MARC W. LARIMER, LCDR, USN

Marc Larimer '12

Date of birth: December 28, 1890

Date of death: February 6, 1919

Age: 28

Lucky Bag

From the 1912 Lucky Bag:

Mark Winthrop Larimer

Wichita, Kansas

"Mark" "Lazy" "Lark"

HE of the graceful sheer plan, and those dreamy iridescent eyes—will uncork a lazy, seductive smile for a pretty girl or at a good joke outside of these, Lazy is six feet two of elongated efficiency.

The town crier of the brigade—otherwise known as Brigade Adjutant. With a "sweetly melodious" voice, he charms the lady visitors at outside formations. Also is known without the Yard as a charmer—principally in, on and around Murray Hill.

Hates to be called a grafter—but seemingly rates the title. Evidence—trip to Army-Navy game with F. B. Team as Social Aide to Comm.; only first classman who kept stateroom on Massachusetts during entire cruise; and tall handsome chorus man in Minstrel Show.

Mark also won fame as a member of the fencing team, and won fourteen out of fifteen bouts in the Intercollegiate Fencing Meet. When allowed the privilege of attending the Fencing Conference in New York last January he returned six and one-half hours late, merely stating as an excuse for his delay that "There was a good reason—the good reason is a very fascinating little reason, who lives uptown."

Three Stripes; Fencing N; Silver Medal, Foils (3); Captain Fencing Team (1)

Mark Winthrop Larimer

Wichita, Kansas

"Mark" "Lazy" "Lark"

HE of the graceful sheer plan, and those dreamy iridescent eyes—will uncork a lazy, seductive smile for a pretty girl or at a good joke outside of these, Lazy is six feet two of elongated efficiency.

The town crier of the brigade—otherwise known as Brigade Adjutant. With a "sweetly melodious" voice, he charms the lady visitors at outside formations. Also is known without the Yard as a charmer—principally in, on and around Murray Hill.

Hates to be called a grafter—but seemingly rates the title. Evidence—trip to Army-Navy game with F. B. Team as Social Aide to Comm.; only first classman who kept stateroom on Massachusetts during entire cruise; and tall handsome chorus man in Minstrel Show.

Mark also won fame as a member of the fencing team, and won fourteen out of fifteen bouts in the Intercollegiate Fencing Meet. When allowed the privilege of attending the Fencing Conference in New York last January he returned six and one-half hours late, merely stating as an excuse for his delay that "There was a good reason—the good reason is a very fascinating little reason, who lives uptown."

Three Stripes; Fencing N; Silver Medal, Foils (3); Captain Fencing Team (1)

Loss

Marc died on February 6, 1919 of pneumonia while aboard USS Columbia. (He was executive officer of USS Montgomery (DD 121).)

