The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-19
Where Major Burke Came In.


The dispatch was sent and answered
the troops would be in New Orleans on
Monday morning. There Is where Burke
came in. He held some important and
responsible post In the Illinois Central,
over whose tracks the Thirteenth infan-
try would have to come If they expected
to reach town in time. Burke, a Con-
federate veteran, promptly communicated
the plans to the White league leaders,
and there was another consultation.
Things looked dark for the southerners.
OF course, If the troops reached New Or
leans there would be nothing doing. The
White league had no quarrel with the
United States never resisted it's author
ity under any circumstances. One Junior
lieutenant with corporaps guard would
be enough to send every White Lacquer
In New Orleans to cover. They adopted
that policy at the outset and never re-
Taxed for a moment no matter what the
provocation. Finally, when all The rest
of them had talked great DEAL though
without throwing the faintest light on
the dilemma, Burke was asked for a
sentiment. He said at once:
"As l understand you want to meet
the issue Kellogg has raised and are
prepared to do 1t II the United States
troops can be held off Are you sure you
can win if you have all day Monday
with a free hand?"
They said they were. Every WE'LL"
says Burke Those soldiers won't get
to New Orleans until the dancing is all
over. No, shall not explain myself fur
ther. You can trust me or not, as you
prefer. I'll do my part, anyhow"
And he did. Next morning at o'clock,
a couple of hours run north of New
Orleans, the train with the Thirteenth
infantry aboard was tagged by the fore
xttar
two or three miles of rails piled up
along the track, while Burke noisily
bossed a Job of urgent ballasting and
general repairs.
What happened in town is already his
tory The White league, under Ogden,
swept Kellogg's metropolitan police of
the face of the earth In half an hour,
although the latter were perfectly armed
and had battery of gatling guns be-
sides. 1t must have been the bitterest
moment in stout old Longstreet's life
for he was the adjutant general of the
state under Kellogg-when he heard the
rebel yell of the White leaguers charg-
ins and had to surn and run away from
the men he had led to victory so often.
Like CHAPTER Of a Romance.
Burke's life after that is a chapter out
of romance. He left the service of the
Illinois Central went into politics and
journalism controlled the democratic ma
chine for years. and was the most con-
spicuous. and. in many ways, the most
Interesting figure in Louisville. A demo-
cratic faction arose bitterly opposed to
him. He was en- interloper. they SAID,
stranger and adyenturer of whose origin
and antecedents no one knew anything
for certain. They were Of the old regime
and they resented his power. They beat
him socially and for many years he
beat them in politics.
Out of this vicious clash two duels
grew | acted as Burke's second in one
when he fought Hearsey, editor OF the
State-fought with pistols at ten PAGES.
and fred and received three different
shots without injury to either party. Two
Drawer men never lived. but neither
Fnew the first thing about pistol shoot
ing or could hit a haystack at point
blank range with shotgun.
His next affair was with Harrison Par
l<er, then editor of the Picayune. and at
the fifth fire Parker managed to shoot
him through the thigh.
I see II stated in some of the comments
on Burkes death that he once cowhided
Governor Kellogg on Canal street. That
is not true. He could no more have
cowhided William Pitt kellogg than pick
up the custom house and swim across the
river with it. What he did was to jump
on the step of the governors victoria as
he drove by on his way home and try to
cowhide him Burke was powerful man.
the most perfectly proportioned athlete
/ have ever seen, but when he reacned
over the side of that victoria and I'M
dertook to drag Kellogg from his vehicle
he tackled job far beyond his powers.
Kellogg shook him off into the street as
though he were child. Burke nred at