The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-12
THE DEAD MILLIONAIRE.
W. II. Vanderbilt Expires Qui.
city and Painlessly.
HIS GREAT WEALTH
Believed to Have Been the Richest
Millionaire in the World
His Property.

was no more. The gilt iron cross over the
gate that leads to the grounds OF the Ro.
man Catholic Orphan Asylum on Fifth
avenue cleaned brightly under the electric
lamp last night was seen from the grand
entrance OF the Vanderbilt ma nsion. direct
ly opposite. against the sombre gray Of the
marble Cathedral. 1t was the only cheer
full thing on the wide, deserted avenue that
seemed also stricken as with sudden death,
The rays OF it's brightness were reflected in
the windows OF the huge brown stone pile,
behind whose closed curtains one of
THE RICHEST MEN IN THE WORLD
lay dead, stricken suddenly and without
warning The busy hum of traffic and the
noise OF the str:et were hushed in the
block. Carriages turned out and passers-
by stopped to inquire If it was true that
the millionaire was dead. Being told that
they heard Alright, they went their way,
sohered and silent, tarrying mayhap
moment to gaze pityingly on the huge stone
pile. Inside che servants and friends tip.
toed about with grave faces. The door
bell WAS rung about every minute and the
wide portals swung open to admit other
friends, who came to mourn with the
mourners. Up stairs, behind the drawn
curtains OF the milionaire's bedroom, there
were soDs and tears. The children OF the
dead were gathered there about his corpse.
None OF them had been with him in the
hour OF his death. To none had he time to
SPEAK WORD OF FAREWELL.
AS he lay upon the covered bed in the
large, square room, the windows of which
overlook the avenue from the northeast
corner from the south wing of the building
to the left Of the main entrance, Mr.. Van
derbilt looked as though he had fallen into
gentle sleep. His features were as peace
able and as natural as it he had just ceased
talking and laid down to rest. His death
had been as pain'es as it was sudden. Mr..
Vanderbilt was always an early riser.
When in his young days he worked his
Staten Island farm. it was his custom to
rise with the sun and he used to say in
later days that he had often risen at
o'clock t. GO to New York and return to
breakfast. and his plow at Z o'clock. OF
late years he had made it a practice to
leave his bed ut Z or not much later, and
throughout his increasing illness OF the last
two winters he had adhered to this prac-
tice. After arising yesterday he had held
his
USUAL MORNING CONFERENCE
with his sons, Cornelius and William K.
who We're the active managers OF his rail
road property, and afterward with E. "
R,,ssitter. his private secretary and treas
urer of the New York Central Railroad tn
whom, he entrusted the last share OF the
management of his private business affairs
These conferences we're held in Mr.. Wander
bilts study on the ground floor OF the
mansion in the corner to the left Of the
main entrance from the avenue. 1t WAS
his f,vorite room. where he wrote and tran
sactr, alI of his business. During the
r.or,,iny conference he had been more than
ordinarily active, and so much 81 as to ex
cite Comment, to- which he replied in II good
hum red, jocular vein, that he had eaten Il
good breakfast and was looking forward
with
PLEASANT ANTICIPATION TO RIDE
up the boulevard with hi 8 son-in-law. Ham
ilton Mckay Trnmhly, in the afternoon.
At II @ clock he sent to the Grand entrai
deuot for his Od-time friend. Chauncey NJ.
Denew. President of the New York Central
road. with a message that he wished to see
him. Mr.. Depew was engaged In CONFER
enre ut the depot, and sent word that ne
would not be able to come for an hour or
two. and Vanderbilt delayed the appo'nt-
ment till o'clock. and to occupy the IN
terval went down to the studio Of ). y. A:
Ward. the sculptor, on West Fifty second
street to sit for a bronze bust Of himself,
which the trustees of the College OF Physl-
clans and Surgeons wished to place in the
yestibue of the college, for the erection OF
which he recently gave $5OO,OOO he re-
turned and took lunch at 1890 with his
wife. his son George and Mr.. Trombly. Az
the table he was
NorlcEABLY BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL.
