New-York tribune., 1877-01-05


n soon as their utility was demonstrated. and the
business was conducted with an annual proht OF
$4,000
THE sTEAMBOATBUTLDER
He now became his own master In 1922 he de-
cid d to begin business for himself. Mr.. Gibbons
made him the most generous offers II he wOuid re-
main with the company. Take the whole prop
erty, Vanderbilt said he, and pay mo for IL as
yon make the money" But Capt Van
derbilt was determined to have clear
field. He had capital of S3oOoo'
and was n perfect master of the business.
During the next twenty years of his life his energy
was marvellous. He built steamboat after steam
boat and established opposition lines on the Hudson
and the Sound. At the outset ho labored under
great disadvantages The steamboat companies were
powerful m0nopolics, and be encountered resistance
in every quarter. He built handsomer and faster
boats than those the regular lines. and cut down
fares He took great pains in selecting mon to work
for him. paid them well, and kept them in their
places. His vessels generally constructed by
days work under his immediate supervision and
from his own plans. He opened large founderieS,
where machinery could be made in accordance with
his own ideas. He never insured a vessel. lie used
TO say Good vessels and good commanders are the
best kind of insurance. II corporations can make
money in the insurance business, can" Daring his
extended experience in the steamship business he
never lost vessel by fire or wreck.
TIE CAROLINE.
The first stcamboat which he bnilt was destined
10 become historical. II was the Caroline, little
vessel 20 feet long. 1t passed into the hands of
VIM Wells of Buffalo, n. Y. In 1897 an insurree-
tion was suppressed in Canada and a small body OF
refugees fed across the Niagara River. In December
they took posses ION of Navy Island above Niagara
Falls and engaged the steamboat Caroline for the
Observation-Disclosures, ammunition, and supplies from
Schlosser, cutting her out Of the ice in Buiaio har-
Dor for the emergency. The insurgents were joined
by few Americans of lawess character, and the
Canadian authorities. apprehendng On invasion OF
their territory, stationed n military force ut Chip
pewa. The commander Of the post as he
discovered that the Caroline was used by the refu-
gees on the island, determined to capture and de-
stroy her, and cut them OF from supplies and re
endorsements. An expedition was planned with
great secrecy, and set out during the night. The
commander expected to find the steamboat
OF the island in Canadian waters, bui
when he rounded the point he ascrrtainad
that she was mo0rrd to the American shore
He eros >ed the river and captured The vessel. Dur
ing the encounter. DuTiee citizen Cf the
United States, lost his life by shot from the
British force. The vessel was cut away from
her moorngs and. cast alrift in the middle OF
the river, and in few moments she pas ed over
the Fails. The invasion of American territory Dy the
Canadians was denounced unsparnglyin the United
states, bat Mr. Van BnreH's Administration was
slow to take fire gna contentcd itself with diplomatic
correspondence with Great Britain. In 1910,
Mel cod one of the leaders Of the attacking party,
was arrested in Ncw7YQrk State on the charge of
completely in the murder of Durfee. He WAS released
on bail amid great excitement and was subsequently
rrcommttcd to prison. His release was i'm aediI'cy
demanded by the British Government, and Mr. Web
,ter. who was Secretary of State and Mr.. Seward
who was Governor of Newforl, were brought face TO
face with n most vcyatious international problem.
Mcleod was tried and acquitted, and in tine negOtia
tons which preceded the Ashburton-W Webster treaty
an apo'ogy received for the violation OF terri
toral sovereignty.
THE COHNODORE'S LINES.
TIE Caroline was tie only one of the hundred yes-
.cjs which Mr.. Vanderbilt constructed that may be
said to have had history. Within a few years after
thr launch OF the Caroline, he built 3s steamboats,
for service on the North River, New-fork harAor,
inland waters and along the coast. Among these
were the Citizen. Cinderella, We,tchest"r, Union,
Timrod. Cham. ion. Cleopatra. Augusta, Clifton. {.
Vanderbilt, New Champion. Commodore, Gladiator,
Staten ISLANDER, Huguonot, Sylph, Hmchblck, Red
Jacket. Kill Won Kull, Westlicld, Clifton No. =,
Wc>.GrI NJ. >. Clifton No. g. Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Wilmington, North Carolina, George, Traveller
Direction. Central America, Clayton, Bnwef, Lineu~
Thistle. Emerald, and Swan.
The dis,oyeryof gold in California Jed to tho
eluization Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Line and the
survey of the Panama Railroad. THE Company had
a monopoly of transportation, and charged 5000 Tor
the passage from New-YOrA TO san Francisco. IL
was q splendid chance for an opposition line, and
Mr. Vanderbilt was not slow to embrace 1t. lie OBJ
taned from the Nicaraguan Government a charter
for a ship canal and transit company. In 1850 ne
buil the steamship promethcus, and sailed to Mica
rana for th, purpose of exploring the country and
ascertaining whether the establishment Of a COM
pcting line between Nrw-York and san Francisco
was practicable. The approach from the coast to
Lake Nicaragua, to which all freight AID pas
sangers had to be carried by steamboat, Is by the
San Juan River mt the head of which, about II
miles from the lake and 80 miles from the mouth of
the river are the Castillo Rapids called from the
old fort of Castillo Vieio. which overiooks them.
Three miles below this fort is the Island of Bartao.
Boats are taken ZIP the rapids by sheer force,
the passengers making portage The Commodore
built little steamboat called the Central America,
100 feet long, and placed her on Lake Nicaragua,
after passing up the San Juan and over the rapids.
This perous voyage he made himself. Nheh The
water was highest he took the boat TO the foot OF
the rapids, and by means of cables fastened around
trees thousand feet in advance, warped the boat
over the dangerous river bed 1t was perhaps The
most difficult feat which he performed in the couroe
of his adventurous life. In 1871 a seml-inonthy iire
WAS opened via Nicaragua transit company was
formed with Mr. Vanderbilt aS agent, and finally
president While he wa abroad in 1888, Z. h. Gar
rson and Charles Morgan threw him out OF the man
acemcnt On his return he organized an opposition