New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-10
DEATH or MYRl CLARK GAINES.

NFw-ORLFANs, Jan. o.-Mrs. Myra Clark
Game. died Of pneumonia at ll:lO o'clock tonight age
so Since Thursday afternoon she failed rapidly. She
died nj tho home Of her old friend Mrs Davis No $50
Thala-st Her soninaw. J. Y. Christmas, was the only
ono Of her relatives with her lie has been her constant
travelling companion and adviser for years. She raj
lied sufficiently al time today 10 converse with hcr
notary relative her viii, which. 1t Is understood she
made before her sickness
Myra Clark Gaines wa. horn In Scw.Orcans about the
year sos She was the daughter of Daniel Clark and
her mother Zulme des Oranges. young French
woman OF remarkable beauty, tho rcputcd Vile
OF ~ Jerome dcs Oranges Frcnchinan, said 70 have
been noble 10y birth. though only a humble shop
keeper In New.Orea During his absence In Europe
Intimate relations maintained between
Clark and Mmc dos Oranges. about the
validity OF whose marriage thcre was some doubt
her husband. IL was intmated. having another WHO
already In France. Zulimc. whllo her husband was
abroad sent by Clark to Philadelphia. with letter
Introducing her TO his friend and partner, one Coke
and deslring that she might be provided with
suitable iodgng- medical attendance. and other matters
necessary n such case. Hero her child Caroline was
born The mother removed 10 New-Orlcans where sho
rcoined Des Oranges who apparently kne. nothing oil
what had occurred About this time ho was arrested for
bgamy by the church authorities under the Spanish laws
then in forco In New-OroIns, ono barbara Jeanbelle
having arrived from France and claiming to be his wife
There was even some evidence OF n third Nine. Des
Oranges The tribunal for want OF evidence indefinitely
nostnoned the case Whether Clark married Zuline
finding himself free 10 do 80. tho question
which Affected all subsequent litigation II was
ALLEGED that he married her In Philadelphia In 1907
or pnssbly In 1903. At any rate. another child.
Myra WAS born ia Ncw-Orlcans some time In 1901
or sos or 1906, at the home or friend OF Clark.
In 1882 Myra Davis married Mr. " W. whitney. Of
New.York This was announced In the newspapers as
tho marriage OF Miss Myra, daughter Of Col 8. b. Davis
After her marriage sho declared after a
legal contest 10 be the daughter OF Daniel Clark
Her efforts to obtain possession Of property "a the
daughter OF Clark led to almost endloss litigation
The value OF the property claimed was, I'm lsGl, csti
mated at SJ 600 600 and OF thsup 10 1874 Mrs Gaines
has actually received $4,000 900 Her persistence. under
extraordinary difficulties. the prolonged though not
altogether unprecedented case has rarely been equaed
She was greatly assisted by her husband, General Gaines
who was de oted with all the chvalry OF soldier To
fight her battles alone Upon the whole, considering the
nature OF testimony the lapse OF time, and all tech
nical difficulties TO be encountered, 10 IL probable
that no sutor who had any at all,
ever went into court with
Her battle against injustice and persecution al
most u lifelong ono, but II ended with vic
tory as the reward OF her wonderful
persistence under remarkable difficulties. Suit
after suit was decided In her favor but 10 not until
wear or SO ago that she succeeded IN recovering judg
cnt against the city OF New for property that
had sold by the corporation to Innocent purchas
eis
(Tor other obituaries sec 81 pngsD