The sun., 1885-12-17
DEATH VANDERBILT.
William HI. Vanderbilt Drops Dead OF
Paralysis In his Reside ence in New York.


Paralysis In his Reside ence in New York.
William II. Vanderbilt, the richest
man in America, ii not in the world,
dropped dead in his own house,
on Tuesday afternoon. He appeared to be
in good health up to the moment Of death.
lie had held conferences with various people
and ut the time was discussin; railroad
matters with Mr.. Garrett, president OF
the Baltimore 4 Ohio railroad.
1t was while the talk turned upon the
scenes OF his childhood and early
work contrasted with the tremendous
achievement Of old age, that Mr..
the millionaire who leaned forward in his
armchair, as was his habit when thorough
~ Interested, that the president OF the
Baltimore & Ohio WAS suddenly made
aware OF n slight indistnctness in Mr.
NuGderbiit's speech that grew into
an narticulate sound. AS he leaned
over to catch his words Mr.. Van
derbit pitched forward. without word
OF warning, and fell heavily on the floor on
his face. Mr.. Garrett, springing to his feet
with an exclamation OF alarm, seized the
pillow on the sofa laid it under his friend S
head. He then summoned Mrs Wander
blt and George, the youngest son. Mes
scngers were sent in haste for ply
sicians. One from the neighborhood re
sponded first, and was followed almost i'm
mediately by the family doctor, DR.. James
w. Mclean. Sucn simple restoratives as
were ut hand had been applied, but human
aid was in vain. Mr.. Vanderbilt never
spoke or moved after he fell under the
sudden stroke, and died within IL few min
utes without II struggle. To all intents
and purposes he was dead the in
st;tnt he ieil forward upon the floor
Universal CONSERVATION and grief prevailed
at the most unexpected news. Mr.. Van
derbit, while he had for the past two
yea 's. been Il victim more or less OF indi
gestion, with it's attendant ills and kindred
disorders, had lately, despite the frequent
reports of his death, been apparently mend
ing.
Mr.. Vanderbilt had made IL WILL what
its provisions are is not known to any one
outsid the family and his contitlentia
counsel and friend, Mr.. Depew. But the
Nanderbilts were IL very united family. Mr.
Depew ventured the prediction that the
millionaire's death would make no change
in existing conditions. The Vanderbilt rail
road systems will be mana. .ed and owned as
heretofore. The sons will manage the
tate and the property, all Of which are here,
tn same as ii the master hand was still at
the helm
r.Vanderbilt was, it is thought, richer
than any single member OF the Rothschild
family. The duke OF Westminster is said
to be worth So, 900, 900, but > r. Wander
bilt was richer because the dukes money
only brings him about = per cent, being main
ly in lands and houses. Mr.. Vanderbilt had
Il much aryer income Last year he held
S54, 900, 900 OF per cent bonds and later
he reduced this amount to S31, 900 OOo Of
government 81 per cents. His government
bonds were worth almost 100000.
At one time he owned 24O, 600 shares OF
M:chi. gan Central; 300, 900 shares OF North,
western, and 10000 shares OF Lake Shore
lately. Inaddtou he has 10000 Chicago
Il Rock Island, %, 900 Delaware & Lacka-
wanna, and about 10000 shares in other
railroads, making about 800, 900 shares of
rair ad stock also 50 900, 900 worth of
railroad bonds, S3,2UO,OUO OF state
various manufacturing stocks and mort
cages. He valued his house on Fif h
avenue, with its art treasures at
$4,000, 900. His ordinary household
expenses were 5000, 900 Il year. In 1881
he gave a ball that cost SlOO. 900. He
loved horses, and was Il good judge ofhorse-
flesh. lie sold Maud 5. for $40, 900. Mr..
Vanderbilt was worth $500, 00O, 900. AL
thou.h his fortune shrank last year ma
terially through Il big decline in stocks and
through business depression, the "bull
movement of the past few months brought
it up again. His income was calculated as
follows: S2,372, 900 a year from govern
ment bonds: $7,395, 900 from railway
stocks; So76, 695 from miscellaneous sccuri-
ties. Total, over $4,000, 900 Il year, or
$2S,O0O day.
Mr.. Garrett describes the death scene as
follows: He vas seated in his own arm
chair in IL Careless, half reclining position
and his visitor sat opposite uponu sofa
Suddenly Mr. Garrett observed Il hitch in
Mr.. Nanderbilt's voice. 1t seemed to grow
thick and his words came with difficulty
Mr.. Garrett was alarmed to see IL painful
twitch in his hosts face. Another and Il
fainter one passed-iust the slightest spasm.
Mr.. Vanderbilt half-rose from his chair,
paused, tottered, and then fell forward
upon his side at the feet of his astonished
guest, with whom but moment before he
had been engaged in lively conversation.
Before Mr.. Garrett cou.d lean over him
and place his hand upon his heart it had
ceased to beat. Within thirty seconds
from the time that the indistinct articula-
lntion was noticed he was dead. A blood
vessel in his brain had broken, known AS
apoplexy, He never knew how he died or
guessed that the end OF his life had come.
His sensation may be described, If dcscrib-
ed at all, ais IL moment OF stupor, then OF
blindness, mental chaos and the end.