 Burns's fame quickly spread and a poem about his exploits was published by Bret Harte in 1864.According to Burns's biography in "Appleton's Cyclopedia", during the last two years of his life his mind failed, and his friends were unable to prevent his wandering about the country.He was found in New York City on a cold winter's night in December 1871, in a state of destitution, and was cared for and sent home, but died of pneumonia in 1872.