Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-21


all the lots and lands just beyond the verge Of
the city that be could get. One little anecdote
will show The wisdom Of this proceeding He
sold q lot ia Wall street In 1910 for as 600
which vas supposed TO be somewhat under rs
value. The purchaser. after the papers we're
signed. seemed disposed to chuckle over bis bar
gain. Why. Mr.. Astor." said he. ";his lot
will be worth $4,000
VERY true" replied Astor: but now YOU
shall see what will do with this money. With
eight thousand dollars l buy eighty lots above
Canal streets. By the time your lot IL worth
$4,000. my eighty lots will be worth $50 .0O0. -
which proved 10 be the fact. In the course OF
time the Island was dotted all over With Astor
lands, TO such an extent that the whole income
Of bis estate for City years could be invested in
nev houses. without buying any more land
In 1909 more than seven hundred families were
residing In one-ihird of Putnam county, New
York. on farms. the titles of which were given
by the state The land originally belonged 10
family named Morris, who tories and their
estates was accordingly confscated. Astor dis
covered tia, Mr. and Mrs Morris had only life
estate in the lands and accordingly purchased
The rights Of the heirs for $50 600 Mr. Morris
vas then dead and his widow was nearly eighty.
and very infrm. In a Few years he commenced
urging his claims. There was, OF course, great
CONSERVATION 10 Putnam county Commission
I
gate the subject. They asked him for what be
would compromise be replied $500 600 This
was refused The affair fingered on until 1927,
when test case was brought TO trial. Daniel
Webster and Martin Van Buren, were retained
for the state Emmett Ogden and Aaron Burr,
the latter privately, were DIR. Astor's counsel.
he won the suit, and on receiving about half
million o: dollars, the titles were secured to the
occupants We pass over bis magnificent Asto-
chi hQw nd IN
was not a pecuniary success
Mr. Astor was firm believer in the destiny of
the United States. In other words, he held its
public stocks in profound respect. he had little
to say Of politics, but was supporter Of the Wbig
party, and was never better pleased than to have
Henry Clay at his house The last considerable
sum be was known TO give away was a contfibu-
ton to aid in the election Of Mr.. Clay. When
asked he answered: 81 am not interested in
these things | don't make money any more.
aud havn't any concern in the matter" One of
the com mittee replied: "Why, Mr.. Astor. you
are like Alexander. when he wept because here
were no more worlds to conquer. You have
made all the money, and now there is no more
money TO make" The old eye twinkled at the
blended compliment and jest. "Ha. ha hal very
coed; that's very good Well, well, give you
something" whereupon he drew his check for
| 81 500.
| for New York Head winds and boistrous seas
kept the vessel beating and tossing about in the
channel for MANY days. The old man was both
seasick and alarmed. he asked the captain to
run in and land him on the coast OF England. The
captain dissuaded him, but he was urgent, and at
las: said: IL give you tousand dollars to put
me aboard pilot boat"
The captain finally agreed to do 80, provided
| they did not get out of the channel by the next
1 - nd Qnrau ~ An No
mated time, and the vessel was safe out at sea
! Another gale came up, however, ard the ship
was along the western coast of ireland. Astor
| now offered the captain ten thousand dollars to
/ put him ashore on Emerald Isle In vain the
| captain demonstrated AT last. the gale having
somew hat abated, he yielded. Mr.. Aster went
/ into the cabin and wrote what was expected to
| be draft for ten thousand dollars in favor Of
/ the owners of the ship or agent in New York
| IL was. however, totally illegible:
What is this ?" asked the Captain
A draft upon my son for $4,000"
"Bat no one can read il. IA
on yes. my son will know what IL he. Nv
hand trembIes so that cannot write any better .
But" said the captain. You can at least
write your own name. Let one of the gentle
men draw up draft in the proper form; you
sign il and will put you ashore"
/ This he would not consent to do and so the
affair dropped. When off the coast of Newfound-
land-two- thirds of the way home-the old gen
teman was still frightened and screamed out to
the captain who was hsing the other vessel:
- Tell them | gives tossand dollars if they
takes passenger"
he lived till March 90, 1S4S, when he died in
his S5th year. During few years previous his
mind had been seriously impaired. He was
nursed like a child at womans breast. and
tossed in a blanket for exercise. His property
was mainly left TO his own family, the greater
part to his son, VIM. b. Aston. so as to keep it
I united
The whole estate was estimated at twenty mil
lions, and is nov probably double that amount.
kSeven hundred houses in New York city belong
to Mr.. Astor.
The chief legacy was one of $500 600 to found
the Astor Library. The next largest $50 900
was bequeathed to his native village of Waldorf.
/ to found a home for poor people. and $50 600
4 WAS left to the German institution of New York.
To his old fr end and manag ger. Fiiz Greene Hal
leck, the poet, he left the strange legacy of $500
per annum for life. This snm Mr. W B. Astor
At once increased to 81 500. The same more
liberal heir voluntarily gave to the sea captain.
who had saved Mr.. Astor so much money. 4
handsome of money. for be not men
toned in the old mans will.