The Arkansas banner., 1848-05-02
From Me DeiaWGre Blue Hea's Ckictelf.
 MRS. GENERAL ClIyES.

MES. GENERAL ClIyES. As the case of thIs extraordinary woman (Mrs. oalnes) has Tor long time past excited the iaie. rest of the peSPle of this country, we think twill not be unin'eresting 10 give our readers sIiskt sketch of Der early life.
 Mira Clark, now Mrs. Gaines, who is well known | to our citizens having in early life resided here was bOrnin New Orleans, her father. Daniel Clark. (well known in the political and commercial histo- " ol Louislana.) being partner of Col Davis of this county. Her father died and when only n i few months old, she was adopted by Col Davis, and brought nP as his own child. man by the name of Ralph destroyed her fathers will and ob. talned possession of the whole oi the immense pro- perty of her father. consisting of nearly the whole of the new part of New Orleans, at the time worth fire millions of dOtiGrs and now worth much more She lived in entire ignorance of her percentage for long time. The hrst idea that she had of her pa
 reniage, was being taunteJ by girl at school ith the fact that Col. Davis was not her father After. wards she discovered it by some papers that she | found, while looking over some documents which she was to send to the Colonel al harrsburg--t they at that time living in PennsyNans. Some fimo af-
 eiwaLds, she visited the Sulphur Springs, Virginia, and wniie theTe on account of her carriage break Ing, she became acquainted with young man named William Whitney, a son of Gen. Whitney of New York. Soon afterwards, he visited her in Philadelphia, but the Colonel not approving of the malch he Was forbid the house. Col Davis | He mlngton, and Miss Clark not being permitted to see her lover, she corresponded with him.
 prevent detection her letters were directed to Miss Mary Ann Williamson, (now the wife of Rev. Cory Chambers, of this city,) uarghter of our hate
 Mayor and Postmaster, she carefully keeping the secret, and pnnctuaily delivering the letters to Mir Whitney in return. Miss Clark was by this time iuhy acquainted with her percentage and the im- mense estate of her father. At last, she received 2 letter fIom Mir. Whitney, urging her by all she held true 10 elope with him The plan was laid ana sfe une hxed. MT. hitney was 10 boat New, castle, where she was to join him. None was let into the secret but Miss Williamson. To prevent detection, Miss Clark called all the dogs together about Col Davs's place, that evening put them in one ot the out buildings, and locked them all up Al last the night came. and terrible one it was loo; the wind hoHled, the rain poured in torrents and the darkness was only now and then iliumina- ted ny fearful flashes of lightning. undaunted by the raging elements, Miss Clark stepped from her bed room on the balcony, and by means of the pill lar ot the balcony or rope, managed to reach the ground m saiety, and immediately ran as fast as sbe could to Wilmington. It. was a fearful night for girl so sna so young and delicate to venture alone and unattended. On her way, if possible the rain became heavier, and the flashes more vivid.
 At last she reached the residence of Mir. Will
 iamson drenched with rain, and the top Of her ban pox beat fn by the violence of the storm Miss Williamson was waiting alone in the passage to re- ceve her; the low knock at the door was given, the Key softly turned, the door opened, and Miss Clark pulling of her little kid sliprers which were wet through, softly ascended the stars SO as not to a. larm the rest of the family. The ladies employed themselves until morning, in drying we'll as they were able, Miss Cla. ks clothes At the fist dawn of morning they stepped out and hack being procured, she departed for Newcastle. Miss Viii liamson gave her all the money she had, S5, as at the tune she left Col. Dsviss slse had not dollar. At Newcastle Miss Clark met her lover. and lheY started for BaltImnrp Whe.t hx Miss Williamson, who acted as bridesmaid on the occasion ot their marriage Immediately after her marriage, Miss Clark whom We shall now call Mrs
 Whitney, set about hunting up facts in relation to her onth. Threats were used, and every obstacle made use of to prevent her. Her first care Was to | hnd her mother, and afler long search, she was discoveied, we believe, in the Island of JaInaica She almost immediately recognized her daughter, and gave her the marriage certificate of her hus- band, Dan'el Clark, from whom she had been sep arated some time before his death Proceedings were immediately commenced, but for a short while With little prospects of success. Threats were not only made against herself and husband but against any one who should advocate their cause Ii was Win difficulty lawyer could be procured to plead her cause; even the very judges on the bench were the feed counsel of the other side, aud generally supposed 10 be under the influence of bribery. Finally, her husband was thrown into prison, during the prevalence of the fever and afterwards she was imprisoned with him, with small child at heI breast. Nhitney soon died; not, however with out strong suspicion of foul play. She afterwards was released, and though a widow still prosecuted her suit with determined resolution. So glaringly was the partality of the judges displayed that the crowd in court could hardly contain their indg nation. Hes life was two or three times attempted. Her first acquaintance with Gen. Gaines was when she was fired a', and part of her dress shot away Gen. Gaines came and offered her his protection, and she soon after married him. Her opponents dared not use the same means with General in the U. S. army as they had already done with her first husband, private individual.
 After going through so many courts, We now learn the suit has been decided in her favor. The value of her property is now twenty millions of dollars. Mrs Gaines is now about forty years of age, about five feet high has sweet expression of countenance, rather French cast. She has, at the same lime, an ndomitable resolution, as every circumstance of her life Ina, shown. She is very charitable and warm-hear.ei, and never iorgeis her old friends. She now remembers with gratitude the services of her early friend (formory Miss Whliamson,) now Mrs. Chambers, and as sures her when she comes into her estate, she will
 remunerate her for her former kindness.