The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-12-10
TIE DEAD MILLloNA1RE.
!Chauncsy M. Depew Describes vauderbIIrs
ChArneteFiatIoa

THE DEAD MILLIONAIRE.
!Chauhcsy n. Depew Describes vAuderbIlrl
oCharRot0TiStios.
NEw YORK, Dec. 9.-Chauncey NJ. De
pew, president Of the New York Contra
railroad, has had more intimate relation
with Mr.. Vanderbilt than any other per
son in the world. He has been his adviser
for twenty years. Mr.. Depew talked
freelyto correspondent at his home, il
East Forty.fEth street, this evening, and
said: 81 don't think that Mr.. Vanderbilt
had any idea that he was about to die. He
told an intimate friend OF his about two
weeks ago that he thought that If he
passed his G5th birthday he would be good
for twenty years more OF life. There was
some thing about the age Of 65, which he
seemed to consider critical period
something connected with the family his.
tory, l believe. Mr.. Vanderbilt was
always hard worker, and his large frame
and immensely vigorous physique were
the results OF the work he did on his farm
on Staten Island.
"He used to get up at o'clock every
day, and he has told me that he had often
come into the city and been back on the
farm plouehing by o'clock. When he
went to the New York Central at the age
Of ,43, he knew nothing about railroads
and had to work very hard. He still kept
up his early rising, was always at work at
o, and worked all day long and almost
always until late in the evening. He was
the simplest Of eaters at the table, and
never drank anything, except an occasional
glass Of claret. Nor did he ever use
tobacco in any form. He was extremely
fond OF a good horse, and was one OF the
best drivers that ever lived. He became,
by study and attention, one OF the best
judges OF pictures in this country, as Is
testified by his gallery, which undoubtedly
contains the best collection OF modern
paintings in the world.
FEARLESS on ASSASSINATION.
"Another Of his peculiarities was his
fearlessness. He was constantly in re-
ceipt OF letters, informing him at what
hour and place he would be shot or stab
bed or otherwise killed, hut they never in
timidated him. His habits were regular
and he drove out daily at certain hour
along the same roads and by the same
places, went 10 his otace at the same hour
and entered and left in the same way.
The letters he received never stopped him
from these journeys. He always handed
these letters to me, but he would never
permit me 10 investigate them.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was q great family man,
was fond OF his children and OF having
family gatherings at his home. He never
cared for large parties or dinners. He
liked to have few friends drop in and
talk with him or play whist or euchre.
His reading was confined entirely to the
daily press and to the events OF the pres
ent. He was philosopher on the sub
ieCt OF Misrepresentation in the pub
lie prints, his idea OF his relation to the
rest Of thewortd was to act according to
his own standard, which he believed good
or as near right as he knew how. He
recognized the fact that his wealth and
the character Of his Investments necesaa-
rily subjected 'him to critiGisp and dis.
CuSsiop, consequently he became accus-
toned to abuse, and, while not affected
by it, he was always pleased when nice
things were printed about him."
"The changes have been rung q thou
sand times," continued Mr.. Depew, "up.
on that public be id expression. The
fact is that he never Raid it In the sense
attributed to him andit hurt him very
much. He was not coarse, loud or vul-
gar man, and all reports to that effect are
untrue. He was gentleman, and always
dressed and behaved as SUCH"
He meyer gave in his manner OF treat
ment any indication that he knew the dif-
ferencesbetween man worth five cents
and one worth fve millions. In talk he
was fair man, but exceedingly frank and
blunt. With all his wealth he had not
pride Of opinion, but infinitely preferred
to dlsCuss' questions Of moment before
acting. He was capital Judge OF men,
and rarely made mistake in them. He
inherited his fathers manner OF jumping
at shrewd conclusions, though not by log
ic4l processes oy regular methods. His
ireansnt remark would be, Nov what l
want is not what you think want you to
think, but what you think yourself" He
had . way Of shaking hspda and Eaylng,
"How Sfe you, old fellow" /" which made
him very pleasant:
II do not think, concluded Mr.. Depew,
"there Is any earthly reason why his
death should cause any disturbance In
the nnanRial world. His sons, Cornelius
and William K, have practically man.
aged his properties for three years, And
they will continue on Just the same with
out any change. ANY one who sells, feel
ing that the stock viii depreciate because
OF i'his death, will be foolish, 1t will not
have the slightest effect.