Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-11-28
A SAD ACCIDENT.
THE VENERABLE L S DgLAPLAINE DIES FROM
THE EFFEOIS OF APALL
Found Unconscious at The Foot Of a Pair Of Stairs
at Seven O'clock Yesterday MOrning-His
Dsarh Removes One Of Weddings
Oldest Merchants.

Another name prominent IN the local
affairs of Wheeling, and one widely
known and esteemed 10 the business
world, was added to the rapidly grow
ing list of notable deaths yesterday.
L. S. Delaplaine. head Of the whole
sale dry goods house Of L. s. Della
plaIne & Co.. died at twenty-five min
utes after three o'clock at his residence
On ChaplIne street. the result Of a fall
sustained at seven o'clock IN the morn
ing.
The news of the sad accident obtain
ed a wide circulation at an early hour,
and as it was we'll known from the first
that all hope Of recovery had been dis
missed. the deepest sorrow was occa-
stoned, especially among business men,
who not only deplored the loss OF gem
ial acquaintance and warm friend, but
the removal as we'll OF one OF the
oldest merchants OF the city-a pio-
neer in his line, and one who had been
prominent in mercantile affairs for more
than half a century. Aud this sorrow
will be by no means confined to Wheel
ing. for not only was Mr.. Delaplaine
known and esteemed over all the region
of country tributary to this city, but he
had wide acquaintance in the East
where the dry goods trade will remem-
Der him as one of the class with whom
it is a pleasure to deal.
Mr.. Delaplaine had been In about his
usual state OF health recently, and on
Sunday evening retired without calling
attention TO any physical discomfort.
He seemed to be somewhat nervous, but
this was usual with him at times, espec-
ially when there was about to be a
marked change In the weather, such as
occurred during Sunday night. Noah
Dollard, the colored man who had for
some time been Mr.. Delaplaine's per-
sonal attendant, aud who slept In
the room with him, arose shortly be-
fore seven o'clock yesterday morning,
babe Mr.. Delaplalne good morning, and
left the apartment, leaving Mr.. Della
blaine still 10 bed. A few minutes
later Mr.. Delaplaine arose, and attired
only in his underclothing, started to
pass from his sleeping Apartment to the
bath room, where he usually made his
toilet. As he reached the head OF a
pair of winding stairs lead
ing from the second floor
to the lower story, the entrance
to which, on the lower floor, was close
to the kitchen, Mr. Delaplaine was
either attacked with vertigo, Apo
plexy, paralysis, or lost his balance.
Which of these four things happened,
is not known, but at all events he fell
toward the stairs, and rolling clear
down, was found by a servant who
heard the noise, lying at the foot OF the
flight. He was unconscious and bleed
ing slightly from the left ear and some
Commissions in that vicinity, on the side
OF his head and cheek. Mr.. Jacob w.
Grub, his sun-in-law, at Once fastened
to Che spot, and with other aid Mr.. Del
aplaine was carried to a bed, while
messengers were at once despatched for
physicians. Medical aid came prompt
~, but all efforts to restore the uncon-
scious patient were without avail, and
he gradually sank until death occurred
at twenty-five minutes after three.
Mr.. Delaplalne was native OF Della
Warey having been born near Whining
ton in December, 1915. He removed to
this city in 1887, and for some years
thereafter was chief clerk in the post
ONCE, then a most important distribut-
ing point for mails for the West and
South. In 1916 he embarked in the dry
goods business with Henry Talent,
the firm being Talent & Delaplaine, and
their place of business in the building
on Twelfth street, at present occupied
by Joseph Graves. Later, Mr.. Della
PLANE removed to the building now oc-
cupiad as a machine shop, next west OF
the National Bank of West Virginia,
and about 1852 he again removed to the
building at present occupied by his firm,
where the business has been successful
ly conducted for forty years. The firm
has always done most extensive busi-
ness, and Mr.. Delaplaine achieved
wide and well-merited reputation for
business ability, integrity ana enter
prise. He was type OF the successful
merchant of the old school. Honorable,
stsadfast and conservative, he came to
be early known as a "safe" man in all
business matters, yet enterprising and
pushing where enterprise and push
were the right things. He was thor
oughly imbued with the spirit of modern
progress, and took keen interest in
the up-building of his adopted city
and in the extension OF her trade, manu-
features and transportation facilities.
He left an impress upon the business
of Wheeling which was eminently for
good, and which will long remain, and
his career affords fitting subject fot
emulation.
Mr.. Delaplaine was married in 1s41
to a daughter of the late John Mccoy,
aud his wife and one daughter, Mrs.
l. L.. IL