Frederick R. Burnham; a Remarkable Man

[Onomea]

This is a great read: http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/scouting2cont.pdf

It's the autobiography of an American adventurer, a great scout, cowboy, soldier, hunter, prospector, etc., and his experiences in the American west, Alaska and in Africa, where he was involved in Britain's colonial wars of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He won Britain's Distinguished Service Order for bravery, had lunch with the queen, and was admired by, and a friend of, Theodore Roosevelt.

Etcetera.

Not PC. It is from a different time. Published in 1926.

I've enjoyed reading it over the past few days, and thought others here might enjoy it. Great stuff!

Here's a Wikipedia article on Burnham to give you an idea of what a remarkable man he was: Frederick Russell Burnham - Wikipedia

 

[PALADIN85020]

Thanks for posting this! I downloaded it and am looking forward to getting an eyewitness glimpse of the 19th and early 20th Centuries! The Pleasant Valley war in Arizona is of particular interest to me - the first year of my life was in the town of Globe.

Best,
John

 

[bruce5781]

Wow, as fate would have it, I just purchased a first edition yesterday.

Bruce


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[Onomea]

There's a pleasure in having an old book on the shelf. I bought a hard copy as well. Not sure if it's a first edition, but it dates from the mid twenties and the bookseller's description said it was showing its age, which is fine by me.

Maybe I'll post a picture of it when I get it.

How did you come to buy the book, Bruce? Had you heard of Burnham before?

 

[bruce5781]

There's a pleasure in having an old book on the shelf. I bought a hard copy as well. Not sure if it's a first edition, but it dates from the mid twenties and the bookseller's description said it was showing it's age, which is fine by me.



Maybe I'll post a picture of it when I get it.



How did you come to buy the book, Bruce? Had you heard of Burnham before?

It has popped up for me several times in the past and it looked like a decent piece for a decent price. Not museum quality by any means.
I read a lot of history, mostly Texas & Southwestern, and especially enjoy first hand accounts.
I recently re-read "Catch 'em Alive Jack" the autobiography of Jack Abernathy who was a working cowboy by age 9. As an adult, he would catch wolves (I suspect they were "brush wolves") with a bare hand by shoving it into their mouth. After he put on an exhibition in Texas, someone told Pres. Roosevelt about it and then Teddy showed up with some buddys to see him do it. Teddy was so impressed that he had him go to Washington and put on an exhibition.

John R. Abernathy – Wolf Catcher & Lawman – Legends of America

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[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I first heard of Burnham in an article in the 1973 Guns and Ammo annual "Burnham-Chief of Scouts." I have both his books, a copy of "Scouting on Two Continents" autographed by him in 1941. He was 80 at the time (lived 1861-1947). His favorite revolver was a Remington M1875 with ivory grips and a front sight made from an Indian Head cent. Inspired me to buy an M1875 repro, 45 LC in my case.

 

[Ray]

Thanks for that Sir I just downloaded it.
Regards, Ray

 

[Onomea]

Here are two pictures from a 1906 biographical sketch of Burnham. The article is a pretty good read, too, and has a link to a book, Real Soldiers of Fortune, of apparently similar men of derring do:





Real Soldiers of Fortune/Chapter 6 - Wikisource, the free online library

I like these photos. The man, shown in the above photos as unimposing and slight in stature, achieved numerous near superhuman physical feats and deeds of unquestionable personal bravery, but looks nothing like the imposing figure of what one would nowadays expect of such a hero. (Then again, look at his steely gaze in the first photo...'

 

[mtgianni]

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Scouting-Two-Continents-F-R-Burnham/dp/1797037617/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=frederick+r+burnham&qid=1679928955&sr=8-1[/ame]
Thanks for that link. I read the reprint a few years back and it is a good one.