Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-09-18
STORY OF
BLANKENSHIP
n Returned Klondiker Tells
Hom the Devil Took
Care Of His DUN.
LIZ in Alaska" said the returned


win have anything to do with him, that
the Devil looks after his own. Take
the case Of Blankenship.
'Blankenship was a sawed-off little
runt with a moth-eaten mustaehe, a
defect in one eye and a unique DISPOSE.
ton. He came from Maine and the
reason he left home was like this:
in his youth he got woman to
marry him and being too small, 12o
pounds, 10 tell his neighbors what he
thought Of them, he used 10 exercise
his disposition on his wife. Sometimes
he used a club and sometimes just bare
fists. At the height Of one Of these
athletic events Blankenship's father
in-law happened along and when he got
through with Blankenship they had TO
call doctor.
when he was about again Blanken-
ship sold his farm and deserted his
wife and two children 60 miles from
her fathers house. Mrs. Blankenship
covered the 60 miles eventually, but
Blankenship had been there before her
and her fathers house and store were
principally ashes.
"The blaze occurred late at night
and Blankenship's father-in-law
caught cold getting out, and died. He
didn't leave anything. Mrs. Blanken-
ship went to Portland with her two
children and worked in a mill. Blank
enship turned up IN skagway.
within a month Blankenship quar-
relied with every man he did business
with and most Of them had kicked him.
Finally he was run out Of town.
"Blankenship's toes showed through
his shoes and there wasn't much left
Of his clothes. He begged and beat his
way down 20 Chilkaf and for twoweeks
lived there on free lunches.
I'm that time be also got some fifty
odd free drinks on the strength OF
some mining operations which he
spoke largely Of having in contempla-
ton. Most q those who gave him a
drink also gave him a power Of attor-
ney so Blankenship could stake out
claim for each Of his friends when
the time came.
aBut At the end Of two weeks Blank
enship's disposition began to be too
oppressive for Chilkat. Blankenship
suffered indignities for day and that
night stole a rowboat and sack OF
grub and rowed out into the darkness
I
Of Lynn canal.
thereafter Blankenship's history be-
gan to have gaps in 1t. Blankenshlp
said he rowed down Lynn canal,
through Icy strait and out by way OF
Cross sound TO Cape Spencer. Inc
fact that a dozen steamers brought
news 10 Juneau and Pyramid Harbor
and Chilkat IN the next six months OF
a crazv. tattered man adrift in a row
boat gives color 70 this story.
IT'S worth taking down an atlas
~ Alaska 10 get an idea Of Blanken-
ships Journey. He said his father-in-
law sat In the stern Of the boat calling
hin, had names and telling him which
w,v 20 row. Blankeuship said he didn't
mind his father-in-law, but he always
went when he spoke Of the cold.
"From Cape Spencer he rowed mp
the Pacific coast, hugging the shore.
From Chilkat 20 Cape Spencer as
BIankenship made it. Is about $50 miles,
From Cane Spencer TO Yakutat IS 25O
,,ore All outside. From Yakutat 70
,be mouth Of Copper river, following
The shore line. is $50 at the lowest ng-
uring.
,.Rlankenship said he went plumb,
raving crazy two weeks after ne
tnrned Cane Spencer and he remem-
ho~.d nothing Of the subsequent part
- his tourney. His whole yarn may
have been a lie and he may nave
worked his way the 500 miles up the
aaast on some vessel. But this much
!. .srtain-he rowed up Copper river
- rigbt in the boat he had stolen
:, cbiIkat that night some two years
before. He was quarrelling IN iouo
voice with his father-in-law and some
- a. n store on one bank q the
49, lowed him ashore and filed him
I IN <
with whisky and quinine. :,
"Blankenship cursed them later ana 3,
rowed up Copper river. some ~ nilies
nm his father-in-law made him turn
into a creek that ran out northwest northwest.
- was a ridiculous creek, with nothing
h,t ice and wilderness on ITS oanAs'
BlanRenship said he rowed four GAYS gay!
.i,bont food and some further time
Ma he forgot to keep track o. NJ.
ta,bsr-in-law cursing him all the
/ time
..Tben Blankenship saw two huts on
-. bsnl and went ashore. There
.ne TWO white men there who had
married squaws and were enjoying me
.The souaws did all the WORK inciu ls
inc setting and emptying the traps ane !,
LING the pelts down to the store y
~, - mouth Of Copper river. Inc men
-. -. and smoked and slept ana some .
s,nss drank whisky. They were no'
ambitious men. ,si-
..p,on,enship was laughing Loudly
: iole he had thought OF ana