Al o'clock Robert Garrett, President OF
+ha Baltimore and Ohio Railway, called
unon Mr.. Depew at the Grand Central oe'
~ and finding him still detained there.
Vent up to Mr. Vanderbilts house to in
form the millionaire and to take Mr.. De-
naw's place. Mr.. Vanderbilt greeted MN
Cordially and engaged in a long AID an,-
mated conversation with MIN auou' iAl.
rood matters. The conference lasted more
tban an hour, and Mr.. Vanderbilt sent
I'D to MIR. Twombly that he would be
oo,nnalled TO forego the intended dr've.
The two railroad magnates were ais.
dn,;,u amo the new terminal facilities OF the
as p'.It;,nore and Ohio. which it had secured es1
bv way OF Staten Island; vanaelplt
showed a lively interest In the results Iha'
,nare Tn follow for the island, his birthplace.
were W .i,;ie the talk turned upon these
oonas ~, ~ his childhood, and now
S;s r,v work contrasted with tne
4no,,andHus o achievements OF MS o!d
NJ Garrett was setting on the SOFA
ase i on;ro the millionaire, who leaned ioi.
ud "nr IN his arm chair, as was his naoic
when thoroughly interested: Inc pres
dant of the Baltimore and ONO was sau
dsnlv made aware OF sllght lhuisI.no 0neee te -
in Mr.. Vanderbilt's speech tnas seG ga over
t' an 'aatch ,a his words, MIR. Vanderbilt pltcneo
forward without warning anu
rr,1, HEAVILY ON THE FLOOR
t..o Mr.. Garrett sprang to ms iee!,
oi l ,.o n,;.;,,o inflow from the sofa, ialo ~
ndan ",d h;s friends head. He tnen SUN
a unue. ~" Mrs Vanderbilt and ueorEe,
mohsu nnaest ] son. Messengers were
.ne ~ haste for pnyslc'ans.. s.
no zen. from, tbe neighborhood responneI nls. h,,
onS S n followed almost inmediate'y ~
tha 20 ,ni,v doctor, James w. McAeAnd ha Il
s;,nnIe restoratives as were az n'nJ .;d was
been hurridly applied, 1. Gnt nexer n"r' spoke or
nod ~ na ,+sr he fell under the sudden ss.one' ne
nJ S;od IN a few minutes, without SUE
",a u Ut. IT, oil interests and purposes nc t.
se. ~. ~ .o,rent he fell upon the moor; 49,
ueau no Ile '..iock when DIR. Mclean leu sno
s,t;' ~a9 I.oo ,;dow from the room wneie "!a T.,
bnsha nd had sat planning ana uath mu i've
the fulI nride of health ana s. npomnced
minutes before. DR.. Mche""
his death the result OF
. SUDDEN s1RokB or PARALYSIS
s,o .,,o bursting of large blood S1s.e' Slso'
az ths base 81 the brain, WHICH W. st.t Ted
lntaiv fatal at the mome"0. 80 Main
that Mr.. Vanderbiits Gma5octor ne knew his
less as it was sudden: tnrad taIv and prom pity
patient long and intimaIJt tn to avoid the
certified To the cause of deaoh os,rnner'e in
unnnneassrv m amea ~ formality Of coronI = was
,,nat 81 =, autopsy. AS scon ~ ~ Won.
aues. u. anu t;nad q" bevond doubt that MI. were
de.t:,. ...se dead man, the serVan. av ri
snm',nsd .,"n. - nd helped carry tne ,,oJr0om o
Their dead master upstairs 20 VI" Vanderbilt
he had occupied in lie, m nd teiephone
to uH snns,non her sons, and to tns them Of the
sst sss Sssn wt%
the Offices at the depot .e'1 came, and had
;;;.: ;::; :; e;
Bible Society. at the ,a'ss b,oss whittier Mr.
hastenrd at once to ene dumb with dls.