The New York herald., 1877-01-05
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF VAN.
DERBILT.

THE SURVIVING FRIENDS OF HIS YoUTH--ANEC-
DoTEs OF HIS LIFE AT NEW BRUNSWICK.
NEW Brunswick, N. j., Jan. 4, 1875
During and after the war OF 1912 this old city OF
Knickcrbockers and Long Islanders contained tho
youthful family OF the Vanderbts. Tho Com mmodore
began stcamboating to this place from New York whilo
quito lad, before no brought Mrs. Vanderbilt home.
Prior to that time he soop periaueer here,
first continental venture. Hero his brother in Jaw
Van Pct livod, and Freeman dc Groot, hts cap
tain. Mrs. Vanderbilt made tho money Keeping hotel
at New Brunswick which materially assisted to give
the Commodore start IN lfe. Now here live NUN.
Dor OF people who weary Of telling thor rccoi-
lections OF the most successful New Brunswicker
among many highly distinguished.
VANDERBILT SELLING sHAD.
was directed on my arrival in New Brunswick to
call Martin A. Howell at the Bank of New Jersey
He came out spectaclcs in hand, and Immediately
upon the suggestion said:-
al knew Captain Vanderbilt very we'll when hc rnu
here, sir There are i've Of us In town who were
seventy years old last year and had resided from
birth in New Brunswick At the time Vanderbilt
aourshcd hero little Albany, with our houses
covered with Dutch tiles and the gables OF many OF
them set to tho street. Vanderbilt had early learned
his way up the and kills around Staten Island
and the Rarlan then the entering inlet for the
growing travel to tho West and South II saved the
bad marshes and st clay roads between here and the
Hudson and therefore people dropped sIoops
through the kills to Perth Amboy and sailed thirteen
miles up to this spot, the head Of navigation"
s'what sort OF vessel had Vanderbilt when no came
.hcres"
''IIe had recently acquired his sloop or pcrau.
gcr and was huckstorng freghtng, carrying passen-
gers and whatever would dollar. rccollcct his
bringing shad hero
Mr.. Howell then shed light quaint old subject
You see, farmers to the south horc bought their
shad from the Delaware. They put thom up every
spring in barrels for winter eating Captain Wander
bit began opposition TO that Delaware trade, and
his way Of proceeding original He would como
hero with, say, 30o 900 shad and hire four nve men
ride on horseback up nil tho roads from toward
Princeton. bennington and Freehold, announcing TINT
there shad down at Brunswick lie would there
ready and sell his cargo and 20 back for
another load"
'sWbat sort OF carly steamboat captain did Wander
bIt makcs"
"fie was tho very model OF n captain. Everybody
had that TO say. From stem storm he was absolute
master Of his ship although he never shouted nor
buscrod He used to ride up to the dock guiding tho
engineer by his hands silently, and he inspired conf
dcncc among the passengers His brother Jacob was
his pilot John Vanderbilt, now dead, was hcrc too
Tho Van pelts DE Groots followed ater for Van.
dcrbIlt generally puts hts family INTO business and
keeps people who have proved useful In his group"
Here MIR. Howell stopped his shoulders a little
'Do you see that stoop, sirY Well, the last time
saw the Commodore in New York he said Howell
you don't look much older. bat you stoop little ,
well, Commodore said, Il gos tha. stoop delivering
butter, eggs and marketing in my boynood to your
mother at her tavern She kept as clcin and nice
tavern you ever saw In your life. MarvcllousIy In
dustrious, very saving and anxious to sec Cornelius
get ahead, she OF the greatest help him. aud he
would probably tell you II he here that he owed
his start TO his wifo Her tavern named IRON
Gibbons steamboat, Of which Vanderbilt the cap
ta,n--the BcIlona. Tho tavern was 'Beona Hail. II
is my impression that William Vanderbilt was born
thcrc.r
Mr. Howell rurthcr said that he travelled from New
Brunswick 10 Jersey City night 10 attend railroad
meeting IN vandcrbiIrs company, and they were al
most frozen.
riIE conMopong's rirsr HORSES.
Captain Ross, contemporary OF Vanderbilt was too
sick 10 be sccn but received Interesting infor-
nation from Judge John Tcrhunc, who kept book