Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-26
LIEUT.. CLARKE'S DEATH.
Some Particulars of the Tragedy at Fol
Custer.

Some Particular of the Tragedy at Fort
Custer.
No particulars of the death of Lieut.
Powhatan Clarke of the tenth cavalry,
who was drowned near Fort Custer. Mont.
on Friday last, have been received either
at the War Department or at his late home
in Baltimore. A correspondent of the St.
Louis Republic at Fort Custer furnishes
the following:
Lieut. Powhatan H. Clarke, tenth
United States cavalry, died in the Little
Big Horn river, Mont, not many lhiles be-
low the spot on the same river where the
Sioux killed Custer seventeen years ago.
Lieut.. Clarke. with two brother officers
rode to the river to swim their horses and
enjoy a bath. There were several enlisted
men present. a detachment of E troop,
tenth cavalry, engaged in swimming drill,
and Others who We're there for personal
pleasure. In all there Were probably twen-
ty men in and near the water.
After swimming their horses to and fro
across a circular pool in the river not more
than forty yards in its greatest diameter
and about six feet in depth. the three Off
GERS separated, Lieut.. Clarke proceeding
alone to a pool about the same size only
few rods higher up the river. There he
was seen to tie up his horse and go to the
river bank. from which he almost imme-
diately dived into the pool He thought
that he was diving into deep water, the
average depth of the pool being from ten
tWelVe Ieet he nor anyone else at the
time was aware that from the point where
he dived a shelving bank caused shallow
water for several feet, and that the bed of
the stream was there studded with sharp
edged stones, some about the size of q
mans head. The water here would not
reach higher than Lieut.. Clarke's waist.
Diving from a high bank he struck head
foremost in the shallow water and on the
stones. An enlisted man standing near
by saw him rise from the dive. 1t was no.
ticed that his hair was discolored at the
moment. the man thought by mud. Lieut.
Clarke was apparently swimming, but not
with regular strokes. The man noticed
that the strokes scented to be almost spas
modic
After being above water for only four or
five yards Lieut.. Clarke apparently again
dived beneath the surface. but came up
disappear. This time the enlisted man was
sure that IT was blood. not mud on the
officers head. The alarm was Immediately
given and men and officers crowded to the
squad leaped from his horse and swan to
where the lieutenant had last been seen.
Diving down he caught Lieut.. Clarke by
the water The man could use only the
left hand for swimming and by reason of
the swift current and struggles OF the Off
Ger he was forced to let go. The officer
then sank out of sight and touch.
The two other officers and the men con-
tinued to dive and search for their COM
rade's body. for 1T was now felt that the
body only could be recovered. 1t was left
however, for Lieut.. William L. Johnston,
tenth cavalry, who at the time of the ac-
word of danger had come. to rescue the
body. Within few minutes after Lieut..
Johnston's arrival this was done. Lieut..
Clarke's head showed three ugly cuts. 1t
is quite evident that stunned by the dive
into shallow water and rocks he. by the
current and by his own struggles. was
swept into deep water, i'm which he died.
Every possible effort was made for his
resuscitation, but all in vain.