Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-02-29

BUSY LIFE ENDED.
Death Of Cslt.!H Samuel BlaICh
ard Of Richmond,
0,e Of The Dsst KD9En Steamboat Isn
Oh th. Coast.
Commanded the Old Hantress. Daniel
Webster and Eastern Queen.

Especial to the kESSEsEc JouRsAL.
RicHMosD. Feb. % After brief i'll
ness re-uI Jog from initmiiies of age Capt
samuel B snc hard, one Of Richmoud's IN ost
respected ei zen died a. bis home Oh Pleai-
All ssrers, Sondsy morning At 3 o'clock.
Cspfsin Blanchard was b5rn in Dfe:den,
Jan. 81. 1903. He was one Of family Of
10 children and IS w.s often the case with
ooys IN those days he vas thrown upon his
1sn resources 81 sa early age.
FoiIosing ihs example Of An elder
brother he went TO sea.
Lste, h. was for 3 short time conductor
she Old Kennebec & portl.ad Railroad
hen Ri hmcnl was i.s terminus. being
snr fret m~n TO run usia over the road
1'treen hi hi;hmoad and Portland.
But be VAS better known as steam boat
man. Few men hsvs been more widely
nosn smlDg steamboat men than Capt.
Blanchard.
M first went sttAmbcAiing as pilot Of the
old Huotres,, which was commanded at
AZ time by bis elder brother. Capt. Davis
Blsnchsrd, who died some years sgo. He
~ GA nc fA1bR Va tA'As 7St bhlrf Az VI IL years.
shsn from fsi.ing heslth Capt Davis r.
red glYiGg him command Of the boat
The stesme- was hen making regular
"ips bet~esu H-Iipweii sd POrtlsud, con-
arclng with the E'ssern X. Il. at that point
hsre sss no rsilsay service east Of Port.
and 81 tnst time.
On o. e OF her trips the steamer met with
m acciden At her dock 81 Portland. Being
bout ready TO leave for the Kennel bee,
passengers had got on board the steamer
.ad Capt Blanchard had started from af
~ rng the bell when her boiler burst, doing
damage 10 the boat bus strange
- say none of her passengers were injured.
The 'h1ck wss so great thai II parted
every line aud tue steamer swung out into
he stream.
Cspt, Collins Of tie Kennebec was the
engineer. The steamer was e about two
weeks for repairs. in The meantime the old
T, + Seeker ran in her place.
After leaving the Huntress, Capt. Biauch-
ard tool command Of the Daniel Webster
md ran eight years on the Boston and Bar
sor route, and subsequently, was master of
,ne Eastern Queen out Of the Kennebec.
Cspt. Bl'nchsrj was cool, cles- headed
man of modest mein No one ever saw
him exciied or oul Of temper.
A. an example OF bis ssgsciy the follow
ng tory is told; CAming down from Bos-
tan ore trip or lba z leen q passenger re
u,ed to pay nis fare, ale gng that he hsd
,lresjy paid il to Cspt.in Blanchard. On
o II z brought before the captain the fellow
fe!Iera ed his statement
"You gave me $40 bili?' ssid the cap
tain.
Yes
And gave you back eight silver dol
srs2"
"Y.s" /
Where are they now?" said the captain.
fa- fello~ hadn'i 'h m and seei z be
-ss caught he wiited aid paid vi hout
fur her psrleying.
Cops. Blanchard was man Of exemplary
habits. He never used tobacco, liquor or
profsre isPguAgs. NJ bar was ever
o~ ed on bis boat. He sl~sys had an un-
ierstsnding With owners that no liquor
should De sold on any bost thst he com
nsnded
aoou. 20 years ago he retired from active
fe and has since led quiet life IS become
re Of his ansssumiag disposition.
HIS wife, who survives him, is in very
feeble hesith.