The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-12
A RICHMOND BOY
WHOISAFIGHTER
Ensign BIankenship Saw Hot Times
at Guantanamo.
THE BRAVeST OF THE BRAVE.
He Has Shown Himselfto Be Capa-
bic and Va.able Officer and De-
serves Promotion If Anybody
in the Service Does

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. July u.-Spe-
been assigned to Commodore Watsons
Eastern fleet, has arrived in Hampton
Roads from the Norfolk nayy-yard, where
she took on 5000 tons OF coal, besides
having two more gun mounts placed on
her deck for three-pound rapid-hre rides.
Among the officers on the Aberenda Is
Senior Ensign John NJ Blankenship,
whose home is in Richmond, but who for
the last two years has been living in
this city, having been detailed to the
naval staff at tie ship-yard to aid in
the construction of the battleshlps hear-
sarge, kentucky and Illinois. AS has
been previously stated, Ensign Blanken-
ship made application to the Navy De-
partment for a commission when the
war broke out. lie stood the examination
making a mark that entitled him 10 a
commission as a Junior lieutenant, but
was assigned TO duty on the collier Abe
renda as an ensign.
DESERVES PROMOTION.
Since that time ensign Blankenship has
seen active service, and II there is "a man
in the navy who deserves promotion, 1t
IS TINS fearless young OllttEs
Ensign Bankenship Is too modest to
laud himself. and whatever he does must
be told by others. But there are men
who speak for him. They are the sea-
men who comprise the crew OF the col
lier. Mr.. Blankenship would fight a
buzz saw" said an intelligent "jackey'
to me. when we were at Guantamo
Bay several weeks ago he was I'm COM
mand OF the two three-pounders on the
Aberenda. and he gave the Spaniards
HI. Those guns were banging away
all the time. and the Spaniards were
pumping Mauser bullets at US to beat
the band but Mr.. Blankenshlp never let
I'D. though the bullets whizzed all around
him. And when the Spaniards got out OF
range OF our guns, Ensign Blankenshp
was one OF the first men 10 volunteer 10
land with the marines under Col. Hunt
ington, and FOR three days and nights he
'scrapped' with the enemy on land with
out getting n wink Of sleep. Everybody
on the ship likes Ensign Biankenship.
lie is a good officer and has got plenty Of
nerve"
FOUGHT LIKE MAD
As soon as the Aberenda went into SER
vice she was assigned 10 Commodore
SIMPSONS fleet and proceeded direct 10
Cuba This ship was one OF the vessels
that participated In tho engagement AT
Guantanamo Bay the flagship OF the fleet
being the Marblehead. I'm command OF
Captain McCalla. In the first days en-
gagement Ensign Blankenship, who IS
the ordnance officer Of the Aborenda,
took charge Of two thrce-poun1ers mount
ed on the forward deck. He began blaz-
ing away al the enemy. firing as rapidly
as the guns could be loaded and doing
effective work.
In the second DAYS fight Ensign Blank
enship was the first officer TO get the
range % tho enemy. the smells Of the
other ships falling short, and Captain
McCalla. OF tho Marbleheld. sent up a
flag asking the Aberenda for the range.
This was "A compliment 90 Ensign Blank
enship. who IS said 20 be ono of the best
marskmen I'm tho navy. Ensign Blank
enship has "a souvenir o. the engagement
at Guantanamo Bay. To is a fattenea
Mauser bullet that struck within six
inches Of his head. After the enemy got
out Of range. the Ensign went ashOre
with Colonel Huntington and fought
three days in the trenches Among the
young officers captives was "a Spanish
guerilla, from whose person he took "a
number OF Mauser cartridges and para
phernalia.
NAVIGATOR. TOO.
Ensign BlankenshiD s the third rank
ing officer on the Aberenda and was IN
charge OF the ship when She came North.
When his vessel reached the Capes he
asked the commander, Lieutenant Bu-
ford. for pilot. and the officer replied
by telling MT. Biankensh.p to take the
vessel in without a pilot which DE did.
steering tho ship 20 Lamberts Point
without mishap. This is q feat that
was never before attempted by a naval
officer and serves 10 show the kind OF a
"sea dog Ensign Blankenship is.
Frequently Mr. Blaukeuship is put In
command of the Aberenda. which has n
displacement OF 1000 tons. and he is said
10 be the youngest officer ever 81 charge
of such q large ship.
The Aberenda is now awaiting sailing
orders. The crew are anxious 10 go 90
sea. as the vessel viii accompany Com
modore Wats0n's fleet and after har-
RAISING tle Spanish coast the fleet will
probably pass through the Suez canal and
proceed 90 Manila 20 Join Admiral Dewey.