Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-04-03
VANDERBILTS SUICIDE.
TRAGIC DEATH OF A MILLIONAIRE.
The Great Railroad KiDg's BroeAse Ends
His Lie BY Blowing out Els BEains-
No Cause Assigned For the Act.

His Lie by Blowing out H1s BEains-
No Cause Assigned For the Act.
Cornelius ]. Vanderbilt, brother Of Viii
liam Ii. Vanderbilt, committed suicide by
shooting himself in the head at the Glen
ham hotel, in New York, yesterday after
noon. Deceased will be remembered as
having contested til, probate of the will
Of the late Commodore Vanderbilt, his
father. He had been a sufferer from
epilepsy for several years, and this is sup.
posed to have caused the act, as his tinan-
cial affairs were said to he in the most
prosperous condition. He did not regain
consciousness after he committed the fatal
act, and after lingering for several hours
breathed his last just before six O'Clock,
surrounded by many Of his friends and the
members of the family.
He last entered the Glenham hotel some
time Saturday. He was In weak condi-
tion then and went to bed. He occupied
rooms 70 and 80, on the fifth floor, facing
the avenue. His only companion was
George Terry, who has Travelled with and
attended him for years. At short time
before two o'clock Mr.. Terry left him ly-
ing in his bed in room SO and went to the
adjoining room, No. 70, which is separat-
cd from the other by folding doors. He
noticed nothing peculiar about MIR. Van
dcrbilt's appearance. He had been in tho
room only short time when he heard tho
report of a pistol. He ran into Mr.. Van
derbilt's room and found him holding a
revolver in his hand and saw the blood
streaming down the right side Of his face.
He had shot himself through the right
temple. He was lying on his back, and
made little movement. The weapon which
he had used was a small Smith q WessOn
revolver. DR.. Weir arrived within a short
time. He saw at once that Mr.. Wander.
bilt had no chance to recover. The bullet
had entered his brain and there could be
no hope of his living. William H. Van
derbit arrived about the same time and
remained until half past four. He depart
ed then expecting that his brother would
liDger for some hours, but was summoned
again after his death. He returned about
half past six.
Cornelius j. Vanderbilt, "COrnie," as
he has been familiarly known for twenty
odd years to fast young men about New
York, was a younger son of the founder
of the line, the commodore, and came of
age after his father was rich and cOnspicu-
GUS, instead of sharing tho period in the
history of the family when its money was
still in the future, as William H. Wander
bilt did. "Cornie" began early course
Of reckless dissipation whose good nature
was its only redeeming trait and whose
schemes to raise money were dangerously
close to the games Of a confidence man.
The commodore paid a few, very few, of
the young mans debts, and then, while he
spoke in an admiring way of his episodes,
refused to resume any pecuniary responsi-
bility for the one son who had will as
unbending as his own. "COrnie" bOr-
rowed money of wide circle in New
York, including Horace Greeley and
half a dozen other well-kDOwn men in
his loans, went over to Connecticut
and borrowed lot of money
there, and continued to raise money in
young sVanderbilt's notes were scattered
everywhere. His fathers will left him
with a pittance Tor a Vanderbilt), and
that pittanco under his brothers control.
A suit to break the will followed, and it
was compromised just rs it was reported.
Cornelius had got evidence together of q
sort to settle good deal besides tho will.
However this may be, Cornelius Wander
bilt took his money, paid his debts with it,
built big house with it just outside of
Hartford, Conn.,, and shared his fortune,
his sprecs and his good-natured affections
with a host of people. 1t is said he was
bit in stock speculations last year, and re-
duced to penury but he never lost his
popularity, aud his casual remarks about
William H." continued to be quoted.
Incidentally, he distinguished himself, as
Vanderbilt, by giving a collection of
original drawings to the Metropolitan
museum, which cost him something, al
though their value is doubtful.