The New York herald., 1869-10-03

all onerng DO the work at half price, and It
can't be done at such rates"
"Wel,n insisted the father, at can do no harm 10
try.u
lie put IN the bid to please his father. and at a
price which would enable him TO do II at ialr profit
To his surprise and particularly that OF all the other
award ne went to the Commissary Generals oflice
to sign the necessary papers. Advancing 70 the
General he looked him full and square IN the face
..Will you answer me one question fn he asked.
Certainly answered the General.
'How happens II you give me this contract when
everybody else has underbd meY
"Pl answer that with pleasure. It Is because we
want this work done, and we know you Will do It,"
young vanderbilt ~ Thep R po only favor o % nave to ask
Is that the daily stores may be promptly ready
every evening at six o'clock
The contract faithfully carried out. There
were SIX forts to be supplied:-Fort Richmond,
Bedloe's Island, Governors Island, Hell Gate,
Wards Island and Harlem. Young Vanderbilt did
all this work at night. He was never absent, how
ever, from his stand In the day tIme he slept
when he could, and when he could not did with
out II.
We VIII tell another incident OF the war showing
his personal daring and patriotism, and tnen hurry
over this period. In September 1913, during tre-
msndous gale British fleet attempted to run past
Fort Richmond After the repulse the commander
OF the fort, expecting renewal or the attempt,
anxious 20 get the news 10 the city, TO
a reinforcement early the next day. Every one
agreed that II the thing could be done there was but
one man whe could do 1t. and that this
young Vanderbilt. Accordingly young Vanderbilt
was sent for.
al have an important messenger wish to send to
the city, said the commandant or the fort, alter
explaining the case; will you undertake TO take
Wills
certainly, was the prompt reply. "My patriot,
m wa y, S@ e 10 Se 20 INNER o IN
The voyage was safely made and the fort was
reinforced next morning.
EXTENDS HIS sAILBoAT OPERATIONS.
He closely adhered to his habits OF industry and
frugality. From his accumulated gains he first
built beautiful little schooner-the Dread.
carry more passengers and freight, and he made
more money. Shortly afterwards he built the Char
iotte. she was modei OF beauty ana speed. an Ia
carrying OF farm produce between Staten
Island and New YORK was over, he made
voyages along the southern coast, taxing out
and bringing back considerable frelgnts from the
Southern Atlantic border STATES Knowing the coast
thoroughly and being one OF the boldest and most
expert OF seamen, he and his vessel were always
ready when there was something to be done OF dim.
Guilty and peril In ISIS ne @ possessed three OF ahe
capital Of $4,000
Captain Vanderbilt with that forecast or vision OF
hs-that essential element OF genius that has never
failed to assert itself at every important epochal
esfa destined to lose their SUPREMACY. @ % Eleven
years had passed since Fulton's experimental
trip up the Hudson He resolved to ally 0lmself to
the new and growing power. Abandoning his sue
a small steamboat at salary OF $1,000 year. At
by steamboat from New York to New Brunswick
where they remained all night and the next morn
Ing took the stage for Trenton, whence they were
years he commanded the steamboat running between
this city and New Brunswick. The steamboat was
owned by Mr.. Thomas Gibbons. The hotel at New
Brunswick where the passengers passed the night
was at the same time given in charge OF Mrs. Van
derbit, OF whom and his marriage we shall speak
more particularly hereafter. THIS proved more
profitable than his command of the steamer. Why
50 ng 4a IN s position Ss nsd w be
gain IN allying himself TO the steamboat interest,
ana, In the second place, he had another point to
work for which was seeing Mr.. Gibbons through
his difficulties Besides, he protests that 10 carry
his pom. has always been a stronger motive with
him than the simple making OF money-a fact that
clearly demonstrated. The difncult1es OF Mr.. Glib
bons were OF this nature. The State OF New York
had granted to Fulton n Livingston the exclusive
right or running steamboats, In New York waters.
Believing this grant unconstitutional as IT was alter
wards declared by the Supreme Court, Mr.. Gibbons
ran his boats in defiance OF 1t, and thus involved
himself in long and fierce contest with the authori-
ties OF New York. The brunt OF the battle fell on
Captain Vanderbilt. For sixty successive days an
attempt was made to arrest him. Leaving his crew,
who were also liable to arrest, In New Jersey, ne
would approach the Eew York wharf with ad AT
the helm while he managed the engine. As soon as
tn Se was aas S f a %asa %
who would be changed every day to avoid recognI-
ton, would be in readiness to arrest hun.
"You are my prisoner" would say the oifcer,
tapping him on the shoulder.
"You are more IKE my prisoner" would respond
the Captain, ana then ORDER '.Let go the lne.nR
Fearing to be carried TO New Jersey where retail
tory act threatened him with the state Prison.
the oiiieer would Jump ashore, or. falling In this,
politely granted. In this and other things the cap
tain managed to evade the laws. He fought the
State OF New York for seven years, until Chief JUS
tice Marshall pronounced New York wrong ana New
Jersey right. The opposition ried vainly TO buy
s.Non replied the Captain to all such offers; II
shall stick TO Mr.. Gibbons till he ls through his
troubles" s., And nc d,a sek and an be carried as
in Mr. Gibbons service After this war was over
the genius OF Captain Vanderbilt had full play. The
line under his management yielded an annual profit
of $4,000. Mr.. Gibbons offered to raise hls salary
TO ST, 900 year; but he decnned the Offer
81 did 1t on prnciple,n was his reply 10 the ques-
ton why he refused a compensation that was SO
manifesty just Tne other captains had Du, $1,000,
and they were already jealous enough OF me.
Besides never cared for money. All have ever
cared lor was TO carry my point"
Twelve years. service as a captain OF a steamboat
found him the possessor OF $4,000. He was now
thirty-hve years OF age He determined to set up in
TO Mr. Gibbons. The latter declared he could not
carry the business without his aid, ana made
him the most splendid offers to remain. lie firmly
declined. he wanted free field. The little Caro-
line, seventy feet long, that afterwards became
additionally historical from plunging over Niagara
Fails was the first steamboat ne built. FOR several
years his progress a steamboat owner was slow.
Wealthy companies had control OF the business FOR
midabe attempts were maize to run Off his boats.
He Kept up a keen opposition He carried his
point. lie compelled compromise In each Instance.
His most famous opposition was with the Messrs.
stevens, Ol Hopoheu III tuis TiVal contcSt he Hau
spent nearly every dollar he possessed. lew more
days OF opposition would have compelled him TO
give up the slrfe. IL was believed that Gibbons was
backing him. This was not so. He had no Dacker.
This error alone saved him. There is q good deal IN
risk; nothing venture, nothing win. There is
more IN luck. lie carried his point by
luck. But TINS mattered not 10 him. He
carried 1t. Success now attended him. Gradually he
obtained control OF an immense steamboat interest.
Like Caliban, by slow toll ne mad up 10 this time
accumulated his gains. Now the genius IN him
achieved tremendous results by the wand OF Pros
pero. lie came TO own In whole or In part, hun
dred steam vessels. He became the great steamboat
king. For long years he held this position in the
exciting times or the steamboat opposition the |
Hudson rIver oil which he the front and offend- |
ing he was dubbed Commodore, and the title nas |
stuck to him ever since The longer he remained In
the Steamboat business the more enormous became |
his wealth. lie counted mis- fortune by millions. |
lie became known as one OF the richest men IN this
country.