| entific men, To listen to him talk in his
| genial moods one would be alternately re-
| minded of Humboldt of Schoolcraft, and
| very often of pages of Charles OAIalley.'
| He was stanch, steadfast friend, and l.
| who knew him for many years. was both
| proud Of and fattered by his friendship
| He was possessed of a rare ability was a
| deep thinker, and in actual warfare would
| have been an undoubtd and courageous
! leader. He a good Spanish scholar
| and was attached to the Pan-American
| congress when it went around the coun-
| try, and at the worlds fair a Chca go he
| had charge of the convent of La Rabida'
| 'As the old farmer said sorrowfully, when
| gazing upon the dead body of the renowned
| Daniel Webster The earth will be very
| lonely without ye. Dan'l,' the early death
| Of John G.. Bourke will cause many who
| knew him to be lonesome without him. To
| the lonely widow and the three little or
| phan girls he leaves behind him all our
| hearty sympathy goes forth. May He who
| tempers the wind to the shorn lamb sus-
| tain them; and as for him. now, we can
| only say, Sit tibi terra lewis"