Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-11
DEATH ENDS CAREER
OF "OLD CAP" CLARK
Velvet Coated Hero of 7O4
Rescues Closes Eventful
Life at II Years
KNOWN TO THOUSANDS
Many-Sided Character, Whose His
tory Embraced Life-Saving in
War and Peace

old st'ap" Clark is dead. The vel
vet-Coatcd Hero" as the once famous
Atlantic City life guard was known
made an uphill fight. But the odds were
against him and the end came last
night at the Philadelphia Hospital
Chronic nephritis was given as the
cause of death
At his bedside was his wife Ida,
whom he married just about two years
ago. None Of his friends or old cronics
was there. No one knew that no had
been In the shadow OF death for weeks
None Of those whom Cap" had snatched
from watery graves IN his strenuous
days was about. 'T guess it's all up"
he whispered to a physician who had
attended him faithfully until the end.
His lips moved short time afterward,
hut what he said could not be heard
Those self-satisf1ed youths who used
to greet the old life-savcr with n flip
pant Hello, Cap" little realized that
the man who delighted to appear In a
velvet coat. white trousers and shiny
silk hat was rounding out II career of
usefulness which few others over ex-
perienced.
After Clark's name may he Justly
added the titles Indian fighter, volunteer
fireman. life guard. At times his career
tions of the moment. For brief periods
ho was an actor a rcstauratcur and
many other things.
SAVED 70i LIVES
The Captain, whose correct name was
Charles Clark, found the fight for mere
existence hard since his retirement as
an active life guard, and took up any
thing honest that netted him few
dollars for the time being. He retired
from his activities a. guard at Atlantic
City after thirty years Of service. lie
was then sixty-nve years old and al
though he had saved 704 lives. none
of the rescued, he said, cared 10 re-
member the service
At three score and five he faced the
evening of life with an attack Of chronic
rheumatism and no permanent ways Of
earning a livelihood.
A theatrical manager visiting Phila.
delphia was struck by tho popularity OF
Cap and engaged him for the rescue
scene In THE Great Metropolis" melo-
drama which was playing at the Wal
nut street Theatre. In addition to hand.
ing out circulars every day while attired
in his velvet coat, white trousers ct al,
the captain was the Chief hero in a bis
ship rescue scene In the third act. He
attracted hundreds TO the show and trav'
eled with It for severaI months This
gave him a start and he later tried sew
oral business ventures which did not
pan out
One of the captains last ventures was
a little oyster house which he opened
several years ago opposite the Penn
sylvania Railroad Station ats Thirty
second and Market streets. At that time
the late A. J. Cassatt was president OF
the railroad and the captain named his
oyster cafe tina Hotel Cassatt. For this
honor he asked Mr.. Cassatt to give him
a pass on the road. but never received
a reply to the request. It Is said.
This was not the captains first ven
ture as a restaurateur. Atlantic Cit,
and Eighth and Vine streets know th'
picturesque establishments that ac
knowledged tho red -shirted. velvet
coated lifeguard as proprietor. Th'
Market street oyster house closed afte
brief existence. The captain tried al
sorts of odd Jobs until i'll health finall!
laid him low at his home. 507 Soutl
Reese street His wife worked for hin
and nursed him between times. She wa
his only solace in the declining days
Several weeks ago his condition became
so critical that he was removed to tn
Philadelphia Hospital
INDIAN FIGHTER AND FIREMAN
| Prior TO his career as n life guard
| the captain was n bugler OF Comran,
| q, First United States Dragons. ant
/ while serving his country In that con
nection received a medal for saving tive
| children from Apache Indians. Late
/ he Joined the volunteer ,flremen anc
/ served In Hook and Ladder Compan,
nj In,
| years old.
| When Atlantic City started to boon
he enlisted In the life guard service
and through efficient work made NOR,
rescues than most OF the other guards
of his time.
Any of the old captains admirers ma,
view his body tonight at the undertaking
esta bllshment Of Charles H. Thiele. 241'
North Tenth stiSet. The, funeral will
take place from there tomorrow mornins
at II o'clock. Internent will be In Noun