Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-01-25

1877.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.
The death of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the
railroad king of this country, took place in
New York Thursday week, after an illness of
several months. Though he had reached an
advanced age, it has not been until a few years
that he gave indications Of physical decay.
His we'll known temperate habits secured to
him, till his recent illness, vigor and intellect
ual power, and his old age was without the
decrepitude that 80 often marks the closing
years of man of his industry and activity.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was remarkable
man, type in many respects Of large class
of Americans, who by dint of their own ef-
forts and through untiring industry, acquire
distinction and great wealth. He was born
on Staten Island, May 27, 1874, and had,
therefore, completed his eighty.second year.
His erect form, the freshness of his complex
ion and the quickness of his mind to grasp
and decide great questions Of business man.
agement, he retained to the last. His parents
were poor, and when boy he assisted his
father in running ferry, and with its man.
agement he imbibed the taste for navigation
which shaped his course Of life. When six
teen years Of age he became the owner Of q
small boat, and by the time he was eighteen
years of age he was part owner and captain
of the largest periangers in the harbor. Du.
ring the war of 1872, he rendered efficient SER
vice in supplying the forts in and about New
York with supplies, and he enjoyed the repu-
tation of never having seen q night too dark
or storm 30 threatening that he would re-
fuse to perform a service. In 1918 he mar.
ried Miss Sophia johnson, with whom he lived
for ffty-three years. Mrs. Vanderbilt waa
kind and amiable, noble mother and true
wife. That she stimulated her husband to
great exertions by her own habits ofindustry,
and that her counsel was always kindly, her
deceased husband freely admitted. She was
the mother of thirteen children.
At one time during the earlier part Of his
married life, he was the proprietor Of hotel
at Brunswick, N. j., which his wife superin-
tended, while he performed the duties of cap.
tain of steamer which piled between New
York and Brunswick. While he was indus.
trious and pushing, she was saving and care
full.
In 1917 Vanderbilt entered the service Of
Thomas Gibbins, the proprietor of the line Of
steamers running between New York apd
Philadelphia, and his wonderful tact in the
management was soon exhibited, and he grad
ually acquired wealth and gave his attention
to building steamboats, for the Hudson. he
always aimed to build better and faster boats
and run at lower fares, and he coined money
rapidly. When the California fever broke
out, and everybody appeared to be on the start
for the gold diggings, he again seized the ia
vorable opportunity and established q route,
and it was his intention to have built q ship
canal by the San Juan river and Lake Mica
ragua, which he abandoned after personal
inspection of the route. His line Of steamers,
though far from what they onght to have been,
we're freely used, and he sold out bis entire in,
terest in 1853 to the Transit Company.
His memorable trip to Europe in his steam
yacht "North Star" made his name familiar
abroad, and upon his return he established
an independent line of steamers between New
York and Havre, and the exciting race be-
tween the Vanderbilt and the other steamers
will be remembered, as the Vanderbilt led
all her competitors. He subsequently, gave
the steamer, after fitting her up, to the United
States Government. She was valued at q
million of dollars. A resolution of thanks
was passed by Congress and approved by the
President. and gold medal presented to Mr..
Vanderbilt to commemorate the gift. Since
1863 the Commodore has devoted his atten.
ton to railroad enterprises, and his career is
well known.
Mr.. Vanderbilt during his steamship career
was the owner of 21Nteamships, II of which
he built, and his feet numbered 66. The
control of so large number gave him the
title of Commodore. His interests in rail.
roads were largely extended. In 1874 he was
interested in the New York and New Haven
Railroad, and in 1845 he became interested
in the Harlem Railroad, and in 1864 he held
the whole of it. He secured controlling in
terest in the Hudson River and New York
Central Railroads, and consolidated the two,
and since 1873 the Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern have been operated in connection
with the. New York Central and Hudson
River roads, making q continuous route OF
978 miles, and with the Harlem road and
side tracks the total length controlled by him
was 2,l2S miles in extent, with capital Of
$149,OOO,0OO.
Mr.. Vanderbilt's wealth is variously esti.
mated from fifty to eighty millions of dollars.
In 1864 his accumulations we're $40, 100000
The Vanderbilt University, located at Nash
vile, Tenn, was established in 1872 by the
Methodists, and in 1873 Mr.. Vanderbilt gave
to the enterprise half a million of dollars,
and he has since increased the amount to
100000, three hundred thousand dollars OF
which is to remain as an endowment fund.
His gifts have not been ostentatiously be-
slowed, but he has been liberal in his dona.
tions, and portion of his large wealth will
no doubt be given to public institutions. In
his domestic life he was an amiable man, par
tial to a good horse and fond of the sports of
the turf, but he was free from those vices
which accompany t. often the possession of
great wealth.
END OF A FAMILY OF BRIGANDs IN KAN
sAs.-One of the blacklist of all crimes is
known as. the Bender tragedy of Kansas.
The Bender family was resident in Mont.
gomery county, Kansas the family consisted
of "old man" Bender, his wife, his daughter
Kate, and bis son, a young man who is to
some considerable extent acquitted in the
public mind of much that is charged without
distinction to his father, mother, and sister.
The crime of the crowd consisted of murder
ing from mercenary motives, and burying up.
on their wayside premises, not fewer than nine
persons, all of them travellers, and some of