New Britain herald., 1920-03-20
'BILL' BURNS, HIGH
 SCHOOL STAR, DIES
Plucky Athlete Loser in Contest
 With Grim Reaper

William Burns, of 63 Vine street, captain and center of the New Britain
 High school basketball team, sue
 cum bed to an operation for a ruptured
 appendix in the New Britain General
 hospital about S:30 o'clock last night.
 He was stricken with the fatal illness last Sunday and it was deemed ad- visable to remove him to the hospital,
 where an operation was performed as a last resort to save his life. The
 operation was thought to be a suc- cess and some hope was entertained for his recovery, but peritonitis set in and, although of fine physical build, the athlete was unable to withstand it's effects. He was the son of the late Timothy F. and Mrs. Catherine Burns and was Is years old. He was a member of the senior class in the High school and would have been graduated next June. Besides his mother, he leaves three brothers Edward F. Burns, a member of the board of health; Robert and John Burns-and six sisters-Misses Helen, Grace, May, Margaret, Bernadotte and Catherine Burns.
 Was Great Athlete.
 The death of young Burns means the passing of one of the greatest athletes in the history of the New Britain High school. Entering the school after his graduation from St Mary's Parochial school, Burns be- came interested in athletics, although he had not been prominent before. He went out with the football squad in his freshman year and at once his work attracted attention. In his sophomore year he easily made the team, playing a dashing game on Cap tain Conley's eleven that won the h. terscholastic league championship. Fleet of foot, his work on the grid iron was ever spectacular, and many of the conquests of the Red-and Gold pigskin warriors can be attributed to his work. Although he was showered with praise for his athletic prowess, this did not tend to cause him to form an exalted opinion of his ability.
 Although it was felt in 1918 that Burns would be selected leader of the football eleven of 1919, by circum- stances that have often been com mented upon by pupils of the school and those on the outside who were conversant with affairs, he was not given that honor. Rival school "frats' are said to have controlled the voting. But, like the excellent young man that he was, he went right along and worked his hardest that the honor of New Britain High should continue to be upheld upon the gridiron. His work last season was, perhaps, the best of his career. In the lem ora,ble game with Hartford High school played at St. Mary's playgrounds last November Burns proved his mettle and was a chief factor in the 7-to-O victory.
 Led Basketball Team.
 He was the unanimous choice es captain of the basketball team and led one of the best basketball fives of which the school can boast. By 8 peculiar twist of fate. Burns passed away exactly at the hour which he had looked forward to to again be a m enber of a team competing against Hal rtford High school. Last night the locals were scheduled to play Hart ford High school in a championship contest
 It was not alone in these two branches of sport that Burns was pro- fcient. He was an excellent baseball player, holding down the initial sack on the nine. He also was a mem Der of the track team, being a sprinter and broad jumper. During the track meet with Hartford High school last year Burns was unable to take part in the meet, owing to illness, but ac- companied his teammates to Trinity Field When things looked bad for the locals, Burns donned his athletic togs and won in the broad jump.
 Burns was an excellent skater, swimmer and hockey player. Physi- cal Director Morehead was contem- plating the formation of an aquatic team, due to the prowess of Burns and Taylor, a teammate on the bas- ketban squad. Tn the interclass hockey games Burns was one of the stars. During the past few days, when the seriousness of Burns illness be- came known, genuine sorrow perme- ated the High school and on the streets many expressions of sympathy were heard. His popularity did not confine itself to athletes alone-his teachers. students. neighbors and ac- qua intances all spoke in highest of oh otf Lo