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

From the n Z. Times
INV first acquaintance with Van
derbilt dated from about 1926. Steam
boating never was il my lire, though
7 had no objection TO taking a venture
in sailing craft. II might baye been
in 1925 that Stephen Girard OF Phil
adelphia had an q brig for sale,
which some four Of FIVE OF us bought.
She was Of teak, and might have been
fifty years old when we purchased
her. We owned her for 20 years, then
sold her for more than we paid for
her, and | remember to nave followed
her NJ in the papers with certain
amount OF interest, and il my memory
serves me rightly, [ think / read she
came 20 griet some time in 1856, IN
the China seas. We were in the habit
of sending the old brig to Madeira,
and she brought back wine on
ships account, and did quite we'll.
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. If you
boys never had a chance at livery GER
tainly your fathers punished 1t severe
w. in was remarkably sound wine,
and such as YOU can't buy to-day.
About from II 80 to So d 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 cargo
there direct, and bring back rice.
Southern planters in those days must
have bathed in Madeira
but, grandfather, what about Com
modore Vanderbilt.
ooh! | 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. | never was
litigious, and did not want to fight the
case, but was overruled by the other
owners One day had to go to Phila.
delphia. and took the steam boat route
Just as we were passing the Kills,
saw an oyster boat in the way OF the
steamer. | was looking over the side
thinking that we would be pretty GER
tain to touch her, when heard com
motion near me. A rather spare thin
man, not over well dressed, but with
the eve of hawk, had with run and
Jump mounted TO the upper deck land
was in the pilots cabin. was able tC
hear few hot words which passed be
tween the man and the pilot. 1t ended
by the pilot being summarily turned
out of his position, and as the new com
er took the wheel, and we just barely
shaved by the oyster-hoat, | noticed
that The pilot seemed III high dudgeon
and was sullen and cross. When We
landed. the new man at the wheel lief
the cabin. and walked leisurely on the
wharf. We were to have taken thu
stage coach to Brunswick, but it wa
not quite ready. Presently the pilo
put off too, and evidently seeking
quarrel. called the man some oppro
brious name. Quick as lightning III
hawk-eyed man turned and gave tn,
pilot. who was big, burly fellow,
blow between the eyes, which Knocked
him fiat. The passengers made a ring
for good bout at fsticuffs was not con
sidered out of the order in our time
But the Captain of the boat interfere,
as did some OF the agents of the line
heard the hawk-eyed man say: Cap
tain. hold you responsible for not in
forming me that this scoundrel her
was as often drunk as not. This tim
last year this pilot ran into brig an,
il may take $1,000 to pay damages
Discharge him. Now look sharp your
self or you viii have to go. too.
won't have the safety OF boats and tn
reputation of the line injured. or vii
turn out every mothers son of you a
sure as~my name is Vanderbilt Civ
it to you pretty much as Vanderbilt
said it, only there was much NOR
pith in it"