The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-01-09
wAIFs BECOME GOVERNORS.
Meet and Talk Over Days When They
Were Street Boys in New York.


is the story of both John G. Brady OF
Z 27 State street, Boston, and Andrew
f. Burke, Kansas City representative
of the Great Western Oil company.
The two met at the Midland hotel
this morning, says the Kansas City
Star, and talked of days on Randall's
Island, the New York home Of waits.
John G.. Brady is the ex-governor
of Alaska Andrew T. Burke, along
in the early COS, was governor OF
North Dakota. Both were on Ran
daii's Island two years-1S57 and
1859, charges Of the city. Both were
shipped to the west in 1853, to be
3 given to farmers who wanted husky
boys to work their lands Both not
only gained an education and wealth,
but became men of influence, and
each occupied a governors chair.
There's not much to tell about
those days on Randall's Island Gov
Brady said. ANDY Burke and We're
friends there. I was simply a little
mick picked up off the streets. They
didn't put. ne in the criminal home
although the reason, I guess, is that
they Gian catch me in all the things
II did down around the bend Of Broad
way Just those little things that kids
30. you know. were what we were up
90. Andy and got some scolding
aere-got some tannings, too. Got
everything we had coming, I guess.
wernt bad boys, though
4.Along in August, 1859, the super
intendenr read us a letter from ,4tt1e
Martin Terrell, one of the islands
boys who had been sent to Delphi
md. Martin told about the apples.
the chickens, the green corn and the
horses he had to ride and drive.
It got to thinking about all taose
things. I was strong boy, and
strong boys have strong stomachs-
Don't know whether Andy Burke
heard that letter or not, but it made
me decide to go to that land where
all the good things grew. When the
train started west, Andy was on it
too. He went to a farmer at Mobiles
vile, Ind. wet to one at Tiptea.
1sThe the hard days came. went
80 work deadening trees-swinging an
axe. It was swamp, land and the work
was hard. But the land, cleared now,
IS the garden spot of Indiana. Andy
Burke worked hard on the farm
where he was sent.
Ahen the war broke cut Burke
5cinea the army dsua2ner boy
and served throughous the war He
saved the money he earned, md at
its close went to Asbury college. Then
he left the school and got in business.
He eventually drifted to North Dako-
ta. 7 don't know all the istory Of
battles there. He grew oe known,
he gained friends and influence, and
the whole country knows when he
was chosen governor.
And meg'' continued Gov. Brady.
Well, remained on the farm in In
diana until 1867. Then I became
genuine Hoosier schoolmaster. It
seems laughable now, when I look
back to the days when attempted
teaching school My first job was
near Sharpesville. I taught that
school, then got better ones.
.I had studied during MY idle hours
on the farm and had gone TO school
when I could. grew Interested in
mining and went to Alaska With my
own hands [ hewed ous@ cabin. I
worked with the pick until my hands
were cracked and bruised. lived
there % years and finally struck it.
Then ] was appointed Alaska's gov
ernor.
4It's no use to tell all I've gone
through. I've worked hard in my
days. have seen Andy Burke sew
eral times since we shipped west
from Randall's Island. It's a salts
faction to know, however, that two
street waits with not thing in the
world, with hardly a friend in The
world, with every obstacle to battle
have at least made some success in
the world. There's no use for any
boy to say he has no chance. The op-
portunity is before him every day.
The obstacles he has to overcome are
not TOO great. There is room and
work and a place for them all"
THOUSANDS DRIVEN FROM NEW
YORK TENEMENT BY FIRE.
Il