Bierce, Ambrose. Author, journalist. Born in Ohio, 142. Served as line officer during Civil War. Brevetted major for distinguished services. Went to California 1866, to London 1872, contributing to "Fun" fables purporting to be translations from Zambri, the Parsee (published in volume, "Cobwebs from an Empty Skull," 1874). Returned to California and contributed to "Overland Monthly," edited "Argonaut" and "Wasp." For many years contributed to "Prattle" columns in San Francisco "Examiner." Author: "Cobwebs from an Empty Skull," "The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter" (with Dr. A. Danziger), "Black Beetles in Amber," "Can Such Things Be?" "In the Midst of Life" (former title, "Tales of Soldiers and Civilians"), "Fantastic Fables," "Shapes of Clay." Died in Mexico, 1914.

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