The funeral of Marts Bulzer was held at the home of Mrs.
Warmke Friday at 10 a.m. Rev. Mowry of the M.E. Church
officiating. Mr. Bulzer took cold at Flagstaff last winter
from which he never entirely recovered. A couple of weeks
ago he took worse and was taken to Phoenix to Dr. Hibbert
at Phoenix to be treated. He was afterwards moved to the
home of the Zimmerman's, Phoenix, but the physician not
having any hopes of his recovery had him taken to the
Sisters Hospital where he died at 8 a.m. Thursday morning.
His body was brought to the home of his guardian, Mrs.
Warmke where the funeral was held.
Mr. Bulzer was 18 years of age and has two sisters living.
He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Bulzer whose tragic
death about 15 years ago will be remembered by the old
citizens. The wife died and the husband committed
suicide and the two were buried in the same grave.
There was quite a large attendance at the funeral,
the young man was loved and respected by all who knew
him. He was baptized when a child into the Lutheran
church.
JOHN H. BURGER
May 28, 1901
John H. Burger, one of the oldest residents of Phoenix,
was killed yesterday afternoon at the Burger Mine on Humbug
Creek, fifty five miles north of the city. The news of the
tragedy was received by his son, John Burger, yesterday
evening but there were no accompanying details. It was
only stated that the killing occurred in the mill. Mohn
and Easterling sent after the body last night and it will
be brought here sometime tonight.
Mr. Burger was 72 years of age and was a native of
Maryland. He came to Phoenix twenty nine years ago,
after having spent a long time in the north and
northwest. He identified himself with the mining
industry and has been connected with it ever since.
He besides acquired a great deal of property in Phoenix.
He leaves a wife and four children: Levi Burger, John H.
Burger, Jr., Mrs. C.A. Stewart of Jerome and Miss Vera Burger.
No man in Phoenix was more highly esteemed than John
Burger. He always enjoyed the confidence of his
neighbors. About five years ago he was solicited to
become a candidate for mayor on the democratic ticket
at a special election. He had never taken part in
politics and he entered upon the contest with great
reluctance. He was defeated by a narrow majority.
May 29, 1901
Harry Parker, Ed Morrell, and S.L. Easterling who left here
Monday afternoon about 3 o'clock returned yesterday about
11 o'clock with the body of John H. Burger who was killed
at the Burger Mine on Humbug Creek last Monday. It is
fifty miles to Humbug but they met a party from the mine
about fifteen miles this side of there on the way to
Phoenix, which reduced their twenty hour trip to a distance
of eighty miles.
There are few particulars of the accident to publish.
Mr. Burger was engaged in fixing a belt on a pump when
he seemed to slip and fall toward a large flywheel, a
spoke of which hit him on the back of the head. A Mr.
Welch, who was working with him, saw him fall and
immediately reaching out pulled him from the wheel.
There was no other wound save the blow on the back of
the head.
Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Stewart, son in law and daughter of
Mr. Burger are expected to arrive on this morning's train
from Jerome and the funeral will take place this afternoon
at 4 o'clock from the family residence at No. 31 West
Monroe Street. Col. C.W. Johnstone will officiate at
the funeral services.
Mr. Burger learned the trade of a millwright in Iowa
City Iowa and from there went to California in 1853
and worked his trade in Sacramento and Marysville for
one summer and then went to mining on Feather River,
starting on his own account in 1858. The British
Columbia mining excitement broke out that year and
he followed the rush, staying in that country five
years and being very successful. He returned to Inyo
County California and in 1864 came to Prescott and
began making shingles and pickets from the pine timber.
From there he went to the Vulture Mine and built its
first stamp mill which was run by water power. Later
he went to the Bully Bueno Mine, from there to Placer
City, near Walnut Grove and opened up several mines,
none of which paid. After this he engaged in ranching
for three years at Walnut Grove, put in his grain with
a gun strapped to his plow and his pistol in his belt,
but the Indians would come into his field while he was
at one end and steal the seed which he had left at the
other end. He next opened up a tract of land at Antelope
Valley and had twenty acres ready for planting when his
provisions got low. He started with another man for
Wickenburg for a fresh supply and on the way they were
attacked by Indians. His companion was killed at the
first shop and although Mr. Burger fought with the
energy of despair, the Indians seized his gun and shot
him through the thigh and fired four balls into his
side, one of which he carried to his death. He managed
to reach the shelter of some rocks where he was
comparatively safe and killed two Indians and crippled
another, which caused them to fall back, giving him a
chance to hide, finally being rescued by a party of
four white men and carried to a cabin four miles away.
After an eight month convalescence he went to work
again at the Vulture till it shut down when he went
to Wickenburg for a short time, moving to Phoenix in
February 1873.
He engaged here in wagon making and blacksmithing until
in recent years and owned considerable property in this
city besides his mining interests on Humbug Creek. He
was married first in Iowa in 1850 and the result of that
union was one child, Levi Burger, now a resident of this
valley. In 1874 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Morrell
in this city. By the second marriage there were five
children, three of whom are living.
JOHN BURKES
July 11, 1901
Early this morning a coroner's jury was summoned to
investigate a death that occurred at the Prescott Hotel
under suspicious circumstances. The case was that of
a man named John Burkes, who was at one time constable
at Jerome and more recently was justice of the peace.
He was found to have come to his death from the effects
of an overdose of morphine, which drug he had been in
the habit of taking to allay violent pains in the region
of his heart. The drug had been prescribed by Dr. Woods
of Jerome to his patient at various times prior to his
coming over here.
The jury was rather undecided, it seems as to whether
to call it a suicide or a death from natural causes,
owning to the deceased having a chronic affection of
the heart. Burkes complained last night upon retiring
at 10 o'clock of violent pain and was known to afterwards
take three separate doses of morphine. His body was taken
to the undertaking parlors of S.A. Logan at an early hour
this morning.
MRS. FANNIE L. BURNS
August 7, 1901
Mrs. Fannie L. Burns, wife of William G. Burns, director of
the local weather bureau died at her home, No. 483 North
Third Avenue yesterday, aged 38. Mr. Burns was at the
bedside of his wife when the end came. Mrs. Burns had
been in Phoenix for five years. She was born in Fort
Royal Virginia. She was a regular and consistent member
of the Episcopal Church and died in full faith and peace.
She passed away at 4 o'clock in the afternoon after a
serious illness of only a few days. The remains will be
buried from the Trinity Episcopal Church at 11 o'clock
this morning.
Mrs. JOSEPH BURNS
February 8, 1901
Arizona Republican Newspaper
Another killing was done at Yuma yesterday of which the
only facts known are that a man had murdered a woman and
that it must have occurred late in the day and the county
jail was not deemed strong enough to save the murderer from
the indignation of the citizens.
A telegram was received by governor Murphy last night from
Sheriff Guy Livingston of Yuma County, asking the governor
to warrant the commitment of the prisoner to the territorial
prison for safe keeping. The requested instruction was
forwarded to Superintendent Brown.
An effort was made by the Republican to get details of the
tragedy, but on account of the disordered condition of the
wires late last night communication with Yuma could not be
established. This is the second atrocious murder there
within less than two months.
