, 1860-11-02
From the San francisco Bulletin, Oct. 18th.
Sudden Death Of Brig. General Clarke

AT I O'Clock this morning Gen. Newman
s. Clarke, Commander Of the California
Department Of the Army, died suddenly at
the Tehama House. He had been unwell
for about two weeks, and was supposed to
be recovering. A diarrhe contracted in
Mexico had remained upon him ever since
This was aggravated o week or two since
by q cold that he took. Yesterday he
thought be was much better, and expressed
himself so. Last evening, he seemed to be
doing well. At 3 o'clock this morning,
when the steward who had been watching
with him was relieved, suspectiDg that the
symptoms were not quite so favorable, he
called Dr. Mccormick who, summoning
Dr. Hitchcock and DR.. Keeney, proceeded
at once to the Generals sick-room. The
General was in state of collapse. Slim
ulants were administered. in Yain; be rapid
| ly sank, and at I o'clock had expired.
General Clarke had been Commandant
Of the Department Of California since Gen.
Wool left-April 29th, 1857. His sub
stantive rank was Colonel Of the 9th In
fantry. He was breVetted Brigader-G en-
eral in lS47, after the taking Of Vera Cruz.
He was sixty eight years Of age, His
birth place was Connecticut, but he was
appointed to the Army, which be entered
as Ensign of the llth Infantry, in 1912,
from Vermont.
General Clarke's career has been long,
arduous and honorable. He entered the
army, as we have said, in 1912, March l2.
He was made Second Lieutenant in March,
and First Lieutenant in August of 1913.
He became Brigade Major to Brigader-
General Ripley in 1914. "For his gallant
ry and good conduct in the battle Of Mag
ara" he was made Brevet Captain on the
25th July, 1914 He was appointed TO re-
tain command Of the 9th Infantry in May,
1915. He became Captain, October, 1914,
and was made Brevet Major, "fOr ten years
faithful SERVICE" on the 25th Of July, 1924.
He was made Major of the % Infantry
July 81, 1884; Lieutenant Colonel of the
9Th Infantry, July I, 1888; and Colonel oI
the 9th Infantry, July 20, lS46. He had
command of a brigade Of infantry in Mex
leo in lS47, and for his gallantry and mer.
itorious conduct in the siege Of Vera Cruz
was made Brevet Brigadier General on the
29th of March, ls47.
General Clarke was one Of the mos
modest of men. He passed unnoticeC
among a throng of younger men, nevel
clustering, never limiting at his great ser
vices to his country. Hundreds who knew
his face and form we'll never suspected tina
the quiet, unpretending, ruddy-faced oil
gentleman was commander OF all the army
west Of the Rocky Mountains, excepting
the portions included IN Oregon, Utah ant
A New Mexico. He was as kiud-heartcd
I generous aud retiring in his disposition a
be was brave. For years he has made hi
headquarters in San Francisco at the TIE
hama House, boarding at the Oriental
f. Scores OF boarders at both houses knew hi
9 face without suspecting his Office.
As commander, he was prompt, cool
clear-headed, careful and fearless. HI
meddled not at all with politics, and wa
satisfied to do his clear duty without at
, tempting schemes TO which be had no call
/ for purposes of ambition An ambition
y commander at this port would have KEEP
the Department at Washington in hot Wa
ter all the time. Nobody ever had occasion
to rebuke the General for going out of hi
f way to plot against the rulers at the Capi
tol
In the death Of General Clarke the com
mand OF the Department devolves tempo
l. rarily, we presume, on Col. Bell, of tn
D First Dragons, who is at present stationet
at Fort TETON, as be is next in rank.
!