Los Angeles daily herald., 1885-12-09
VANDERBILT DEAD.
The Noted Millionaire
Passes Away.
MONEY COULD NOT SAVE HIM.
The Active Brain of the Rich Man
Stilled by Paralysis Without
Note of Warning.
MONEY COULD NOT SAVE HIM

Especial to The Herald bB associated Press.l
New YORK, December S.--William
H. Vanderbilt is dead. Without mo-
ment's warning the mes senger came for
him and he was no more. The gilt iron
cross over the gate that leads to the
grounds Of the Roman Catholic Orphan
Asylum on Fifth avenue cleaned bright
ly under the electric lamps tonight, as
seen from the grand entrance to the
Vanderbilt mansion, directly opposite,
against the sombre gray of the marble
cathedral. 1t was the only cheerful
thing on the wide, deserted avenue, that
seemed also stricken as with sudden
death. The rays of its 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 bum and
noise of traffic were hushed in the
block. Carriages turned out and
passers-by stopped to inquire il it was
true that the millionaire was dead.
Being told that they had heard Alright,
they went their way sobered and
silent, tarryIng mayhap moment
to gaze pityingly upon the huge stone
pile. Inside servants and friends tip
toed about with grave faces. The door
bell was rung almost every minute and
the wide portals swung open to admit
other friends who came to mourn with
the mourners. Upstairs, behind the
drawn curtains Of the millionaire's bed
room, were sobs and tears. The chil
dren OF the dead man were gathered
there about his corpse. None of them
had been with him in the hour of his
| death--t0 none had he time to speak a
word of farewell. As he lay upon the
| bed in the large square room, the win
| dows of which overlook the avenue from
| the northeast corner, from the south
wing of the building. to the left OF the
main entrance, Mr.. Vanderbilt looked as
though he had fallen into gentle sleep.
His features were peaceful aud as Bat-
ural as ii he had just ceased talking and
laid down to rest. His death had been as
painless as it was sudden, Mr.. Wander
bilt 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 aud he had to say in his
latter life he had often arisen at
OF clock to go to New York and return to
breakfast and his plow at seven. OF late
years he had made 1t q practice to
leave his bed at seven O'clock not much
later, and throughout his increas-
ing i'll health of the last two
winters he had adhered TO this practice.
After arising to-day he had held his
usual morning conference with his sons
Cornelius and William K, who were
the active managers of his railroad prop
er.y and afterward with Mr.. Il. v. Ros-
sitter, his private Secretary and Treas
urer of the New York Central Railroad.
| to whom he entrusted the best share of
the management of his private business
| affairs. These conferences were held
in Mr.. Vanderbilt's study, on the
| gound floor of the mansion in the corner
| to the LETT of the main entrance from
the avenue, his favorite room, where he
wrote and transacted all his business.
During the morning conference to-day
| he had been more than ordinarily active
and alert; so much so as to excite COM
ment, TO which he replied in a good
huniored, jocular vein, that he had eaten
good breakfast and was looking for
ward with pleasant anticipations to a
ride up the boulevard with his son.in.
law, Hamilton Nick. Twombley, in the
afternoon AT ii o'clock he sent to the
! ~ =. I. II a
friend, Chauncey NJ. Depew, Presi-
dent of the New York Central road,
with message that he wished to see him.
Mr.. Depew was engaged in conference
at the depot, and sent word that he
would not be able to come for an hour
or two, and Vanderbilt delayed the ap-
pointment till | O'Clock, and TO occupy
the interval went down to the studio of
j. @. A. Ward, the sculntor, in West
Fifly-sccond street, to sit for bronze
bust Of himself, which the trustees OF
the College of Physicians and Surgeons
wished TO place in the vestibule of the
college, for the erection of which he re-
Gently gave 5000 He returned and
took lunch at 1890 with his wife, his
son George and Mr.. Twombley. At the
table he was noticeably bright and
cheerful.
| AT o'clock Robert Garrett, President
of the Baltimore and 0hioRailway. called
upon Mr.. Depew at the Grand Central
Depot. Finding him still detained
there, he went up to Mr.. Vanderbilt's s
house to inform the millionaire and
take Mr.. Depew's place. Mr.. Wander
bi1t greeted him cordially and engaged
/ TOD
with him about railroad matters. The
conference lasted more than an hour.
and Mr.. Vanderbilt sent word to Mr..
Twombley that he would be COM
pelled to forego his intended drive.
The two railroad magnates were discuss
ing the new terminal facilities the Balti-
more and Ohio had secured by the way
of Staten Island, and Vanderbilt show, d
a lively interest in the results that were
to follow for the island OF his birth from
the new enterprise. The talk turned
upon the scenes OF his early childhood,
and his early work contrasted with the
tremendous achievements Of his old age.
Mr.. Garrett was sitting on the sofa aud
| facing the millionaire, who leaned for
ward in his armchair, as was his
| habit when he was thoroughly
interested. The President Of the Balti-
more and Ohio was suddenly made
aware of a slight indistinctness
in Mr.. Vanderbilfs speech that grew
into an inarticu'ate sound As he
leaned over to catch his words, Mr..
Vanderbilt pitched forward without
warning and fell heavily on the floor on
his face. Mr.. Garrett sprang to his feet
and ssizing a pillow from the sofa laid
it under his friends head. Then he
summoned Mrs. Vanderbilt and George,
the Youngest son. Messengers were
sent in haste for physicians. One from
the neighborhood responded first and
was followed almost Immediately by
the family doctor, James w. Mclean.
Such simple res.oratives as were
at hand had been hurriedly applied
but human aid was in vain. Mr.. Van
derbilt never spoke or moved after he
fell under the sudden stroke, and died
in few moments.
It was 2:30 o'clock when DIR.
Mclean led the stricken widow
from the room where her hus-
band had sat planning and
working in the full pride of health and
strength five minutes before. DIR. Me-
Lean pronounced his death the result Of
a sudden stroke of paralysis due to the
bursting of large blood vessel at the
base OF the brain, of the kind that are
absolutely fatal at the moment. He
stated that Mr.. Vanderbilt's death
was as painless as it was sudden.
The doctor knew his patient most init
mately and promptly certified to the
cause of his death, to avoid the uhnec-