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Marc’s father George W. was a dry goods merchant in Tipton, Missouri. He was also a city councilman in 1878. By 1890, the family moved from Tipton to Wichita, Kansas. He partnered with Mr. Johnston in a dry goods store there. George applied for a passport in June, 1890, and sailed to Europe on the City of Chicago. He later sold out and started mining interests near Phoenix.
In January 1898, his son Leslie became a teller at the Phoenix National Bank. In April, George cashed a large check. He left his son Leslie at the works and said he was going to Wichita. He mysteriously disappeared and never made it to Wichita.
Marc’s mother Laura was a dressmaker. His sister Mabel (Mrs. S. W. Shattuck) was a singing teacher. His brothers were Claude, Leslie, and Edgar “Ned.” Edgar was a Naval Academy graduate, Class of 1899. He was appointed by Richard Blue from Kansas. He was on the Indiana during the bombardments of Santiago July 1 and 2 and in the battle of July 3. In February 1904, he was on the Helena near the hostilities at New Chwang.
Marc’s biography as told by The Wichita newspapers:
Feb 9, 1910 – Third-year Marc was given a place on the championship team that recently held a match with fencers from the New York Turn Verein. The New York Herald said: “The work of Larimer of the navy team was the feature.” An intercollegiate match was scheduled in New York City with the Naval Academy, West Point, Yale, and Harvard. As a youngster in Wichita, he only did track and football.
March 11, 1910 – Marc was confined to the Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C., for the past three weeks. His eyes have been affected to such a degree that all school had to be abandoned. He is improving rapidly now and soon will be back in class.
July 8, 1912 – Marc won his first fencing bout on Saturday at the Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, as did two other members of the team. He is a youngster who developed his athletic tendencies on Wichita corner lots. He attended Webster school and went to high school for a while. He gave up high school for entrance exams into Annapolis. While in Wichita, Marc played baseball and football like any other healthy youngster. He took up fencing when he entered the academy and was soon among the best in school.
December 28, 1913 – Marc missed five days of his Christmas leave because his ship the Wyoming broke down mid-ocean. About 700 miles from shore, the Wyoming fractured her starboard propeller shaft, and after limping along for a time with one engine, she broke the port thrust bearing and later the crank shaft of the port engine. She was then helpless and was taken in tow by the Delaware. The Delaware struggled along against a head wind, sometimes making no more than two knots, and finally arrived in Hampton Roads on December 19.
April 14, 1914 – Edgar V. and Marc, sons of Mrs. Laura B. Larimer, are with the Atlantic fleet which was ordered to Tampico today. Edgar is lieutenant-commander of the Nebraska [and USNA 1899]. Marc is an ensign on the Montana which recently returned from Hayti, where it went for torpedo practice. Marc is making a special study of torpedo work in which his brother is expert.
December 24, 1915 – Marc is here from the Brooklyn Navy Yards to spend Christmas with his mother and sister. He is on the U.S.S. Arkansas, which will leave shortly after the first of the year for Cuba.
January 2, 1916 – Marc was appointed to the Naval Academy by Chester I. Long of Wichita, who was then senator from Kansas. His classmates were the first to graduate from Annapolis as ensigns. Marc first took up fencing in the Wichita Y. M. C. A. When he was given the instruction afforded midshipmen at the Naval Academy, his natural aptitude for this sport made itself apparent. He was elected captain of the fencing team his senior year. Marc ranked high in his class, being made brigade adjutant, with rank of cadet-lieutenant, an honor accorded to but nine members of the graduating class.
January 1, 1917 – A holiday dance was given for him on December 29, 1916, by Mrs. C. C. Stanley and Mrs. W. S. Shattuck, Marc’s sister Mabel. Many of his old friends attended as did his brother Claude.
July 6, 1918 – Jack Johnson, ex-champion prize fighter, is now a wealthy and highly respected citizen in Madrid, Spain, where he is proprietor of a large cabaret. Marc met the pugilist while on shore at a port in the Strait of Gibraltar a few weeks ago. Johnson was dressed in a new Prince Albert suit, a high silk hat and wore a monocle. He appeared to be the model for Spanish fashion and is said to be looked upon as a marvel by the natives. Marc recently finished a cruise through the Mediterranean on board a sub-chaser. It was while stopping for a short time in the strait that Johnson was introduced to Marc.
February 11, 1919 – Marc was executive officer of the destroyer Montgomery. Upon his illness he was transferred to the Columbia for treatment but died despite the medical attention given him. His brother Edgar is commander of the New Orleans enroute to China, and his brother Claude is with the Foster Larimer Land Company.
March 18, 1919 – Rites for Marc Larimer who died from pneumonia in Cuba last month will be held at 3 p.m. at Arlington Cemetery.
May 22, 1919 – Marc was a man of whom Wichita High School may well be proud. He was an earnest, tireless worker, was very gentlemanly and had scores of admiring friends. After his graduation from Annapolis, he served as executive officer of the destroyer Cummings on overseas patrol duty in 1917 and in 1918 along the eastern coast. In January his ship was ordered to Cuba for winter practice. There he contracted influenza and died at sea. – L. C. ’19.