New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-02

CAPTAIN Burke FATALLY SHOT WHILE
HANDLING A REVOLVER.
HE HAD SERVED n TIE TWELFTH RE|-
MENT N THE LATE WAR. AND
WAS WELL LIKED.

Captain Francis Jemes Burke. jr.. thirty-four
wears old. accidentally shot himself AT Is o'clock
last Friday morning at his home. No. 3l5 West
One-hundred- and-twenty- sixth-st. He died twen-
tv.forr hours later from the effects % the
wound The accident is particularly sad az
Captain Burke was much thought OF by all his
friends and favorite IN the circles in which he
moved
CAPTAIN Burke occupied 2 rear room on thu
third floor He went 10 bed Thursday night
expecting to take his father. mother and other
members of his family 10 see the Dewey naval
parade on Friday from the Palisades, on tho
Jersey side.
A little before o'clock on Friday morning
the loud report OF a revolver was heard in the
room followed by the exclamation:
1--WE shot myself"
Cantain Burke's brothers who occupy tbs
room adjoining. and his father and the rest OF
the family. aroused by the shot, ran TO his as
sstance. Just IN time 70 catch him as he was
falling 10 the floor.
Blood flowed freely from wound in his left
shoulder Some Of the family tried 10 stanch
the flow Of blood Others ran for Or. H b. Hem
son who lives almost opposite, at No ols West
e-hundred and-twenty sixth-st.
Dr Henson hurried over followed by Dr.
Frank VI. Van Orden. Of Springfield. y. Y, who
q ,isi+ine with him. Dr. William H. Luckett. ~
No 81 West hundred and ffteenth-st, was
called in also. and the three physicians did all
that they could but to no avail, as Captain
Burke died the following morning
The bullet entered the left shoulder, about Two
inches above the heart. Il severed en- artery
and passed out through the left shoulder olade
and through the window pane.
The theory IS that Captain Burke was clean
,rg and examining his revolver. so as 70 make It
ready 70 salute Dewey with. For a better hsnt
he stood near the window. when IT vas acci-
dentally discharged.
No suggestion Of suicide attaches 10 the death.
Detectives Boyle and Maxon, Of the West one
bundred-and-twenty-ff th-st. station, made an
Investigation. and reported that death was due
70 an accident Deputy Coroner Weston went
70 CAPTAIN Burka's home. and also made an in
vestigaton He said that IL was undoubtedly
an accident He has not, however. made his OFF,
captain Burke was born in this city thirty
fcur years ago. For several years he was
member Of the 7th Regiment. and when war
broke out with Spain h was corporal IN tnat
organization He resigned 10 accept sec0I.
lientenancv in The 18th Regiment. and went
with that command 10 Chickamauga where 10
vas promoted 10 the rank OF nrst Aeu' eiltht'
When his regiment was transferred 70 LeNlhs-
tor he went with IL, and was there strichen "..n
typhoid fever. He was nursed BACK 10 nraIn
AZ the home Of Colonel Morgan When he -.
rlrned 10 his regiment he was elected captain *
c. mpany ID. --
He next went 10 cuba. where General sanger
annointed him Provost Marshal ar Matanzas lie
came back home last April. and resumed MS
piace al the Public stores AZ counsel and eN-
atniner soon afterWaId his friends IN the Fuo,,
lie stores presented 10 him handsome t0'"
watch appropriately inscribed. -.
Caprain Burke was member ~ the CatnoNo
club the New York Athletic club. the veteran
Association Of the IN Regiment. and formerly
president and CAPTAIN Of the Union Boat Cluo
The funeral VIII be held AZ lo o'clock to-nor-
row morning. in -. Josephs thurch' III one
twonfv-hffh-s \ solemn high
mass Of requiem will boz sung Burial VIII b. ~
Calvary Cemetery.