The Newtown bee., 1902-01-17

Clarks who have made places for them
selves in history. Prominent among
them was William Rogers Clark whom
the historical records directly connect
with the famous Lewis and Clark ex-
;Pedition to the unknown Northwest.
In that expedition, William Rogers
Clark performed vast service to his
country, but the people of those DAYS
did not seem to be able to appreciate
it. Mr. Clark tells the story that, when
in later years, this same explorer ap-
piled for pension for his services, his
claim was refused on the ground that
he had not incurred disability in the
time of the Revolutionary War. The
LEGISLATURE Of Virginia, however, cog
infant of the fact that he deserved
some tribute, voted him resolutions OF
thanks and sword. When the presen-
grizzled Pathfinder to present. him
with the jeweled blade, he abruptly re-
fused it. The fact that he was in
need and that both state and national
government had declined to proffer
him material aid nettled the braved
old warrior. He told the honorable
committee that when he needed a
sword to draw III defense of his country,
he had the money to buy it with. But
now, when do not need it and couldn't
use it, you offer me one. l can't eat
swordsv' The committee kept the
sword.
Among Mr. Clark's valued documen-
tary possessions are several papers that
have historical value. One Of these
is lieutenant'S commission in the
Continental Army made out to William
Clark, great grandfather of his, who
served with distinction through the
Revolutionary War. He also has the
original honorable discharge papers of
one of his early ancestors. 1t is sign
ed by Joseph Clark as adjutant and by
General George Washington, Command
er-in-Chief.
Mr. Clark's own history is more than
usually interesting. He was early en-
started in at passing wood on one of
the three primitive locomotives then
in use on the old New Haven road.
When the line from New York to
New Haven was put into operation,
he pumped water for the engines and
later became1 an engineer, serving
with a most creditable record for IA
years. He learned his trade as an ap-
prentice with Thomas F. Rowland,
president of the Continental Iron
Works. with whom he later engaged
here.
Just to show how grateful some cor
porations can be, Mr. Clark. few years
ago applied for a pass over the New
Haven road between New York and
Stepney. In his letter to the Board of
Directors he explained his previous
connection with the railroad and told
IF the several instances in which he
had averted bad wrecks while acting
as engineer, for which deeds he had
received official commendation. He
also revealed to the Board the fact
that it was he who invented the cast
iron rail track chair to bridge the car
| wheels over the joints between the
| rails. This invention was put into
that it was stolen. He also invented
a coupon ticket printing machine,which
was a great improvement over former
methods employed by the railroad COM
pany. All he ever got out of the in
vention was $50. He also invented an
angle iron fish plate now in general
use. All of these services he related,
showing in what manner he had per-
formed his duty as a railroad man to
he New York, New Haven & Hartford
railroad, but when he received the
answer to his letter, he learned how
smoothly some people can say mo"
During Mr. Clark's connection With
the New Haven railroad, he became
well acquainted with Colonel Drake,
who has gone down into history as the
first man to discover petroleum in
Pennsylvania and the United State
1t was Clark who received the first
barrel of crude oil ever shipped out of
the Keystone State. He helped Drake
in financial way when he was first
starting to bore for oil, but when the
alter became millionaire, he forgot
all about the obligation he owed to
Clark. Mr. Clark says he used part
of that first barrel of crude oil in d
manner that nearly caused riot
among the depot officials at the old
station of the New York Central rail.
road. He tried it as an axle grease
There was a hot box and an odor that
nearly put the train shed at the depot
out of business when the car on which
1T had been experimentally used arriv'
ed.
When Mr. Clark came to Greenpoint
to engage with Thomas F. Rowland at
the Continental Iron Works, the iron.
clad Monitor had just been built. He
took part in the construction of the
later monitors, CatSkill, MOntauk. Pur-
itan and the double turreted monitor
MuScoota. a famous old war vessel in
the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Clark's
youngest son, Charles, takes his faith
er'S place in the Continental Iron
Works. His oldest son, William, is
paymaster and time-keeper at the
same place.
Mr. Clark was prominent in a social
way. He was president of the Paragon
! Club OF Greenpoint, for several terms.