Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-23
MAJOR BENJAMIN Fl. BERRY
HAD STIRRING ADVENTURES
IN WAR BETWEEN STA TIES

since that awful day. When the
crash came he was shot through
SPACE and managed TO hang by his
fingers to "a window ledge where. h"
said. the plastering ana rafters rainnL
nown MS back. Milling his eyes nose
ana cars. until he was almost SUI
i1.hted.' By the merest chance an
oih negro man saw his predicamcnt
ana e%tricatcd him from the rafters.
Gaining tho Garth the young lawyer
instantly thought OF his bride and
aged mother. and set on at run
,Dr me IRON fence on Capitol Street.
despite his many wounds. from which
blood flowed freely.
Reaching the street he ran up to
one OF those hitchinI posts with an
landmarks until few years ago.
TO this particular post was tied an
OLD white horse. Without waiting 10
hnd his owner he mounted and rode
TO his home on Church Hill, where
ne burst into the presence OF his
startled wife and mother, covered
with blood and plaster. and in state
awful catastrophe was indeIibiy I'M
pressed on Mr.. Berry's mind until the
dhy or his death and he never could
De persuaded TO go in large gather
ing OF any kind.
Opposed the Dnr.
soon aiter the establishment OF
the Chancery Court bill was intro
duced into the Legislature to create
another court In connection with IN
ana the young clerk was slated to
become It's clerk also. Despite the
TACT that he was a LAWYER he wns
from matter OF principle. opposed
10 Its creation. He was opposed in
this incident by the bar and the en-
tire city delegation. but successfully
aeieated the measure and. as a re-
suit. saved tho n or I'll
thousands of dollars.
upon the death OF that eminent
Nirglnian, Colonel Thomas ]. Evans.
IN n September. 1889. Judge Fitzhugh
cancy OF commissioner of account,
or as 1t is known today, commits,
sloner In chancery. This offlce he
held until death called him away re-
Gently.
In the course OF his long tenure OF
office BENJAMIN Fl. Berry exempiiefid
me hne tradition OF the old school
OF Virginia gentlemen to which he
belonged. His duties threw him in
contact with nearly every lawyer
ne handled the estates Of hundreds
OF her citizens During n period of |
thlrty-odd years he remained that
same same courteous gentleman: simple,
absolutely fearless fighter when a
great principle was involved. The
Keynote OF his character was thai
,citarity. or love toward his fellow man, |
rnat rs greater than the speech ''of |
At best I'm Home.
TO know Major Berry in his ideal |
environment was to drop in for n |
ehat at his home. Here in his coy |
library. surrounded by rare editions
o. OF the classics. he spent most OF his
leisure hours, devoting great por-
lion OF the evening in historical re-
search or running down and settling
soine muted point in Virginia history.
IN. Inc history and tradition of his ma |
tive state wore second only to the
rove for his family. There was hard
~ period OF the city or Common
wseaith,s growth that he could not in
M, Of political campaigns
IN the early eighties and the delights
OF such well-known places as Spiro
q aetdelies: where the brilliant minds of
were fun of that charm that only
the cultured mind can impart
very unfortunate for the modern
student of Virginiana several very
valuable manuscripts of Mr.. Berry's
were destroyed by fire years ago.
Only his passing revealed this fact.
for his modesty doubtless prevented
MN from publishing them. Like mos;
sschoiarS. his books We're his dearest
friends The reward OF his literary
labor was the consciousness that he
had perfected single line of inves-
tisation that he had done his duty
to his subject
The rehabilitation OF this old State
AFTER the war rested with such men
AS BENJAMIN III. Berry. To guard her
interest. to bring about her political
reconstruction along the lines OF jus
lice. putty and conservative states
craft was an arduous task. Duty
and principle unwnverinE and the
Of selfish motives made
her rise resnlendent from her desc
ation. He has laid aside his armor.
having fought the good fight. be-
lneathing to future generations that
greatest OF NIL human attributes, a
stainless character.
Those OF us who seek sometimes
he quiet. shadr walks Of old historic
sank Street will miss his towering
'orm. his genial hearty handclasp,
hat delightful touch with the pass.
ng generation of great virEinians,
which. In all his daily activities. were
!. dominant characteristic. His gem
lie advice. his constructive criticism.
liz Christian character are now tho
'ich legacy OF his friends,
IL bas dono thu work ~ : t,,,e MAJ
Crown him. honoH him. love him.
Weep tovor him, teay3s OF woman
( Stoopa mani estSbHSRs above him"