Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-09
oprk1oN OF THE PHYSICIAN


DR.. Mclean pronounced his death the
result OF sudden stroke of paralysis, due
to the bursting of large blood vessel at
the base OF the brain-of kind that are
absolutely fatal at the moment. He stated
that Mr.. Vanderbilt's death was as painless
as 1t was sudden. The doctor knew his
patient most intimately, and promptly
certified to the cause of death.
TO avoid the unnecessary formality
OF CoronerS inquest and an autopsy.
When 1t was ascertained beyond a doubt
that vanderbilt was a dead man, the
servants were summoned and helped
to carry the body of their dead master up
stairs to the bedroom he had occupied in
life. Mrs. Vanderbilt was Frustrated with
grief and telephone messages were sent to
the Grand Central depot TO summon her
sons, and to the residences of her sons-in-
law, to inform them of the bereavement
Cornelius, William K. and Frederick Van
derbllt had been together in the offices at
the depot less than half an hour before
the message came, and had gone
away together. The message found
Cornelius in meeting of Trustees of the
American Bible Society at the Bible House.
lie hastened at once to the house, whittier
Mr.. Depew had preceded him, dumb with
depression over his friends death, and one
by one the other children arrived: and as
the report spread, with lightning
like rapidity, through the citv' nearer
friends of the dead magnate also came.
Universal CONSERVATION and grief pre-
vailed at the most unexpected news.
THE subject of this sketch, whose por-
trait is given above, was the Oldest son of
the late Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt.
He was born at the summer residence of
his father, New Brunswick, n. j., and after
practical education at Columbia College
Grammar-school, he entered in his 18th
year, the financial house of Drew, Robin
son q Co., where he exhibited such indus
try and executive ability that, on the ex-
plratlon of two years, he was offered an
interest in the business. The close con-
fnement, however, having begun to prey
on his health, and his father having pur-
chased and presented to him seventy
five acres of unimproved land on
Staten Island, he at once took
his young wife there and set to work with
such skill and energy that he not only
cleared the entire tract of land but soon
purchased $50 acres more and planted
1t all. Shortly after this period the Staten
Island Railroad Company became embar-
raised, when Mr.. Vanderbilt and his uncle
Jacob, entering the management, relieved
the road of its difficulties. The expert
ence acquired here gave him such an in
sight into railroad affairs and so advanced
him in the estimation Of certain capitalists
ana stockholders that in 1864 he was
elected Fice-President of the New York
and Harlan Railroad Company. and of
the Hudson River line in 1866.
Under his management these roads
because SO prosperous that he was unhesi-
tatingly recognized as not only railroad
manager of profound knowledge and ex-
perience, but worthy the confidence of the
Commodore, his father. TO the fullest ex-
tent. Within the last fifteen years of his
lite he made mum arous visits to Europe,
ly works of art for the adornment of his
New York home. His charities and public
spirit, according TO the statements of those
who professed TO know much of his pri-
vate life, have not been unworthy of his
vast wealth, although he never seemed
to court notoriety through these channels.
There have been rumors afloat during the
past year of heavy losses to Vanderbilt
through the decline in the value of rail-
road securities in which he had invested
many million dollars but his wealth was
so vast that his standing in the financial
world could not be affected by passing
events of that character. Public report
has placed the fortune of William H. Van
derbilt at from 800 100000 to $500, 600, 600.
Now that he is dead, and the estate must
be administered upon, this much-vexed
question will doubtless soon be settled to
the satisfaction of the public