The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1905-02-09
Eccentric Colonel Burke.

res, SAID Ten. Coates. Il Knew
Col. Martin Burke, who was in COM
mand at Fort Lafayette when prison
ers therein quartered made the fort
end the commander subjects of con-
troversy. Apart from any controversy,
Col. Burke was an interesting person
ality and an old character. | remem-
ber him as one of the old school army
officers given to some eccentricities
that made me smile then and often
cause me to smile now. He occupied
a trying position. but he made mind.
ing his own business a matter of pro-
fessional pride. and he never would
go near Washington for fear that some
investigating committee would get
hold of him.
The boys on duty at Fort Lafay-
cite had constant reminder of the
colonel's kindness of heart. He found,
on occasion, a dog hurt in collision
with an army wagon or gun car
riage. The dogs leg was broken,
and he was in pitiable condition, and
the colonels orderly reported that he
was no better than dead dog. The
colonel, however, ordered the poor lit
tie beast taken to his own quarters,
and in due time the dog recovered,
with supreme disregard of all mill
tary regulations and proprieties.
This latter quality undoubtedly
grieved the colonel, but he stood by
the mischievous puppy through thick
and thin, and wherever the colonel
went with his traditional dignity went
Sam, the puppy, with his abnormally
developed bump of mischief. The colo.
mel always appeared on dress parade
in the full dress of the old-time regu
lars, and he held every man in line
TO a most serious cast of countenance
and most dignified manner. The uni
form, as Burke wore it, was queer
enough to make any man smile, but
Sam. at these parades, was full
comedy in himself.
He would caper about the colonel's
legs. indulging in pranks that would
make horse laugh, and yet the colo
mel stood there in stately pose, blind
to the puppys pranks, but watchful
as to the expression on the faces OF
| the officers and men in line. These
| poor fellows nearly died of suppressed
laughter, and they were always won
dering what Sam would do next. But
whatever they expected him to do, he
always did something else, and nc
matter what he did, the colonel stood
by him.
THE men on duty at Fort Lafayette
in the latter part of the civil war may
have forgotten the most notorious pris
oners held there, but will venture tc
say that not one of them has forgot
ten the eccentric colonel or his pa
tient orderly, or the dog Sam. Those
nearest the colonel testified that the
orderly never showed impatience oi
irritation except on one occasion. The
colonel had worked late one night or
some perpleXing papers. and, haltinl
for moment in his work, pushed hi!
spectacles up well on his head. in
stead of taking them off.
"This was his regular habit, but OF
this occasion he pushed the glasses
back farther than usual, and when
on resuming his work, he put his hanC
UP he found no spectacles. This wa!
disconcerting and irritating, and HI
shouted. Orderly, orderly, come here
sir The orderly had been sount
asleep for two hours. but he jumped
up, wriggled into his clothes, and pre-
sented himself to his absent-mindet
colonel Burke looked him over II
disspproval of his unusual appearance,
and snapped out. My glasses
"The orderly turned on his hee
without a word and in minute place,
before the colonel two glasses. pitch
er of water and a 6ecanter. Burk,
looked at him in amazement ant
roared, My glasses, you fool. My spec
eacles, my spectacles! Then tn,
worm turned. 'Yure glasses, colonel,
said the orderly, are on the top o
your head, sor. An ye call me from
me bed to tell ye that The colone
in high dudgeon put his hand to hil
head, but found the glasses, and ther
said, Having found the glasses, go t.
bed at once. never would have
found them myself Any reference tC
Hotel Lafayette, or Bastile Lafayette
or Fort Lafayette always brings to m,
mind the figure of quaint but soldierl.
Col. Martin Burke."-Chicago Intel
Ocean.
I