The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-27


and grandson Of famous clergymen.
He himself had been prepared for col
lege at eleven and had been Prince
ton graduate at sixteen. Then, after
studying theology for year, he calm
ly announced that he did not believe
in religion Of any sort. His private
life had already proved him to be as
lacking in morals as in Godliness.
Burr was only nineteen when the
revolution began. lie dropped the
study OF law and enlisted as a private
soldier in the patriot army. But he
tired of regular military life and went
as a volunteer with Benedict Arnold
on the Acknowledgements expedition
against Quebec. He quarreled with
Arnold and Joined Montgomery. Then
he quarreled with Montgomery and
went back to Arnold. He could get
on" with no commander. Yet 80 brave
" did he fight in that unfortunate ex'
pedition that on his return he was
made major.
He Joined George Washington's
staff. He and the chief were about as
we'll suited to each other as rattle
snake and q war horse. Burr openly
sneered at Washington's stin discip-
line and lofty honor. Washington
found Burr's evil morals disgusting and
was enraged at the youths lmpu-
dence. Then and there began a mu-
tual and lifelong hatred. After Six
weeks. Burr left Washington's stan
and Joined Gen. Israel Putnam's
Though he and "Old Put" did not agree
especially well with each other, Burr's
courage and military talent raised
him, in 1777, to the rank OF lieutenant
colonel. And he fought gallantly until
Il779. Then, sick OF war and angry be-
cause he was not promoted faster, he
left the army.
lHe had long been one Of Washing
toms opponents and had taken lively
part In the Lee and Gates conspiracies
against the chief. This and his quar-
relsome nature may have been what
barred him from promotion. For as
long as Washington was In power
Burr was made to feel the weight OF
his enmity. In later years Burr was
mentioned for minister to France and
for other high government posts. But
President Washington always refused
him such honors.)
Leaving the army. Burr became q
| lawyer and soon afterward moved to
| New York. He rose to the height OF
his profession, married a rich widow
| and speedily became mighty power
In New York politics. In 1888 he was
attorney general, and in 1871 went to
the United States senate. In 1900 he
tied" with Thomas Jefferson In the
election for president. In order to
win the presidency he deserted his
political friends and curried favor
with his party's foes. But In spite OF
these and other sharp tactics Jefrer-
son was at length elected. Burr, by
the custom Of those days, became vice
president.
1t was the summit of his career.
Then came the gradual fall. Burr had
q political quarrel with Alexander
Hamilton, which ended, July 7, 1904,
in a pistol duel at Weehawken, N. j.
Burr killed Hamilton. 1t was fair
fight. and one man was probably no
more to blame, In the quarrel, than
| the other Yet Hamilton had been 80
popular that Burr after the duel was
politically crushed.
Smarting with anger at the public's
disapproval, Burr went to the south
west and there plunged with feverish
energy into a mysterious scheme
whose exact nature Ia still doubtful
The general testimony Is that he
planned TO conquer Mexico and to
merge 1t with Texas, Louisiana, ETC.,
into a great southwestern kingdom,
empire OF republic, with New Orleans
fon its capital and himself as its
ruler. The scheme fiourished for
time, but collapsed when the United
States government denounced It and
arrested Burr for treason. Burr was
acquitted, but found II wise to leave
America. He went to England. where
he was maturing new plans when the
British expelled him as IAN embarras-
sing person" He was forbidden to
return to his own country and fol, a
time drifted about Europe, almost
penniless. ..-
But in 1912 he sailed for New York,
disguised, and opened a law once on
Nassau street. His genius quickly
enabled him to win q new fortune.
He added to his wealth by marrying .
second widow, Nine. Jumel, who left
him after he had sQuandered much Of
her fortune.
In the course OF the next few years
hard luck came again. OLD, infirm,
poor, Stunned by his former friends,
his family gone, Aaron Burr finally
became an object Of charity and died
at Port Richmond, 8. J.. September II.
Vooa