The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-08-10
FAMOUS TRAMP.
OLD JOHN BURNS STOPS IN KENO
SHA AND TELLS HIS STORY.
A cLAssMATE WITH DEWEY
And was a staff of1cer With Admiral
Porter During the war of the Rebel
lion-was Also With the Greeley
Rescue Party in the Far North.

KenOsha was hOnOred yesterday Dy a
visit from John Burns, who is in all
probability the most famous tramp
that ever visited the city. Burns is
not talker, and when he was seen by
a representative of this paper he was
loath to tell the story of his life.
Notwithstanding this fact the life of
Burns has been a notable one and
could it be written in it's entirety it
would make story of adventure and
misfortune which would command a
great deal of interest. Burns is a
philosopher and as tramp he never
refers to his past. 1t is only mem
DRY, and it is only when the old man
has had several generous draughts of
liquor that he will open up and tell the
story.
Burns was a sailor and in his career
be was associated with many men who
have played the leading roles in the
drama of two great wars. As the old
tramp ambles on his way across the
continent he often dreams of the sue
and had he only had the will power to
deny himself the flowing bowl he might
today be decorated with the insignia of
the Admiral in the United States navy.
In early life Burns thirsted for the
life of sailor and he was appointed to
a cadetship at Annapolis. Here he was
classmate of Admirals Dewey and
Schley and when the two great warriors
received their first commissions from
the Navy department Burns also re-
ceived a commission as an engineer.
Shortly after this he was appointed on
the staff of Admiral Porter, and as an
engineer of the flagship he saw many
of the exciting events of the war of the
rebellion. Burns was good and brave
but in one of the famous naval battles
of the war a shell burst over the
flagship and Burns was carried below
among the wounded. He received
terrible wound and yesterday he re-
moved his hat and showed where
silver plate had covered the evidences
of the wound. This is the only mark
of honor which he has and he is proud
of it. He turns to it with as much
pride as the patriot turns to his medals
of honor. After the war was over
Burns began wandering life and only
the most hazardous undertakings have
ever forced him to leave his life on the
road. When Lieutenant Greeley was
lost in the frozen North it was the
hand of Burns that guided the rescue
ship toward the North Star, and it was
Burns that gained the first sight of the
brave American officer in the far north.
Burns seemed to love the life of
sailor, but he loves the life of tramp
more. He claims that he has made
4O7 trips across the ocean and he was
for many years the engineer on the III
fated Paris which was stranded on the
rocks of the English coast short time
ago. He was on the Paris when the
boat made her first trip and he re-
NAMED with her until she cast him off
as an incapable seaman.
All the soldiers and sailors homes
are open to him, but he prefers the life
of the tramp and goes from town to
town, finding here and there friend
of other days with whom he can sit and
revive the past over mug of fragrant
ale. He only stayed short time in
Kenosha and left this morning for
Chicago.