The Portland daily press., 1883-02-21
WILLIAM Il, VANDERBILT.
4 Story that he is Very III which is Sub
oo4,,or&lx1 Da,ied

a Story that he is Very Ill which is Sub.
sequently Denied.
New York, Feb. 20-The morning Journal
says: Mr.. William H. Vanderbilt is very i'll,
and is confined to his bed. He has ceased to
attend to business, his affairs being conducted
by his son, Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Another account says: Much anxiety has
been felt concerning Mr.. Vanderbilt's health
for over fortnight. He is now conceded to
be very sick man. When Gen. Devereux
and Mr.. Banks visited him two weeks ago on
business connected with the proposed sale and
transfer of the Nickel Plate road, it was only
his most intimate friends who were allowed to
hear that he had suddenly fallen to the floor
unconscious through an attack of paralysis, ,and
the gentlemen were obliged to come again to
attend to their business The stroke was not
deemed particularly dangerous, and yielded at
once to the usual treatment, but although he
rallied he still suffered from the shock and
nervous prostration. His son-in-law, Mr.. Eli
OFT Shepherd, said that while Mr.. Vanderbilt
was not well, his indisposition was considered
largely due to the bad weather, and his condi-
ton was not such as should cause alarm. Mr..
Cornelius Vanderbilt and Chauncey Depew re-
fused to make any statement
The fact of the sudden abandonment of the
proposed Western trip, after every detail of
the preparations had been completed, the pro
gramme published in all the papers, and
crowds had gathered at the Grand Central de-
pot to see the special train on exhibition is now
recalled and held significant. Inquiry at the
house met with the reply that Mr.. Vanderbilt
was i'll, and that two physicians had been in
attendance during all of yesterday. The ply
sicians are his son in-law, Dr. Webb and Dr.
James w. McLane.
A professional gentleman, who has known
Mr.. Vanderbilt from childhood, and was fa-
miliar with the old commodore, not only ex-
pressed no surprise but said he had expected
something of the kind for a long while add
ing: s'He is very far from being the man that
his father was. He's given to strange fancies,
| and is nervously afraid of what may happen
next. This popularity he shows by constantly
| changing his medical advisers, losing faith in
| them one after another in very short time
This is one of the peculiarities of his disease,
| probably, and should certainly not be at all
I surprised at anything which might occur"
Leading operators who were seen do not
{, think the illness of Mr.. Vanderbilt or even his
| death would seriously interfere with the stock
| market or with the quotations of the Wander
| bilt shares, although the latter would un-
| doubtedly decline temporarily, but probably
neither seriously nor for any length of time.
| The bulk of the estate and the control of the
roads would go, it is understood, in the event
| OF Mr. Vanderbilt's death, to Cornelius, in ac-
| cordance with the old commodore's wish, and
| following the policy which Mr.. Vanderbilt has
! pursued IN placing his oldest son in a controll
ina position over all his interests William
K, the second son, is also familiar with all his
fathers interests and has very large ones of his
own, many prominent men regarding him al
| the ablest financier that the family has pro.
/ duced. Another despatch says Mr.. Wander
| bits family deny that he is ILL., and say that be
! is attending to business as usual.