Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-12-18
DEATH OF THE RICHEST MAN
IN AMERICA.

residence on Fifth avenue, New York,
last Tuesday at half past two O'Clock
of apoplexy. He was n of the richest
men in the world. His income was
ten million dollars annually. His i'm
mense fortune will be divided between
seven children, three sons and four
daughters.
We should have received a full &C
count by telegraph of the death, but the
storm Of Tuesday night prevented our
receiving it. We copy the following
account from a telegram to an ex-
change whose news was not interrupt
ed by the storm. At the time of the
great 6nancier's death he was in COM
pany with Mr.. Robert Garrett, the
railroad President:
His eyes were clear and bright. His
voice was strong, and his articulation
distinct. He talked with a great deal
of ~vivacity and made a number of sue-
gestions. He was seated in his own
arm chair, in a careless, half reclining
position, and his visitor sat opposite on
a sofa.
Suddenly Mr.. Garrett observed a
hitch in Mr.. Vanderbilt's voice. 1t
seemed to grow thick and his words
came with difficulty. Mr.. Garrett was
alarmed to see a painful twitch in his
face; another passed, accompanied by
slight spasms.
Mr.. Vanderbilt half rose from his
chair,
PAUSED AND ToTTERED
and then fell forward on his side at
the feet of his astounded guest, with
whom, but a moment before, he had
been engaged in lively conversation.
Before Mr.. Garrett could lean over
him and place his hand upon his heart
it had ceased to beat. Within thirty
seconds from the time the indistinct
articulation was noticed, he was dead.
A blood vessel in his brain had broken.
His death was caused by apoplexy.
He never knew how he died. His
sensation may be described (if de-
scribed at ALL as a moment of stupor,
then Of blindness followed by mental
chaos and then the end.
The children Mr.. Vanderbilt leaves
are, in their regular succession as to
age, from Cornelius, William K,
Frederic W. and George W., and four
daughters, Mrs. Elliott f. Shepard,
Mrs. VIM. D. Sloane, Mrs. Hamilton
Mex. Twomby and Mrs. DIR. Seward
Webb. Cornelius and William K, are
both actively engaged in the manage
ment of the family railroad interests,
and will so continue.
Cornelius is Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the New York Central
and the Michigan Central systems, and
William X. holds the same office in the
Lake Shore and Nickel Plated systems,
and Frederic w, who if about 81 years
of age, is a Director in all the roads.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was, it is thought,
richer than any single member Of the
Rotchschild family.
The Duke Of Westminster is said to
be worth $200,000,000 but Mr.. Van.
derbilt was richer, because the Dukes
money only pays him about two per
cent, being mainly in lands and
houses. Mr.. Vanderbilt had a much
larger income. Last year he held $54,-
100000 of four per cent. bonds, and
later, he reduced this amount to $685.
100000 of government 81 per cents.
His government bonds were worth al
most $75,0O0,O 900. AT n time he
owned 100000 shares of Mich
igan Central, 100000 shares of North
western and 100000 shares of Lake
shore.
He is said to have sold considerable
Lake Shore lately. In addition, he
had 10000 Chicago and Rock Island,
Delaware and Lackawanna, and
about 10000 shares in other railroads,
making in all about 100000 shares of
railway stock; also $4,000 900 worth
of railroad bonds, $32, 100000 OF State
and city bonds, and $4,000, 900 in vari-
1us manufacturing stocks and mort
cages
He valued his house on Fifth Aven
le, with its art treasures, at $3,000,-
100. His
ORDINARY HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES
we're 100000 a year.
In 1884 he gave a ball that cost $40,-
100. He loved horses and was a good
Judge Of horse flesh. He sold Maud S.
or $4,000
Mr. Vanderbilt was worth $200,000,-
although his fortune shrank last
ear materially through a dig decline
n stocks and through. business de-
'ression, but the "bull" movement of
he past few months brought it up
gain.
HIS INCOME
'as calculated as follows: $2,372, 900
year from government bonds, 1884,,
w from railroad stocks, $576, 959
miscellaneous securities. Total {
yer S10000000 a vaor or Q mo n ,