The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-02-01
Goes Into SteambOating.

The late Commodore Vanderbilt, with
that forecast of vision, that essential ele-
ment of genius which i'll every important
event of his career never failed TO assert
itself, saw that sailboats were destined to
lose their supremacy while he was inter-
ested in sailing vessels. Eleven years
had passed since Fulton's experimental
trip up the Hudson. Abandoning his
successful business, he accepted the post
of captain of small steamboat at salary
Of 81 900 year. At that day passengers
to Philadelphia were conveyed by steam
boat from New York to New Brunswick,
where they remained all night, and the
next morning took the stage for Trenton,
whence they were carried by stage to
Philadelphia. For twelve years he COM
manded the steamboat (Which was owned
by Mr.. Gibbons) running between New
York and New Brunswick. The hotel at
New Brunswick where the passengers
stopped was at the same time given in
charge of his wife, whom he married
when only nineteen years of age. She
was the daughter of neighbor on Staten
Island. Her maiden name was Sophia
Johnson, and thirteen children, nine
daughters and four sons, were the fruits
of this marriage. The hotel business
proved more profitable than the steam
boat, and why he remained as captain so
long was for the reason that the State of
New York had granted to Fulton and
Livingston the exclusive right of run
ming steamboats, in New York waters.
Believing this grant unconstitutional, as
it was afterward declared by the supreme
court, Mr.. Gibbons ran his boats In def
ance of it, and thus involved himself i'll a
fierce contest with the authorities of New
York. The br1lnt of the battle fell on
Captain Vanderbilt. For sixty success
sive days ON attempt was made to arrest
him. Leaving his crew, who were also
liable to arrest in New Jersey, he would
approach the New York wharf, with Il
Tad at the helm, while he managed the
engine. AS soon as the vessel was made
fast he would conceal himself in the
hold. At the moment of starting an Off
Ger, who would be changed every day in
order to avoid recognition, would be III
readiness to arrest him.
"You are my prisoner" would say the
officer, tapping him on the shoulder.
"You are more like my prisoner" "
would respond the captain, and then or
der: "Let 60 the lines"
Fearing to be carried to New Jersey,
where retaliatory act threatened him
with the State prison, the officer would
Jump ashore, or failing in this, beg to be
put ashore, which request was Of course
politely granted. In this and other
things the captain managed to evade the
laws. He fought the State of New York
for seven years until Chief Justice Mar
shall declared New York wrong and New
Jersey right. The opposition tried vain
q. ly to buy him off. "No," replied the
captain to all such offers, 81 shall stick
to Mr.. Gibbons until ne is through his
troubles" And he did stick and he car
ried his point.
Mr.. Gibbons offered to raise his salary
to $1,000 per year, but he declined the
offer. 81 did it on principle" was his
reply to the question why he refused a
compensation that was so manifestly just.
"Al I ever cared for was to carry my
point"