The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-03-08
Tales of My Grandfather,
Vanderbilt Fifty Years Ago.


Vanderbilt Fifty Years Ago.
From the N. Z. Times.
s.My first acquaintance with VAN
derbilt dated from about 1926. Steam
boating never was III my line, though |
had no objection to taking venture |
in a sailing craft. It might bave been
in 1926 that Stephen Girard OF Phil |
adelphia had an o d brig for sale, I
which some four Of FIVE OF us bought. !
She was of teak, and might have been
fifty wears old when we purchased
her. We owned her for 20 years, then
sold her for more than we paid Tor
her. and | remember to nave followed
her ND in the papers with 4 certain
amount OF interest, and If my memory
serves me rightly, | think / read she
came to grief some time in 1856, IN
the China seas. We were in the habit
of sending the cid brig to Madeira,
and she brought back wine on
ships account, and did quite yell.
She was so slow that the wine acquir-
ed, generally age on the voyage. Some
of YOU may remember a particular
pale Madeira. No you don't! Dear
me, [ am forgetting myself. II you
bows never had chance at livery GER
tainly your fathers punished 1T severe
ly. In was remarkably sound vine,
and such as you can't buy to-day.
About from 81 so to So q gallon would
buy the choicest Madeira in those
times. Our best market was In Char
lesion and Savannah, and the con-
sumption was so large that we would
occasionally send part of a cargo
there direct, and bring back rice.
Southern planters in those days must
have bathed in Madeira.
ssBut, grandfather, what about CON-
modore Vanderbilt
"Oh! I am coming to it straight.
You all know that Vanderbilt ran
steamers from New York to Amboy.
One Spring morning, when there was
something of a fog our brig was COM
ing in from Madeira. When just be-
vond Fort Hamilton one of the Steam
ers ran into the brig and precious
lot of damage was done to their vessel
We brought suit against the boat, de-
positions were taken and we were pre-
pared to 90 into court. l never was
litigious, and did not want to fight the
case, but was overruled by the other
owners. One day had to go to Phlla
delphia. and took the steam boat route
Just as we were passing the Kills,
saw an oyster boat in the way or tnt
steamer. was looking over the side
thinking that we would be pretty Ger
tain to touch her, when l heard a com
motion near me. A rather spare thlr
man. not over we'll dressed, but witt
the eve of a hawk, had with run ant
Jump mounted to the upper deck ,ant
was in the pilot cabin. / was able t.
hear a few hot words which passed be
tween the man and the pilot. 1t ende'
nv the pilot being summarily turne,
ont of his position, land as the new com
er took the wheel, and we just barrel
shaved by the oyster-boat, l notices
that The pilot seemed in high dudgeon
and was sulln and cross. When W
landed. the new man at the wheel LET
the cabin. and walked leisurely on tn
wharf. We were to have taken tn
STAGE coach to Brunswick, but it wa
not quite ready. Presently the pile
put off too, and evidently seeking
auarrel. called the man some oppr'
hrious name. Quick as lightning sh
hawk. eyed man turned and gave tn
pilot. who was big, burly fellow,
hlow between the eyes, which knocke
him flat. The passengers made a rim
for good bout at fsticuffs was not CO..
sidered out of the order in our tim
But the Captain of the boat interfere
as did some of the agents of the lin
heard she hawk-eyed man say: Ca
tain. | hold you responsible for not i
forming me that this scoundrel he
was as often drunk as not. This tin
last year this pilot ran into brig al
il may take $1,000 to pay damage
Discharge him. Now look sharp you
self or you will have TO go. too.
went have the safety OF boats and Il
renutation of the line injured. or "
tnrn ont every mothers son Of You
sure assiny name is Vanderbilt I 81
it to you pretty much as Vanderb
said it, only there was much mo
pith in it.