The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-01-12

NC oItcl4J SketeAeQ as IOlloWSs w ACu
mas father died, nearly all he left the
family, was pirogue, an Old fashion
ed boat with . sail, which was used TO
carry vegetables from Staten Island 20
New York. This was in the year Is
10, when Cornelius was q shrewd en-
ergetic lad of 16, and New York had
but $1,000 Inhabitants. The young
captain thus entered upon his career,
marketing vegetables and carrying
passengers at Is cents each. He made
twice as much Marcy as isiS father lad
doAe, and just whep his mothers pride
and pocket were distendei by his pros
perity, feeling the availability OF his
talent, he set mp 4 rival progue, and
ran the old lady off the line. This is
one OF the traditions OF Staten Island,
and people wiIs have since known
VANDERBILT intimately say that this
example of f1lial devotion was genu-
inc revelation of his nature, and that
he eyiHced equal generosity throughout
his after lie. From the day that he
embarked in business, through a period
of sixty-six yeara, VANDERBILT has
been steadily engaged Ia cerryiRg pas
sengers by land and sea, by steamboat
and railroad. His first vessel was the
Charlotte, launched in 1915 by himself
and brother-in-law. With the Charlotte
he coasted TO South Carolina. In 1917
he was engaged as captain of = steaIA-
er plying between New York and New
Brunswick, New Jersey, aG which
place Mrs. Vanderbilt managed q hetal.
In 1923, ar the age of 80, he was worth
$30, GOO, and determined to start for
himself, The first steamboat he ever
built was the Carolina, which finally
went over Niagara Falls. His bril-
liant career-as the owner OF the North
RIVER Vanderbilt line Of steamers, is
fresh in the recollection of the present
generation. But railway property at
length became the Commedore's spe-
ciality. When he sold his ships, some
twenty years ago, he turned all the
proceeds into railroads. He bought
Into Harlem when its stock was &C .
low figure, and In 1858 became master
of the road. Then he struck the Hud-
son River road, and soon got it under
control. In 1884 he turned up Is the
largest stOckholder In the New York
Central. Two years afterward he turn
ed out the president and directors, and
at the annual election he voted upon
thirteen millions Of stock, and chose
Cornelius Vanderbilt president of the
road. Then he watered the stock, and
from twenty-tOur millions It became
forty-eight, with Vanderbilt as the
largest stockholder. Then he cousoli-
dated with the Hudson road, and next
moved Hpon the Lake Shore road, pur-
chasing heavily of the stock, and secur-
ing the control, and making his SON.
in-law president. According to = re-
cent estimate Commodore Vanderbilt's
railroad -stock-was reckoned 1t $45, 0OO,-
600, all of which except about one mil
lion had been accumulated within tl.e
last thirty years.
ThOee most familiar with Wander
btlt's affairs, rate him at from SIS 900,
900 to $SO,OOO.O 900. The bulk OF this
immense fortune will doubtless go tC
his son, William. II. Vanderbilt. The
only remaining, members of his family
are his wife and daughter, (Wife of the
late Horace F. Clarke,) and his son
Cornelius, long since disinherited by
the Commodore on account of his
Espendthrift habits, yet granted liber-
al yearly allowance for his support
The Commodore first married in 1918
the daughter Of a neighber on Staten
Island. She bore him thirteen chill
dren. He married second time 81
the age of seventy-slX, lady from
the south, some forty five years young
er than himself.
| Vanderbilt had q monument erected
in INV York some years since, but il
was In no sense q public monument.
The people did not contribute to it.
and 1t is as much piece of private
| property or appurtenance to the Van
derbilt estate as y locomotive or tender
His success in amassing wealth was ex-
traordinary, and a railway manager he
welded vast influence, but he had ne
claim to rank with public benefactors.
Only one instance of great liberality is
recorded of him and that was the en-
dowment of the Central University of
/ the III. Z. church of Tennessee, now
known as Vanderbilt University.
To this institution, through the inter-
cession of his wife, he has made re-
peated donations, aggregating $780,
600. He had never earned the public
gratitude aad title to an honorable
fame by giving laVishly for the i'm
provement and happiness of mankind,
or to stimulate discoveries In scieEce,
or to lessen the sum of vice and misery
in citles, or to make knowledge cheap
and accessible to the poorest and hum-
blest. He was absorbed In gigantic
enterprises and speculatioRs, having
reference to business, commerce and
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of his own fami-
ly fortunes, yet he may have executed
some posthumous charity in his last
will that will give him a niche in the
same historical gallery where the eff
flies of other benefactors stand as ex-
amples to mankind of great POSSESSIONS
held as sacred trusts for the advance
ment, anelioration and glory of the
race. Otherwise he will take his
place in his history only as a great
financial genius, who would have made
al immense fortune anywhere, under
prenely selfish life and died chiefly
lau1ented by the "house that VANDFR.
BItEn Il
/ THE FUNERAL.
4 New York, 5.-Com4odere Wander.
bits body via lie In state for ar
hour on Sunday morning in the mair
hallway Of his house. A large mum.
Der of New York Central Railroad
escort them to the chruch. Thurlow
Weed, Augustus Schell, Peter Cooper
VIM. Trumbul and other friends ar.
expected, bat the general public vii
net see the body. The immediate
family will meet at the house and viii
follow the remains which will be car
riea on . bier to the church on foOl
The immediate relatives, persona
friends, and employees of the N. Y
Central and Hudson River Railroad
will be numerous enough to I'LL the ed
. ifiee. Rev. DR.. Deems and Rev. Dr.
Hutton will perform the burial ser
, vices, and DR.. Deems will make an I'D
dress. There will be no pail bearer
; or fOrAl display, and the cortege will
start for Staten Island at the conclu
sion of the services.
One hundred carriages have BEEF
I ordered by the family for friends. !
! post mOrtem examination will be hell
tomorrow.
New York, Jan. 6.-Mrs. Charlott
Deforest Egbert, sister of the lat
;, Commodore Vanderbilt, died at he
!. residence on Staten Island yesterda,
of pneumonia. Mrs. Egbert was 8
years and I days old at the time o
her death or abont tive years older thai
her brother. She resembled the Com
? medore very much in disposition an,
epirit and was looked upon az q thor
ough woman Of business. She live,
On Staten Island all her life and occu
pied the house in which she died 70
Gh0 past 90 years. DR.. Linsley snok