The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
TIE DEAD COM MODOR E.
AN Il UTOPsY MADE OFTHE BODYOF
CORNELIUS YINDERBiLT.
liberation Of tho lntcstincs the Immediate
Cause Of Dcath-Tbe Last frepnrations-
DIR. Deems's Iieply TO MIR. IBeecber.


Soon after the death OF Commodore
Vanderbilt some Of tho physicians and others
who had become interested In his long and re-
markable sickness expressed desire to have an
autopsy performed on the body. 10 order to de-
tcrmine the exact nature OF his diselse. At
first members Of the Commodoro's family OBJ
1ected, naturally shrinking from such a
seeming desecration OF the remains, but
tho claims OF science. aud the wishes
Of como OF the Commodore's nearest friends
ultimately prevailed, and tho autopsy was per-
formed, yesterday, In the presence OF Drs. Flint,
Linsly, and Eliot, by DIR. Thomas Il. Satter-
thwa!te, OF tho College of Physicians and Sur
Reons, and Dr. l.. A. stImson. Of the Presbyterian
Hospital, assisted by Dr. i. ID. Buck. The
operation consumed about four hours, and at
Its conclusion the remains were placed in
tho coffin by the undertaken. 1t was
found that the immediate cause OF
death had been an liberation resulting
In pefforation Of the colon, or large intestine.
Tho perforation, the doctors concluded, could
not have existed more than day or two before
death, but the liberation which caused It might
have been going on Tor three weeks. Besides
this there was chronic inflammation OF the
bladder, which ravo rise to tho intense pains
that the Commodore endured at Intervals, and
prolapsus AMI. disease that give the doctors
not Ia Itself ftal. Both lunss, the heart, the
kidnevs, and the liver were found TO be more or
less effected by dse1se or unhealthy action,
but not sufficiently so to cause death the per
foration OF the Intestine which cause the de 9Th
OF the Commodore seems to have been some
what unexpected development OF his disease.
strong desire WAS felt. not only by the phy-
sicians but by many other persons. to have the
tommodore's brain examined ana weighed, but
this could not have been done without some
mutilaton OF the head. and on that account,
and to spare the f-elings OF the Vanderbilt
adjoining
have failed to have beard the grating OF the
saw, It was reUretfully given up.
The Preparations for the funeral were COM
pleted Yesterday. IL the weather should be un-
favorable the mourners will follow the bier
from tho house to the church In carriages In
stead OF on foot. 1t is anticipated that a great
crowd viii assemble near tho house and the
extra police officers under command Of Capt.
Byrnes, who Will have. In ad iition, about
twenty nse OF his own men stationed In the
street, surrounding the Church OF the Stranger.
The tomnrd"te's mansion, with the great
TUT OF black grape on the door. the only
visible token OF It, being house OF death. at
tracted many eye yesterday. Strangers hurried
through Washington place, asking TO be shown
NInder6ilts house aud after : zns inten,ly
Passengers ON the University place cars stuck
their heads out Of tho doors as they paasol
the Strangers received It's share Of curious at
tention.
The shore road has been designated as the
route Of the funeral q the vault In the No.
rsvi m cemetery Ia New DOrp. rho following OF
Tue tOmmcuoT"s remains on Staten Island VIII
be much larger than has been supposed. for
every pubic conveyance seems to have been
hirtu for tho Occ. sion, aud ~ Is believed that
many private eqiipIRcs viii be used Nv their
OMucts.
The remains Of Mrs. E,bort. the Comm I'D ore's
eldest sister, VIII not be intcrred until spring.
Ihey Will be placed In the receiving vault OF the
MorhNian cemetery on Monday afternoon. q.
Mrs. de For, st ElDcrt was very nearly assoc
ciaied with the Comnpdor.'s beginning, and.
John DE Forest, her hrst Husband. il Il / e.
Iipved. hrlDga boatnan. and. not unlike boat
men, flnd of yelling recy stories Of his calling,
Z We the Commodore his taste for tho water.
After young Vanderbilt bought hts first to he
formed partnership with MIR. DE Forest. Their
principal business Il urst WAS tlking fre.h
bread, vecct ihlcs. fruit. and ciier to incoming
ships, aud selling them to the crews. In TINS
way they managed 20 turn N lny pennies. he
Commodore was cl g tuYcr ald a closer
seller. particularly of cider. whIrn was the N ist
/ rontaOle article OF sale. iio resisted Mr. DE
Forests proposals to buy the best KIND Of cider
saying that tAo sailors would buy an Inferior
KIND just - readily, aud there would Ue a larger
profit IN selling 1t.