After he graduated, he pursued a career as a law clerk and tried his hand at the mining business before moving to New York City.
[4] In 1903, a fire broke out at 2 West 19th Street—the site of the four-story brownstone which served Burrelle as both residence and office.
This blaze destroyed much of the furniture in the press clipping bureau and consumed thousands of irreplaceable press clippings, including Burrelle's personal collection of “principal articles and engravings relating the cause and effect of the late war with Spain.
"[5] Fittingly, that building today houses a café called the NewsBar that sells newspapers and magazines alongside breakfast and lunch fare.
Burrelle died on Tuesday, January 25, 1910 at age 55, at sea on the way from Costa Rica to New Orleans.