The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-02
Characteristics Of Vanderbilt.

Characteristics Of Vanderbilt.
The New York correspondent of th
Cincinnati Enquirer writes as follows
When Vanderbilt was eighteen year
old the treaty of peace was declared
with England, and two British vessel
brought the news inside Of Sandy Hook
He loaded his boat with cider, provis
ions, fruit, etc., and set off to sell hi
cargo to the British crews, and he mad,
his cousin work 30 hard on this trip, tC
anticipate any other traders, that the
cousin declared, on his return, that he
would sail no more with Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt built auuther boat in jersey
City, called the Dread, and became the
best sailor of his kind in the waters oi
New York. He has great scar now, us
he lies on his deathbed, made by the
rubbing of pole agai lst his breast as
he pushed against tide to get his passen-
gers into New York before anybody
else. He was not an ocean sailor, and
the longest trip he ever made was to the
coast of North Carolina to get water
melons. But his knowledge of the many
crooked channels called kills around
New York, and of the depth of the
sounds and little bays, rendered him
very useiut when steamboats, came to b.
more generally introduced.
At New Brunswick his wife rented a
hotel, which she called Bellona Hall, at
the steamboat landing, and set table
for passengers by stage or steamer
across Jersey or to New York. She
was O good cook and superintend-
ent. and made more money than
her husband, and saved it, 80 that
she finally died about seven years
ago, leaving a nice sum of money
to each of her children, of whom she
bore thirteen. Vanderbilt was the model
steamboat captain of his time-cool,
resolute, intrepid, and generally silent
His brother Jacob, who is still living in
moderate circumstances, was his engi-
neer. In that hotel was born, May 8,
1921, the eldest son of Cornelius and
Sophia Vanderbilt, William, and ] think
several other children.
The property OF Vanderbilt has not
advanced only because he bought it,
but he improved it also. The closing
years of his life are almost illustrious by
the monumental work he has done on
the Central railroad and the vigor he has
given its finances. He has built the
greatest depot in the new world, blcsted
his way into the city underground, found
o new outlet, bridged the Hudson, put
hard yellow pine ties under his rails and
laid four tracks, rebuilt his stations to
last one hundred years, fanked some
cities like Buffalo, run fast mail trains
with safety, entirely inclosed his track,
and made every hagman justice Of the
peace, SO that he is magisterial, and
rules nearly private State or zone from
New York to Buffalo. He has also made
its business what government ought to
be-simple, stable, efficient, lawful, Sc
we're.
He respects his city pastor, but gives
him little or no inner religious conf
tence, regarding him rs a professional,
nigh priced priest. The old, old ser-
mons Of country places flock in his mind
the surviving religion of this eilded
sge. I'm an ignorant man," he said,
few weeks ago; "this system of the
ology or religion that has so many
and sacraments in it an old fell
ow can't be expected to understand. l !
believe in great God and good
Jhriet; that's what make out of it..
l have omitted to speak OF Wander
oilt's power to read character, and that
greater power, having perceived it, to
out 1t to use. He looked at O man as he
you'd at sailor to ship in crew, and
ook his whole dimensions and contents.
4 he quarreled wi h that man he never
ully forgave him. though sometimes
Wiling to do business again. He had
10 general aspirations disconnected with
business, cared nothing for distin-
suished or rich people, lent his name to
10 calls for public meetings, and hated
Vanderbilt's joys were in
'rease, cup OF tea, horse and horse
ak, and q game Of eucher or whist,
With an afternoon nap. To his son Viii
lam he said on his dying bed: civil
lam, want you to act through life on
'our own Judgment. 1t is better to be
wrong than to go to others for counsel.
f you make mistake nobody will see
t quicker than yourself. If you should
'e right others whom you consult will
make use of that knowledge. Rely on
,ourselt and keep yonr own counsel.
Trust nobody with your own mind"
Vanderbilt hardly knew the Astors
md never liked Mr.. Stewart. The
tatns of him erected by Albert de
iroot, the son Of one OF the old kins-
men and captains, was voluntary on De
iroot 8 part, and the old man thought
lie had talent. Vanderbilt has twice
,een seen to weep-wben his first wife's
lister died who had nursed him after he
vas injured on the railroad, md when
lis mother was mentioned.
"Old lady," said q friend to the
mother, "haven't you got your trunk
packed for the North Star excursion?"
My SOD" said the old woman, 81
lave packed my trunk for longer
Quincy than that"
Tears came to Vanderbilt's ewes when