West-Jersey pioneer., 1877-01-11
DEATH OF COMMODORE VANDERBILT.

DEATH Of COmmODURE VANDERBILT
Commodore Vanderbilt died on Thursday
morning last, at nine minutes to eleven
o'clock at his residence No. 10 Washington
place, New York Though well advanced
in years he enjoyed comparative health and
strength, far beyond the allotted time of
man, and despite his great age no appre-
April, when the spell of sickness which re-
slifAGsed IN his death began. Shortly after
his attack in that month he so far recovered
that he was not considered in danger, but
on the Sd of last August he suffered a re-
lapse, and since that time has lowered be-
tween life and death.
Mr.. Vanderbilt's habits of life were sim
pie. He has lived for great number of
years in spacious, but unpretentious man
sion, No. 10 Washington Square, in which
he breathed his last He INDUCED, with
few intimate friends like DR.. Corey and
Ben Wood, in a game of cards once i'll
awhile, and Saturday evening card party
at Delmonico's old place, corner of Four
teenth street and Fifth avenue, or at the
Manhattan Club was about the extent Of
this social recreation until three years ago,
since which time they were discontinued.
He was a great lover of horses and could
be seen on Harlem lane any afternoon be-
hind pair of flyers, taking no mans dust
or snow balls.
He paid for the building of the Church
OF Strangers, in New York, of which Rev.
DR.. Deems is the pastor, and supported the
Moravian Church at New Dorp, Staten Is
laud, near which he had erected Il mauso-
lerm for his own resting place. He also
endowed school for girls on the grounds
of that church, to be built OH the plan of
the Seminary at Bethlehem, in Pennsylva-
MIA, which he also literally endowed. But
his greatest benefaction was to the new ed
ucational enterprise at Nashville, Tenn,
under the control of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church South, of which his second wife
had been a member. This institution,
named the Vanderbilt University in his
honor, was organized i'll January, 1878, and
in March ensuing Mr.. Vanderbilt gave
$500, 900 towards its endowment, following
this up with an additional 100000 in
April, 1874, to be used as building fund.-
in order that the University buildings may
be completed in accordance with tie plans
and specifications previously approved by
him. A portion of the buildings were ready
by October, 1875, and the institution was
then formally opened for students. In
June of last year he added $780, 900 to his
endowment of the institution, thus swelling
his donation to round 100000.
While Vanderbilt's railroad wealth is es-
timated at $75, 900, 900 his accumulations of
real estate were comparatively small. His
hense in East Washington place is worth
$4,000 his Office, stable, &C., on Fourth
street, $31, 900; his property in Bowling
Green, $4,000; in Courtland ST., $31, 900;
and in Twenty second street, $4,000. He
was also said to have owned Gilmore's Gar
den, worth 81 ,OOO,O His personal estate
for 1876 was assessed at $4,000 900. On
Staten Island he owned a park and hotel,
worth 5000, 900, and several thousand acres
of wild land. DR.. Deems church, which
will also revert to the Vanderbilt estate
(Dr. Deems has life lease of it) is worth
$4,000. Vanderbilt was the richest man
in the world who ever made his own fortune,
unless possibly, Krupp, the German gun
maker should have outstripped him.
Commodore V anderbit was generally de-
scribed as most kingly looking man of
about six feet one, with a fine, large, bold
head fair complexion and ruddy cheeks,
aquiline, powerful nose and lively, dark
eyes of keen expression. His hair was
beautifully white. He was straight as an
arrow, and carried himself in an imposing
manner.
Commodore Vanderbilt was eighty-two
years old on the 27th of May last.
His funeral took place from his late resi-
dence, in New York city, on Sunday. The
weather was extremely inclement, notwith-
standing which large number of persons
called at the house prior to the removal of
the remains to the Church of the Strangers,
where the funeral services were held The
remains, which were incased in metallic
casket, were laid in large hail and reviewed
by the friends. The floral offerings were of
the most simple character. and every at
tempt at display was studiously avoided.
A large crowd witnessed the removal of the
remains from the house to the Church of the
Strangers. The church was heavily draped
in mourning. The services were conducted
by Rev. DR.. Deems. After the address the
remains were conveyed down Broadway to
Whitehall ferry, followed by an immense
throng of friends and several hundred car
riages. The remains arrived at Vanderbilt
Landing, Staten Island, at two o'clock, and
after short services at the old Moravian
Church, at New Dorp Cemetery, the re-
mains were deposited in the Vanderbilt
vault.