Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-14

was first employed here as millwright IN
/ building the works which were then
owned by the Belle Isle Company.
When | became superintendent Mr.
William 5. Trplett was the proprietor
and had his Office on Cary street at the
corner OF Fourteenth, in Richmond.
tered Alr. Trlpletts Office as book
keeper about 1865 or 1866. He was
in q short while promoted to head
clerk. and afterwards became cashier aud
paynaster. I'm 1859 or thereabonts,
soon after Mr.. rriple;i's death, the pres
ent company became proPrieiors OF the
property, and Mr.. BlGnkenship has
virtually had control ever since. lie was
first commercial agent, and soon after
/ Mr.. Triplett's demise was made presi-
dent also, which position ne held up to
the time OF his death Mr.. Blankcnship
was universally respected by the opera
tiyes. and was regarded as a thorough
and straightforward businessman.
Mr. Baird bore q sad and troubled
/ look, and when be ceased speaking for
moment he raised his head and with
much feeling said: 81 have no heart
for anything. He was my friend and |
hardly know what to do or how l shall
get along without him.
Feelings op THE MEN.
Mr.. John u. Band, like Mr.. F. A.
| Lamb. of Manchester was born on Belle
/ Isle. and excepting the few years that he
was in the Confederate army has been
engaged there all his life. He at one
time lived in Manchester, but now lives
with his father, at 10Z east Cary street.
lie spoke very feelingly of his lifelong
association with Mr.. Blankenship, who
was his senior only by a few years,
| the former having been born in 1Sil.
"SOon after wc received tle sad news,
/ said be, "a number Of the men came to
me and said that they had inst as well
quit worli-that their hearts we're so
touched that they were unfit for labor.
Those in the mailing department did
knock OIL soon afterwards, but the others
are all at their posts, but none of them
| feel like work. We would shut down
entirely, but a stop in the middle Of the
week entails such heavy expense. We
will close on the day of tie funeral,
probably for the remainder of the week /;
that is, if the men DO not all quit work
tonight, which now seems probable.
or EVACUATION DAY.
"Mr. Blankenship and | were down
on the lines few miles below Rich
mond," Mr.. John Baird said, with a
company made up of workmen from
here and commanded by Mr.. Blanken-
ship on the morning Of the day that
| Richmond was evacuated. | was orderly
sergeant of the company, having been de-
tailed from the army to help father
manufacture goods for Lees army.
We were coming up to Richmond, and
when we marched upin front of the COM
panvs Office and warehouse, on Four
teanth street, almost diagonally across
from where they are now, the house was
on fire and burning ill through The
captain halted the company, facing to
the front. and, turning to me, asked {:
What are you going to do now?' /
replied Il am going to the army. He
said: March the men Gcross the bridge
and let those who have families and dc
sire to do 50 remain az home and work.
7 will join you at your houso in Man
chester this afternoon and We will go to
the army together.
He Joined us that evening" con-
tinued Mr. Baird, "and we left Man
chester together and caught up with the
army between Petersburg and the main
line' He and ], together with 1900
others Of the rear OF Lees army, in
/ cluding all of our men who 1t Man
+ chester with us, were taken prisoners at
/ Sailors creek. lie was taken TO John
sons island and TO Point Lookout, aad
he got back here first. -
MUCH CREDIT.
Both Of the Messrs. Baird think fiat
the success Of the Old Dominion Com
panv has been due almost entirely TO ;he
zeal. saeacitv, and business enterprise OF
the dead president. When he returned
/ from the war, where he served bis cam
try faithfully, he started the works with
ont capital and almost entirely on his
own credit. lie began then with only
scraplron brought from the ruins OF
Richmond. lie built up the works to
more than four times their original di-
mensiops. and placed them on that high
scale that financially and otherwise they
are able to compete with the best mar
kcts OF America.
FAMILY.
Ny. Blankenship married Mss Nj
/ lirqton, whose fnther WAS professor al
/ William and Mary College many vars
ago. OF this union there are seen
living children three sons and our
daughters Robert N. Blankenship, ybo
is employed at Belle Isle; john, wlD IS
q cadet at the Naval Academy at An
napolis. and Frank, who is at Hanover
academy. and Misses George and Annie
Blankenship and two younger sisters
Evie and Katie.
-Four Of the children were absent fOm
home Yesterday AID it was with geat
difficulty that they could be reachedby
telegraph. as the wires were nearly all
down 10y reason OF Sunday nights stdm.
However they were finally reached ind
will return at once.
TIE news OF Mr BlankenShip's dGth
was communicated to lady friend ind
near neighbor with the request thatlhe
would break it 10 Mrs. Blankenshi' as
gently as possible. This duty was dli-
cateIv performed. Mrs. Blankenhip
was first informed that her husband lad
met with serious accident Iateion
she was told OF his death.
OF the great burden of sorrow hat
then fell upon her those who know vhat
loving and tender wife she has Fen
will best be able TO understand.
THEORIES
There are several theories es to low
Mr.. Blankenship fell under the carbut
no one has any more information han
is conveyed in the statement ofhr.
Monroe.
1t may be that Mr.. Blankenship sod
by the train until it vas nearly psf ;
then in stepping forward fell. 1t ma be
that he was seized with apoplexy ofell
under an attack of vertigo. II ma be
that he was walking beside the traiDind
caught his foot in the frog or switch ear