Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-12
W.R. BURBANK OF
FONTENELLE IS
DEAD FROM WORK
President and General Manager Of
the Big Hotel Expires from
Heart Failure in His
Apartment.
HAD BEEN ILL FOR WEEKS
Strain of Planning and Opening Big
Hostelry Too Much for His
Frsil Constitution.
HIS CAREER as HOTEL MAN

NeAAN@AAA@N
William r. Burbank. president and
general MANAGER OF the Hotel Fon-
tenelle. died shortly after 9 o'clock
Saturday evening. The cause of
bis death was heart failure. Mr..
Burbank, had been under an intense
nervous strain brough. on by worry
over the building and opening OF the
hotel.
Arthur N. Cole. secretary OF the
hotel company. said that about 3
o'clock he went up to Mr. Burbanks
apartment, where he mad been par
TALLY confined for the last two or
three days, with some letters for
him. They talked over the business
and during their discussion, Mr., Bur-
bank said, as he signed letter.
Have you ever seen a better sigma
ture than that?" Mr.. Burbank then
retired.
Falls Dead I'm BED.
Along toward 3 o'clock the family
nurse went into the room 20 give him
a cup OF broth. He complained to her
that he had a hard time getting his
breath. While she was still in the room
he fell back on the bed, apparently dead.
That frightened the girl and she i'm
medfateiy called the office by telephone.
His wife was called at once. and also
DIR. w. o. Henry, who lives at the hotel.
Mr.. Burbank never regained conscious
ness. He was dead before DR.. Henry
could get there. DR.. Henry said that
death was undoubtedly due TO heart
failure.
Mr.. Burbank was a member OF the
Omaha club. the Commercial club and
Happy Hollow club, and was Mason.
He came direct 20 Omaha from syra-
ing the Hotel onondaga. He was IS
Mass. Mrs. Burbank is prostrated by
the death Of her husband
Relatives Deeply Affected.
After the death OF William x. Bur
bank. Mrs. Burbank retired and refused
60 see anyone outside Of relatives. or
make any statements, Mr., E3urbahk's'
brother was also In secluslon aud would
grant no interviews Both were deeply
affected by the death Mr.. Gregg, or the
hotel company, etated tbat It waa Inn
possible TO say at present just what
effect this would have on the manage
ment OF the hotel That must wait FOR
meeting OF the directors OF the oper-
ating company, OF which Mr.. Burbank
was president. This meeting will take
place in Syracuse. n. Y.
Mr.. Gregg also said that as yet nothing
had been decided definitely concerning
ali likelihood be taken east
Considered "IIoteI wizard"
At the stockholders dinner. which pre-
ceded the opening of the Hotel Fonteneile
to the public, President Watties OF the
Douglas Hotel company. referred TO Mr..
Burbank in most enthusiastic terms.
I'VE looked about for a man to take
charge of the mana sgement Of the hotel"
he said land among the many who were
considered we chose Mr.. Burbank because
he seemed most eminently qualified 10 I'm
the bill. We looked up his record, and
found him to be not only a hotel expert.
but a veritable wizard"
This estimate of Mr.. Burbanks ability
was confirmed by Mr. Rafferty, OF syra-
cuse. who told OF the success that had
come TO the Hotel onondAga in that city
under the management of the man whose
genius formed the company that is man
aging the Fontenelle
Architect Kimball also told OF the prae-
tical assistance given him by Mr.. Bur-
bank. who had spent most of his time in
Omaha during the construction OF the
hotel and whose experience was largely
drawn upon in providing for many OF the
special features and comforts Of the
house He gave his personal attention
to the most minute details of the ar
rangement and furnishings OF the bis
hotel, and worked beyond the limit in the
task OF getting II ready 20 open on time.
Born in hotel bearing his family name,
and coming from line of hotelmen, Mr.
Burbank was by heredity and environ
ment as we'll as by experience a capable
hotel man himself. lie was born at
Pittsfield, Mass, in 1871. in the Burbank
house conducted by his father. William
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