The Press., 1883-07-19
[From a Washington Letter.l
 MIRA CLARK GAINES.
THE STRANGE LITTLE WOMAN WHO CLAIMS | NEW ORLEANS.

THE STRANGE LITTLE WOMAN WHO CLAIMS NEW ORLEANS.
 | see Myra Clark Gaines received recent ly another decision from the United States court compelling New Orleans to levy tax of $2, ,O0O, ,OO0 to satisfy her last judg- ment, and that the city council say they will go to jail before they will obey it.
 For the last ffty-eight years this indom- itable woman has fought for her rights in the courts of the United States. Her case IS one of the most remarkable ones on record. It involves the title to millions of dollars of property in the city of New Or leans, and it will probably not be finally settled as long as the city can legally fight against it.
 l It is now eighty-two years since Daniel Clark, handsome polished young man, who. had been for some years Bn Indian trader in Mississippi, came to Philadelphia 1 to spend the winter. Clark was gay fel- low, and he took in all the pleasures of the then metropolis of America. In his rounds he met French beauty and fell in love with her. This womans s name was Zulime Carrier, at the time she was living with Frenchman named La Grange, Clark met her. Whether she was married to La Grange or not is one of the points in ques- tion. The defendants claim she was his legal wife, At any rate when Clark met her ill 1905 she left La Grange and went to live with Clark. The supreme court of the United States has declared that she was privately married to Clark and that she was merely La Granges mistress.
 In 1906, seventy seven years ago, Myra Clark was born She was the only child Zulime Carrier had by Daniel Clark. At this time Clark sent Zulime to New Orleans and acted as 8 bachelor He en- gagged himself in marriage and formed oth- CT connections producing other offsprings. He denied the fact that he had married Zulime, and when she came back and pushed the case in the Philadelphia courts, l she was unable to succeed. She finally took up with Dr. Gardette until he died. l But while Clark would have nothing to do with the mother, he took good care of the child. Myra Clark was well educated by him and was treated by him as 8 daugh- | ter. He went again into Indian trading at l New Orleans and amassed an immense for tune.
 In 1913, just seventy years ago, Clark died, and will was produced leaving all of his property to his mother and the city of New Orleans. Myra Clark, then only seven years old, was apparently penniless, and the executors took charge of the estate r When Myra grew to the age of twenty she married a MT. Whitney, and then she began to contest the will. She claimed she was the only legitimate daughter of Daniel Clark, and that his property was hers The claim was at once hotly con- tested, and MT. Whitney died before it was tried.
 The widow continued to prosecute the suit. Shortly afterward she married Gen. eral Gaines, and he entered into the cas as warmly as herself. .....
 The case was tried in New Orleans It was carried to the supreme court at Wash ington. It was again lost. In 1852 it seemed a hopeless fight, and at this time General Gaines died.
 But Myra Clark Gaines was not discour- aged, and shortly after this. time she dis covered will executed by her father crea- ating her his sole heir Upon this will she again went before the courts in New Or leans. She again lost. She again appeal I ed to the supreme court at Washington, :, and here, in 1861, she obtained judg- ment confirming this will and giving her : the whole property left her by her father, and the rents thereof for the past thirty years. Then the war broke out, and jus tice was again delayed. Since then she has, I think, received something from the city, but nothing in comparison with her rights.
 Myra Clark Gaines is now seventy seven years of age, and will be perhaps the rich est woman in the United States If she ever comes into possession of the property for which she has so pluckily fought for life