The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-12-16
Vanderbilt.

The sudden death of William H.
Vanderbilt, the great capitalist and
railway magnate, which occurred on
Tuesday of last week, from cerebral
apoplexy, came to the public with
hardly less shock than the recent
death of Vice-president Hendricks.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was in his study at the
time, talking with President Garrett
of the Baltimore & Ohio railway, when,
without warning, he suddenly grew
faint and fell from his chair to the
floor and expired. He was the eldest
son of the famous Commodore Cor
nelius Vanderbilt, and was born in
1921. For some years before the death
of his father he had acquired no little
reputation as sagacious and discreet
business man, and since he assumed
control of the commodore's immense
financial interests he had filled large
share of attention in the public mind.
Through the advice of physicians, he
retired from active business life some
two years ago, and transferred, the
management of his large railway inter-
ests to others.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was probably the
wealthiest citizen in America. His
possessions have been computed as
follows: Four per cent government
bonds, 100000; government bonds
of other denominations, $4,000, 900;
railroad bonds, SS0,000,000; New York
Central stock, 81 100000; Lake Shore
stock, $4,000, 900; Michigan Central
stock, S7,000,000; Northwestern, S.
100000; Rock Island, $3.50, 900; Lack
awanna, S2,4S0,000; Philadelphia &
Reading, S2,300,000, state and city
bonds, S20,000,000; real estate and
miscellaneous, SIS 100000; manufacture
ing stocks and mortgages, $4,000, 900.
Total, S194 100000. His will, which
was offered for probate on Saturday,
covers dozen folios of legal cap in
type-writing. He leaves to each of his
children 100000 apiece, $4,000, 900
in each case to be held in trust, and to
his daughters the houses they are liv-
ing in at his death. To his widow he
gives the house on Fifth avenue, with
the valuable picture gallery, furniture,
statues, horses and carriages, and
5000, 900 year, with an additional
$500, 900 absolutely. AT her death the
house, picture gallery and other appur-
tenances are to 90 to George Wander
bilt, the youngest son, for life. AT his
death it is to 60 to such son as he may
designate. In event of their being no
heir, the property is to go to the oldest
son of Cornelius. The object is to keep
the residence on Fifth avenue in the
family forever. Sundry requests are
made to charity, to number of rela-
tives and faithful servants. Requests
to the amount of 50 800 each have been
made. The residue of the estate is di-
vided equally and absolutely between
Cornelius Vanderbilt and William X.
Vanderbilt, the first and second son.
Though Mr.. Vanderbilt could make
little claim to being a philanthropist,
we are told that he used his great
riches, as not abusing them; and that
he was liberal giver to that which was
most deserving. Among his benefac-
tons were the payment of the immense
bills for transporting the obelisk from
Egypt and setting it up in Central
Park; large contributions to the Van
derbilt University, founded by his
father; half million dollars as build
ing fund to the College of Physicians
and Surgeons; and the release of
General Grant from a debt of some
S150,000. He had in contemplation the
establishment of a public art gallery.
He was temperate in his habits, and
irreproachable in his domestic life. His
business affairs were so well arranged