The Evening critic., 1883-01-12
THE EVENING CRITIC.
EsTA BLIsHED AUGUST isas.
OBITUARY..
Death of Clark Mills. the scuIr

Death of Clark mills. the sculptor.
Mr.. Clark Mills, the sculptor, died at his
residence In this city, q few minutes before 10
O'Clock this morning.
For the past two days Mr.. Mills has been
more or less unconscious, and his death was
looked for momentarily by his family and
friends, but yesterday morning he somewhat
rallied, and called out, "Wife, come here"
When Mrs. Mills reached his bedside, he ex-
claimed, referring to his daughter, "How
sweet Eyns voice sounds in church while tho
organ plays.
These were the last words uttered by the
dying sculptor, and he re1apsed again into
unconsciouaness. Laet night his heavy breath
Ing led his attendants to suppose that his end
was rapidly approaching, but he appeared TO
recover somewhat, and fingered untll within u
few minutes OF 10 o'clock this morning, when
he breothed his last. He died without tho
slightest struggle, and those present consist
ing of Drs. s. 3. Bond and A. Y. p. Garnett, and
the wife, son and daughter of the deceased,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Upperman, supposed at first
that he was falling Into sleep.
When The fact Of his death became known
Gen. Bingham, the Rev. DR.. Shippen and n
large number OF other friends and connections
Of tho family called at the house and Viewed
the remains. At the time of his death Mr.
Mills was seventy-two years old, and he had
preserved his vigor of manhood to within n
few weeks ago. Visitors were calling at the
house all day to-day, the number increasing as
the fact OF his death became more generally
known. There is nothing certain as yet about
the funeral, but 1t is supposed that 1t will take
DlHEB l1OIQ lI6 TeSluenCc corner OF 18TH and NJ
streets N. w, on Sunday afternoon.
In the death of Clark Mills the Nation has
sustained great loss, and Washington will
claim It's station as chief mourner at tho bier,
for no one man has contributed more to tho
artistic beauty Of our city, or added so greatly
TO the wealth Of sculpture that adorns the
Capitol.
Born In Onondaga County, New York, I'm
1911, MIR. Mills was from childhood compelled
to depend upon himself for livelihood, and
his inability TO procure an education In art as
"a n snrNNfN fffNrn 40 NatI.
talente, early drove him into the most avail
able occupation in which he could at once ex-
ercise his skill and cultivate his powers.
At 10 years of age he became a plaster
worker and modeler In Charleston, s. O., and
persevered for nine years In this laborious in,
dustry.
His iirst public triumph In sculpture was at.
tained In 1S46, when his bust of John @. Cal
houn won such general approval that 1t was
purchased by the city of Charleston and in
troduced Its author Into the artistic circles Of
his time.
Four years later Mr.. Mills exhibited In this
city model for the bronze equestrian statue
of General jackson, subsequently erected in
La Fayette Park, opposite the White House.
This work of art being the first of such magni-
tude and material attempted In this country,
the sculptor was compelled to build foun-
dry and conquer for himself the mechanical
knowledge and skill necessary to the casting
OF the huge mass Of metal 1t was not until
1852 that perfect cast was obtained, and the
next year 1t was placed In the position II now
occupies.
Not only was public attention directed to this
work as great artistic undertaking, but the
position of the horse resting alone for support
on the hind feet was regarded, until Its happy
completion, as mechanical impossibillty.
In 1850 Mr.. Mills made another important
addition to tho then meagre array Of statues
IN our city, by the completion of the equestrian
statue which now adornS Washington Circle.
Three years later, the great sculptor finished
the cast, from O design by Crawford, of the
statue of Freedom, that now crowns the dome
OF the Capitol, and Is the largest bronze statue
ever cast in this country, only TO be eclipsed In
size by the mammoth Goddess os Liberty
which is expected to preside in the future over
New York harbor.
These great works are the principal, but by
no means tho only famous statues from the
hand OF Clark Mills, ,lwhose long and indus.
trious life has been almost uninterruptedly
hands gave artistic form and finish to the
Visions of his Imagination.