New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-09
culation and freshened me up. 1t is an elegant


was his habit to eat at breakfast what was for
him a hearty meal, but what would be for Others
| light one. Yesterday he had broakfasted heartily
in his way. and followed his usual practice of eating
sparingly at luncheon. Themeal wasscarcey finished
| before the cfrd of Robert Garrett, the president
| of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, was
| handed to him. He told the footman to show Mr.
Garrett into the library. and there in few minutes
Mr.. Vanderbilt joined him. He drew the portieres
and the two railroad magnates were closcted
together Robert Garrett is the last man who saw
Mr. Vanderbilt alive
They talked about railroad affairs and about the
settlement of tho Wcst Shore matter But the
principal occasion of Nr. Garretts visit was to talk
| over Staten Island property, its prospects and
chances IN Wow of the improvements which he ana
! Erastus Wiman are contemplating, and these
| matters were discussed fully for tlmo. During
| the conversation Mr. Vanderbilt appeared to
unusual advantage. His eyes clear and bright
| his voice strong, and his articulation distinct
| He talked with good deal Of vivaclty and made
number of shrewd sugy gyestiOns. He was seated IN
| his own armchair IN n careless, haf-recinlnS
| position and his visitor sat opposite upon n sofa.
Suddenly Mr.. Garrett observed hitch in MT
| Vanderbilts voice. 1t seemed to grow thick and
| his words came with difficulty. Mr.. Garrett was
| alarmed TO see painful twitch IN his hosts face
| Another and q fainter one pasSed-Jhst inc
slightest SPANS. Mr.. Vanderbilt half rose from his
chair paused tottered, and then fell forward upon
| his side at the feet of his astouuded guest with
| whom but moment before he had been engaged IN
lively conversation. Before Mr.. Garrett could lean
over him and place his hand upon his heart 1t had
ceased to beat. Within thirty seconds from the
time that the ndstinct articulation was noticed he
was dead A blood vessel in his brain had broken
the physical catastrophe known as apoplexy He
never knew how he died. nor guessed that the end
of life had come His sensation may be described
If described at alias a moment OF stupOr then OF
| blindness mental chaos, and then the end.
Mr. CARROTS presence of mind did not desert
| him He raised the dead mans head and placed 1t
upon low ottoman. Then he pressed the button
! of an electric bell Louis Mr.. Vanderbilts man
servant, responded.
aMr. Vanderbilt has tainted" said Mr. Garrett !
"brng me some ammonia
| Louis went away and Mr.. Twombly and George
Vanderbilt entered. They saw that life was
apparently extinct, but hoping against hope they
sent a messenger for Mr.. Yandcrbilfs physician.
Dr. James W. McLane of No. II West Thirty
! eighth-st. II was exactly twenty minutes past
| o'clock when Mr.. Vanderbilt fell TO tho floor.
| Twenty minutes later DIR. McLane arrived lie
examined the stricken man, and turning to those
around him said " lie is dead he died he fell
Mrs Vanderbilt had been told that he had faintod.
1t was useless longer to conceal the truth from her
| She received 1t with every token OF tho acuteat
distress.
Word was sent to DIR. Webb, Mr.. Sloane Mr.
Depow, Mr.. Rossiter and Mr. Touccy at the Grand
| Central Depot and presently they all arrived. The
body, which mad lain where it fell, then
removed by DR.. McLanes direction TO another
room.
Mr Garrett returned to the Brevoort House,
where he j. staying, in the evening and went at
once to his room. Though the cards of many repro
scntativcs Of the press were sent TO him, no de-
clined to be seen or 10 say anything at that time
| about Mr. Vanderbilt. He instructed hls secretary
| to say that ne felt that under the clIcu instances
there was nothing of interest to the puDlic that lac
could say. In fact, he wonld neither admit nor deny
that he had been present when the sad event took
place.
| Coroner VI. j. B. MESSENGER Informed of the
death Of Mr.. Vanderbilt III the evening aud AT $40
O'Clock he aIriycd'at the hon e. lie was admitted by
| a coored door man. Channcey NJ. Drpcw
! was in tie reception room and the
coroner spoke to hnn. In ie6 moments
they were Joined by DR.. McLanc.
The Coroner said rive come here. DE-. Ne
Lane. in my official capacity as Coroner
1T is not possible then Tor me TO give ccr-
tiicate Of death p asked DR. McLanc.
When did you last see Mr.. Vanderbilt alive ~
On Sunday last"
81 hen you can't give certificate. You must
have seen Inn within twenty-four hours Of his
death in order to give ccrlicate.'
Mr. Dcpew and Br. AlcLauc spoke in an
undertone for few moments and
then DI. McLanc left the room for about five min
utes. On his return be had another con-
sultatIon with AZ De pcw and then
both went out. In abont five minutes Mr.. De-
pew came 10 and told the coroner that Dr.
| Al, and al
take him mp 10 see the body. Please
make as little trouble you can" was the
parting rcuuest of Mr.. Dcpcw. The coroner waF
conducted mp flight Of stairs and into
Mr. Vanderbt's bedroom. The dead man lay on
his bed lie was clad i'll suit Of plain
black broadcolh. His shoes off,
but he had on pair Of socks 4 black cloth was
tcd over his under jaw aud his eyes
were closed. The coroner opened the eyes
and found that they were blood shot at tho corners
Tie pupils were both dated. The coroner turned
to DR.. McLalc and said Doctor. you must un-
dress him"
"ll get tho undertaken and hIs assistants to
help me-
The undertaken and his assistants were called in
and the body of MIR. Vanderbilt was mn
dressed. The found the body purple the
face livid and the lips purple. Ile had the body
turned over aud examined the back. There were
no mark. of violence. Dr. McLano was intensely
excited and his cheeks were flushed. After
having examined the body Dr. Messemer took the
testimony of Louis Maxwell MIR. Vandcrbiit's
body servant and DR.. James w. NcLane His re.
port is as follows:
William Henry Vanderbilt. age sixtyfour years scvon
months born in staten Island has been in this city
since 1868: OF American pareniage Robert Garrett,
tue president OF The baltimore and Onto Railroad was
. conVersing with him at the time of his death
The first witness the body servant. LOUIS Max
well. VINO tostihed reside at No Gi0 Fiftll.ave aud
was the bUdy-serYant OF the deceased. He in tho
house at 1890 to lunch with tho family About o'clock
he spoke with Robert Garrett the president OF tho
l Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, In tho
[ library. Shortly after Mr.. Garrett came out into
the hallway aud asked mo for glass OF then
and opened the window be offered the deceased somo