Smyrna times., 1877-01-17
WHOLE NO. 1.l34
Death Of Mr.. Vanderbilt.

Corn"!louS Vanderbilt, known It, the
leading man IN railroad III tier, and Prcsj
dent OF tho New York Central, Hudson
RIVER and other railroads, died at his
Residence, in New York. on Thursday. the
Attn inst
! Mr.. Vanderbilt, who las long cxerted a
controlling influence in one dcI artmrnt of
the tlnancial Interests OF the country and
who became one Of its wpalthic-t citizens.
commenced lIt" III very humble circrIul-
stances. lie was horn on Staten Island. in
! New York Bay, May nth, l794. lie
worked. when Il 10y, On farm: tut he
early showed u toudnc-~ Tor the water.
! b 'u4ht small hoa;. ana began to lnail,
! money by carrying j@>-cns-l, hctwcon the
/ Island and New York city. BY tn, and
other kinds of traffic ~ on tie water he
/ accumulated a few thousand dollars. Alter
carrying on prosperous bE-!uo>s III a
small way Tor several years, lie h,caiuc
/ Interested in steamboats,, as captain and
then rs large owner. He established o},-
/ position line, on the liud,cn river and on
! Long Island Sound. Within q few wears he
/ built IS steamboats, for our inland water:
and the coast. 4 ii COMMANDER Of his own
! boats he WAS very energetic and daring,
and was regarded as reckless in carrying
cut his own plans and purposes.
Alter til" discovery Of gold III California
and the organization Of the Pacific Mail
| steamship Line via Panaima, Mr.. Vanderbilt
/ established the Nicaragua line IN olpos:-
! ton. When this passed cut Of hi, control
/ during his absence from the country. he
established another line between New York
ami Aslinwall. with steamships on the
Pacific side. III opposition 10 tie Nicaragua
line. lie built a iarG" ocean steamer. the
North STIR, and il 1873 sailed in it, with his
family and invited guests. to make a tour
| ot the waters and visit tie cites Of Eurour.
Hewas cordially received in every Eurolrau
| harGor where he cast anchor. The cXcu1.
sion lasted four months. and the party
returned to New York after a voyage Of
$1,000 miles.
In 1857 Mr.. Vanderbilt began to sell his
steamships and to invest in railroad stocks,
He bought the Harlem H. X. stock at eight
or nine dollars share. In !NG3. when he
was elected President, it hli risen t. 30
In July Of that year it was quoted at 90
ana in August il advanced 10 l7q For
several Years he carried ON an active iu~i.
ncs, and warfare in railroad -tucn~ bein.
generally successful, and Il. length he
became the most extensive and successful
operator i'll the country. II" ana->,d his
Large fortune chiefly in thi> way At tine
time OF his death his property was varoU-y
estimated at from -iNty 10 a hundred mil
lions in value. H. owned !ittlc real
estate.
With some that were not commcndable.
Commodore Namjclbilt t.s lie VIA usually
called, from bis long and extensive eX-
pvrience on the water had many nollc
traits Of character ana an energy which was
unc"nque able, and which. con.l incd with
great business Sa4aciiy. was the foundation
Of his success N hi various enterprises,
Until within a few months ot his death he
pIld no attention t. religion. ana was very
protanc in his conversations His faY0rite
| anu~emrnts We're cards and fast horses and
he had the reputation Of maxim. money hv
the former. When taken seriously i'll.
about six months ago, he is said to nave
turned his attention to preparing for
another world. H. pastor, pr Deems.
| (Ep~copai regards him AZ having given
| evidcnc" Of sincere Irlcuttnrr and of true
conversion, and oI taking delight in
! religious eXcrcI~c- \ few years since, he
gave half million dollars to found
university at Nashville. in connection with
the Southern Mrjhoii-t Church, and suisse
| quently added to this gift another half
million. He also lucha~ 4 tie old Mercer
street Presbyterian ,hurch, and gave it for
the use of the congregation 81 which Dr.
Deems is pastor.
The funeral Of NJ. Vanderbilt was at.
tended, at the Church of the Strangers. ON
Sunday morning. The rxrrris,.~ were con
Quoted with great simplicity, in accordance
with his request; Dir. Deems ofcaring
Mr.. Vanderbilt, will was read on Mon
] day. He leave, alou, Sl5.GO0OOO in
! requests to his widow, his children, grand
Children, &c. The residue, comprising the
bulk of his estate, goes to his eldest son,
| William II. Vanderbilt. and it is thought
will AMOUNT to about $75,00O,000 Not a
dollar is left by the will for any benevolent
or charitable purpose.