The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-12-18
DEATH OF VANDERBILT.
William H. Vanderbilt Drops Dead Of
Paralyais In his Reaid once in New York.

Psraiy"is In his Resil ence in Now York,
William H. Vanderbilt, the richest
man in America, IL not in the world.
dropped dead in his own house,
on Tuesday afternoon. He appeared to be
IN good health upto the moment Of death.
lie mad held conferences with various people
and at the time was discussing railroad
matters with Mr.. Garrett, president OF
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.
1t was while the talk turned upon the
scenes OF his childhood and early
work contrasted with the tremendous
Garrett, sitting on the sofa facing
the mitlionsisaiss leaned forward in his
nrmchalr, as was his habit when thorough
Y Interested, that the president of the
baitlmare " Ohio was suddenly made
a. aware OF a slight indistinctness in Mr..
Nanderbilt's speech thut grew into
an inarticulate sound. As he leaned
over to catch his words Mr.. Van
derbilt pitched forward, without IL word
oi warming, and fell heavily on the floor on
his lace. Mr.. Garrett, springing to his feet
with an exclamation OF alarm, seized the
pillow on the sofa laid it under his friends
head. He then summoned Mrs. Wander.
oiit ana George the youngest son. Mes.
scngers were sent in haste for ply
sicians. One from the neighborhood re-.
spomlctl first, and was followed almost i'm
medi,tcly by the fanily doctor, DIR. James
w. Mclean. Such simple rcstoratives ,s
were at hand had brenapplietl, but human
aid was in vain. Mr.. Vanderbilt never
spoke or moved after he fell under the
sudden stroke, and died within a few min.
utcs without IL struggle. To all intcnts
and purposes he was dead the in
stant he fell forward upon the floor.
Universal coIsstcrnation and grief prevailed
ut the most unexpected news. Mr.. Van.
derbilt, while lie had, for the past two
years, been n victim more or less of indi.
gcstion, with its attendant ills and kindred
disorders. had lately, despite the frequent
reports oil his death, been apparently mend.
ing.
Mr.. Vanderbilt had made u will, what
its provisions are is not known to any one
outsid the family and his confidential
counsel and friend, Mr.. Depew. But the
Aandcrbiits were very united family. Mr..
Depew ventured the prediction that the
lneXisting conditions. The Vanderbilt rail.
road systems will be managed and owned as
heretofore. The sons will manage the cs-
tatcand the property, all OF which are here
the sameas II the master hand was still at
the helm.
Mr.Vandcrbilt was, it is thought, richer
than any single member OF the RothschiM
ilmlly. The duke of Westminster is said
to be worth $2,OO0,OUO, but Mr. Wander.
bilt was richer because the dukes money
only brings him about 2 percent being main
lyin lands and houses Mr.. Vanderbilt had
y much larger income. Last year he held
Sol 900, 900 OF 1 per cent bonds and later
he reduced this amount to S35, 900, 900 Of
government 3k per cents. Ills government
bonds were worth almost S75, 900, 900.
At one time che owned 2IO, 900 shares of
Michigan Central; 800, 900 shares of North.
western, and .OO.O shares of Lake Shore
lately. lnadtlition he has 10000 Chicago
d Rock lsland, 10000 Delaware a. Lack;,-
wanna, and about 1000 shares in other
raiiroads, making about 3GO, 900 shares of
railroad bonds, S3,2OO,OO0 of state
and city bonds, and $2,OOO,OOO in
various manufacturing stocks and mort
cages. He valued his house ON Fifth
avenue, with it's art treasures at
$3,0oo,0OO. His ordinary household
expenses were 5000, 900 IL year. In 1881
he gave ball that cost 100000. He
loved horses, and was agood Judge ofhorsc-
flesh: He sold Maud S. for S4O,O Mr..
Vanderbilt was worth 5000, 900, 900. AL.
though his fortune shrank last year ma
terialy through Il big decline in stocks and
through business depression, the bull
movement oi hepast few months brought
it up again. His income was calculated as
follows s2,372,oOO IL year from govern
ment bonds; S7,395, 900 from railway
stocks; 50 ~, G95f from miscellaneous securi.
ties. Total, over S1O,OOO,OOO IL year, or
$2S,OOO a day.
MIR. Garrett describes tho death scene ms
follows: He vas seated In his own arm
chair in a. careless, half reclining position,
and his visitor sat opposite upon IL sof.,.
Suddenly Mr.. Garrett observed IL hitch In
Mr. Vanderbllt's voice. 1t seemed to grow
thick, and Ills words came with difficulty.
Mr. Garrett was alarmed to see IL painful
twitcll in his hosts face Another and n
ilinter one passcd-jus the slightest spasn.
MIR. Vanderbilt half-rose from his cbnir,
paused. tottcred, and then fell forward
upon his side at the feet of his astonishcd
guest, with whom but u moment before he
had been engaged in lively conversation.
Before Mr.. Garrett could lean over him
and place his hand upon his heart IL had
ceased to beat. Within thirty seconds
from the time that the indstinct artic,,,;,.
lation was noticed he wns dead. A blood
vessel in his brain had broken. known IA
apopexy. He never knew how he died or
guessed that the end OF his life had come.
His sensation may be described, if descrb
ca at all, as moment of stupor, then OF
blindness, mental chaos. and the end.