The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-03-17
PROFESSOR WILFPED j. BURNS
HAS A STROKE OF GOOD
LUCK.
Ry Death Of His Brother He Comes in
for an Estate in Canada
VIII Go East.

"A
many times broke; five times proprie-
tor Of ,circus company and as many
times a loser: a Wanderer who has set
smiled whether his luck was bright or
his future dark; one who has struggled
with adversely when efforts were being
made to give to him a fortune-such
a man is Professor Wilfred j. Burns,
instructor at the Walla Walla Athletic
club, OH West Alder street.
KILLED BY \ FALL FROM A
BALLOON"-were the words that
served as proof of the death of Prof.
Burns in far-away Australia.
At least such was the decision of
family friends and neighbOrs and all
but one of the immediate relatives of
the genial athletic instructor of the
Walla Walla gymnasium. That these
simple words should satisfy peO-
pie of his death would seem
strange We're it not for the fact that
it served to direct into their hands a
small fortune which was and is right
fully belonging to Mr.. Burns.
Lost to relatives for fifteen years.
known to have been Of rowing and ad-
venturous disposition. the information
that Re was 10 more: that he had made
his last ascension via balloon or other
wise. was received With mixed feel
ing in certain hearts in the province of
Quebec, Canada, some years ago.
An ample fund of facts upon which
to base an intensely interesting story,
is readily found in the career of Mr..
Burns. Left an orphan when but two
hundred acres bequeathed to his elder
brother and himself on an eQuable di-
vision plan. he has failed to realize
upon the same until this late day
Tempted by the attractions of John
3. DOrriss circus, when but nine years
Of age, Mr.. Burns passed up homel life
and became apprenticed to the life
Of the ring. Wire walking and aero
battle stunts gave way, as years gave
strength, to aerial tumbling and fly
ing trapeze work. Changing from cir
Gus work to balloon ascensions and par
achute- jumping. Mr.. Burns has toured
the world. From America to Austria
Iasia, through India, China, Japan,
BOrneo, Sumatra and the Malaccas
down into South Africa Mr.. Burns has
made balloon ascensions to the great
delight and amazement Of the native
population of the countries named.
That the life was not a bed of roses is
from the Palmerston Times, (Austra-
Ia):
The fate of Higgins and other bal
lOOnists was nearly served up to us
again by the serious accident to Pro-
fessOr Burns who is giving balloon as
tensions in PamerstOn. *At the
signal of cut away" the breeze fresh
ened and Veered toward the open sea
At the height of 100 feet, realizing to
continue would mean landing in the
ocean many miles from land, and not
desiring to risk the school of sharks
cut loose. trusting to evade death by
the opening of the parachute. The dis
materially broken and the unfortunate
parachuits struck the ground with a
thud that sickened the hearts of the
spectators. "A discolated Shout
der, several ribs and collar bone bro
ken and a partial discolation of the
spine were the injuries sustained"
Compelled to give up this hazardous
profession, Mr.. Burns located in
Central America and became interest
ed in mines where with the usual luck
of the novice, his savin. went into
holes in the ground Returning to
California and for several years APP
pearing in small travelling shows in
acrObatic work, Mr.. Burns finally To-
Gated in this city.
When in India, and doing we'll, he
learned of the death of the elder heir
but as it had occurred a long time
previous and not being familiar with
Canadian law, Professor Burns decid-
ed he had forfeited all claims and
promptly forgot the question of the
estate. Mr.. Burns two sisters are 10
Gated in Buffalo, y. Y. One of his
brother-inlaW a leading hardware
dealer, learned from a travelling man
of one w. J. BURNS, wrestler, loca
ted in this city From this stray bit Of