Leonard Clark was one of those interesting Never Sweats who went on to live a very colorful life. Clark was born in 1907 in British Columbia, but was raised in the Honey Lake Valley, as his mother was a member of the pioneer Brubeck-Grass-Litch families of the same place. After he graduated from Lassen High School in 1925, he was struck with wanderlust. By the early 1930s he had explored Asia extensively and wrote his first book, A Wanderer Until I Die. The book published in 1937, as one review began, “Aviator, soldier of fortune, mountain climber this young American has adventure in his blood. From tiger and python hunting in China, treasure hunting in Malaysia . . .” The following year he married Jean Wingfield, daughter of Nevada tycoon George Wingfield.
Because of his vast knowledge and contacts in China and Mongolia, during the early stages of World War II, he was recruited by the American OSS, the forerunner of today’s CIA to conduct espionage and guerrilla warfare in those two countries. After the war, he continued with his adventures and now focused on South America. In 1952, his most popular book, The Rivers Ran East was published, which is his account for the search of the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola in the Peruvian Andes. It was also in South America where he met his demise. On May 4, 1957, Clark drowned in the Caroni River, Venezuela while on a diamond mine expedition.
Tim
Hi Tim,
Long time no talk. My father was William T. Scanlon. My grandfather was William J. Scanlon, who had the Diamond Mountain Mill. My father and grandfather built a home across the street from Roop’s Fort. My great uncle was Will Shrode of Standish (Shrode Road).
Anyway. Leonard Clarke and my father were friends, two years apart in high school. And it could be, Leonard, who was interested in boxing, sought advise and coaching from my grandfather who had been a boxer when he was young. Thus, I read “Rivers Ran East” as a young man as the book was in our household. I have Marching Wind; however, I did not obtain a copy of Wanderer Till I Die until last July, it is so rare. What a great book. I truly enjoyed it. I will recommend it to my cousin as his grandfather was a teamster for my grandfather.
BTW: I have two photos of the interior of my father’s classroom at Lassen High, likely you already have them. I also have a photo of the front porch of the cabin at the Diamond Mountain Mill, with identified people, grandfather, great grandmother, uncle, great uncle Will Shrode. If they would help you, let me know. -Dana