New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-02

@hO dHeut Vi DdBlol SlhIh;
In the control of several of his large es
tates, was NJ. Boisfontaine, a refugee from
St Domingo, and apparently gentleman
OF culture and honor. His relations with
Mr.. Clark were intimate. In his
house in New Orleans, in July,
ioU5, Myra, the daughter of Zu-
lime and Daniel Clark, the Myra Clark
Gaines of the great lawsuit, was born
She was placed, Immediately after her
birth, in the family of Colonel S, B. Davis,
the brotherin-law of NJ. Boisfontaine, and
spent her childhood in his household.
more 6.-Mrs. Gaines was born in New
Orleans in 1906, as per proof in the
reeord.l
In these years, it would appear, she
never knew her mother. 1t was long,
long after, and under very changed circum
stances, when the infant had grown to be
mature woman, before the mother and
daughter met in recognition. Her father
she did not know as such. Perhaps in the
dim memories of her childhood there is
still associated the appearance of tall and
handsome man, who smiled upon her, kiss
ed her, and filled her arms with pretty
presents. But beyond this fading photo
graph on these delicate recollections of her
earliest years, Myra never knew her father.
His election to Congress, in 1906, took
Clark to Washington. He parted from his
wife, and sailed for Philadelphia. Letters
reached her, bringing news of his arrival.
Then communication ceased. Iulime
waited patiently, but no word came from
him. He may have written; it is said that
the business partners of Clark, through
whom his correspondence passed, sup
pressed the letters to his wife, aud destroy
ed those which she gave them to forward
to him.
[NoTE daniel W. Cox was his cor
respondent in Philadelphia, and Chew &
Relf in New Orleans. Read notes and s.
At any rate, the relationship between the
two ceased forever. Husband and wife, or
lover and mistress; bound in law and pu-
rity, or led by license and passion; their
association dissolved, and was never re-
newed. They barely saw each other again,
years after; and when they did, Zulime
was the wife-truly and formally welded
of another man
Her sisters say she was Shurt" by the
refusal of Clark to acknowledge her as his
wife. She may have felt that her relation
to him was pure and proper one. Lii
centious New Orleans might lightly regard
the marriage tie, or little care for its alb
sence, bat she was truly wife,
The correspondence ceased. Clark
wrote not, or his letters failed to reached
her. She may have written-doubtless
she did. He may have received them
perhaps he did, and tossed them idly by.
At last there came report on the wings
of gossiping tongues that he was paying
his court to beautiful lady of the North
They were engaged to be married.
Stung to the quick, Zulime resolved upon
a bold step. She followed to Philadelphia
She hurried to Mr.. Coke, and demanded to
know the truth of these stories. She thun-
dered in his ear the fact that she was mar
ried TO Daniel Clark. She was his
wife. Who was this woman who had won
away her husband? Where was the false
husband who had been unfaithful te her?
Mr., Coke smiled.
Mr.. Coke asked for the proof of her mar
Tiage. Alas, she could find none. She
searched for records but they were lost or
destroyed. The priest had disappeared.
He had gone to Ireland. The witnesses
were out of reach, and possibly beyond
all knowledge.
Mr.. Coke said, Why be so foolish as to
persist in SO absurd a claim? Why insist
upon this idea, which you can bring no
testimony to support? What figure can
you make in assertion of yourself as a
wife, if Daniel Clark, the great merchant,
the powerful politician, is against yout
She saw lawyer. He was probably
confident as well as friend Of Mr. Coke.
He produced letter from Mr.. Clark an
nouncing his engagement to Miss c., of
Baltimore,
CNoTE S.-This letter was never produced
in court by Cox, nor could it be, for it had
never existed. He does not even pretend
that 1t had been burnt with his store in
1906. And it is worthy of note that at this
period Cox and Chew & Relf we're anxious
for Clark to address and marry lady of
great wealth, which they well knew could
not be consummated if Clark's marriage
with Zulims should be established. Hence
to effect this wealthy connection it was
necessary to create breach between the
two by suppressing their correspondence
and using other arttul means to accomplish
q fnal separation, in all of which they were
successful, except in bringing about Clark's
second marriage. In this they failed.J
One against many, Zulime succumbed.
Her daughter Myra would have fought
and triumphed.
There is a story that Zulime, sad with
her lost and aching heart, stung with
jealousy and bitterness, went to Baltimore,
and followed her husband in his carriage
to party at the home of the young lady
with whose name his had been connected.
From her hackney coach, outside, faint
with fatigue and exhaustion, but filed with
the fury of her scorned love, her eyes
blinded by tears, her nerves quivering with
excitement, she looked at the illuminated
mansion, saw the flashing Of lights, heard
the swell of the music, the measured tread
of dancers, and at last, bitter, bitter sight,
the well-known form of the man she loved
came out upon the veranda, and paced
slowly along, with fair girl hanging upon
his arm.
It was true, then. She went back to
Philadelphia.
A few weeks afterward she married Mr..
Gardette. This marriage took place in
August, 1908.
Zulime was Frenchweman.
Daniel Clark died on the sixteenth of
August, 1913. The preceding illness was
brief and severe. Few friends were about
him. Boisfoutaine, the agent, says he was
continually with him. Lnbin, faithful
body servant, was devoted in his attentions.
Mr.. ReHi bis partner was near him in the
last hours.
What took place on the day Of his
death?