The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-11-09
CLARK RJSSELL's LAST VOYAGE
Noted Writer OF sea stories Dies In Eng.
Iand-A Merchant sailor.

Special cable despatch 10 THE SrN.
LONDON. Nov. s.-William Clark Rus
sell, the novelist and author Of such
famous sea stories as The Wreck Of the
Grosvenor," The Lady Maud" and "A
Sailors Sweetheart" died lfre to-day.
lie was born in New York in lsii.
W. Clark Russell went to sea for the
first time when he was thirteen years old.
1t was an accident, however, that he did
not try life ahoat at even an earlier age.
When he was at school at Boulogne he
Conspired with another little boy. a son
of ChSrle Dickens, to run a way to Norway
and make a fortune shooting elder ducks
The two lads were on the point of putting
their plans into operation when young
DICKENS got letter from home which
held out prospects OF more alluring
character. What they were does not
appear, hut Clark Russell had to postpone
having the sea experiences which should
serve him later as the background for his
novels
His father was Henry Russell an
Euglishman and "A song writer. Among
his compositions which have come down
to these times are a Life on the Ocean
Wave" aud "Chrcr, Boys, Cheer" The
novelist- mother was Isabella Lloyd
who knew Coleridge, Southey and Charles
and Mary Lamb. William Clark Russell
was born in New York on February -.
1874. II" got his first sea experience as
an apprentice uu board one Of the ships
owned 10y Duncan Dunbar. lie made
. many voyages to India. Australia the
/ South Seas. China. One day he fell into
/ a dispute with the captain over "A tritling
/ matter. was logged and sent below.
| That voyage was his last as a sailor.
Once ashore for good. he went into a
D stock brokers office, but the routine
wearied HIM and hc set himself to write.
! He wrote 4 Eve act tragedy in blank
verse. Fra Angelo II was produced
at the Hdymarke' Theatre In midsummer
/ but proved failure Not long dfterward
/ Walter Montgomery, the man who pro-
I duced IT, killed himself Russell then
wrote a three vOlum" novel He sent
u 20 publishers and after 4 wait of eight
d months ii was returned 1t was dumped
I AZ my lodgings. said Russell. in u basket,
/ IKE 4 leg Df mutton.
I But he kept at writing He became
4 contributor TO the London RerioU and
worked on the Newcastle Chrontcie His
move! "Th" WreCk If the Grusvenor" was
written az Rdmsgate after another ad-
I venture IN newspaper work had proved
I disastrous. The reader for Bentley. the
/ Publisher, declared against il on the
ground mat 1t was mere catalogue of
/ ships furniture. But another publisher
I took 1t and ii was a great success 1t was
, followed 10y John Holdsworth. Chief
/ Mate" A Sailors Sweetheart" The
/ Frozen Pirate The Lady Maud" and
other novels. They We're true to life.
| though Russell was careful not 10 20 too
! strongly into details for fear Of incurrins
! had applied TO his first published novel
He made many short journeys on all
sorts Of craft, partly for amusement,
| partly for the instruction which the eS-
, perience afoat would yield. The names
of his printed works make long list.
: Besides hls novels he wrote life of Lord
| Nelson for the Heroes of the Nations
series and a life Of Lord Collingwood.