Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1885-12-10
~VaN0ERB!LT'S DEATH.

1T Came with a Sudden stroke while
the Millionaire was Discussing
Business Matters.
New York telegram, 9Th: At II
Hon. VIII. Vanderbilt sent to the
Grand Central depot for his old.
friend, Chauncy NJ. Depew, president of
the Now York Central road, with a
message that he wished to see him.
Depaw was engaged in a conference at
the depot and sent word that he would
not be able to come for an hour or two,
and Vanderbilt delayed the appoint
ment till l O'Clock, and to occupy the
interval vent down to the studio OF j. %.
Award, the sculptor, in West Fifty.
second street, to sit for q bronze bust of
himself, which the trustees of the college
of physicians and surgeons wished to
place in the vestibule Of Che college for
the erection OF which he recently gave
$500,0G1. He returned and took lunch
at 1890 with his wife, his son George
and MIR. Twombley. At the table he
was noticeably bright and cheerful. At
| o'clock Robt. Garrett, president of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, called
upon Depew at the Grand Central depot,
and finding him still detained there,
went up to Mr.. Vanderbilt's house to
inform the millionaire and take Depew's
place. Vanderbilt greeted him cordially
and engaged in G long conversation with
him about railroad matters. The CON
terence lasted more than an hour, and
Vanderbilt sent word to T%wombley that
he would have to forego an intended
drive. The two railroad magnates were
discussing the new terminal facilities of
the Baltimore and Ohio, and the new
inlet into the CITY 1t had secursd by the
way of Staten Island, and Vanderbilt
showed q lively interest IN the results
chat were to follow for the Island OF his
birth from the new enterprise. 1t was
while the talk was turned upon these
scenes of his childhood and early work,
contrasted with the tremendous achieve
ments of his old age that Garrett, sitting
on a sofa and facing the millionaire,
who leaned for ward in his arm chair as
was his habit when thoroughly inter
ested, that the president of the Baltimore
and Ohio was suddenly made aware of a
slight i~ndlstinctness in Mr.. Vanderbilt's
speech that grew to an inarticulate sound
as he leaned over to catch his words.
Mr.. Vanderbilt pitched forward without
warning and fell heavily on the floor on
his face. MIR. Garrett sprang to his feet
with an exclamation of alarm, ard seizlng
| q pillow from the sofa laid it under his
friends head, hen summoned Mrs.
Vanderbilt and George. his youngest
son.. Messengers were sent in haste for
physicians. One from the reighbor-
hood responded first, and was followed
almost Immediately by the family physi-
clan, DIR. James w. Mclean. Such
simple restoratlves as were at hand had
been hurriedly applied, but human aid
was IN vain. Vanderbilt never spoke or
moved after he fell under the stroke,
and died in q few minutes without o
struggle. 70 all intents and purposes
he Tell dead the instant he fell
CD the floor. 1t was 2:30 when DR.
Mclean lead the stricken widow from
the room where her hubsand had sat
planning II working in the full pride
of health aud strength five minutes be-
fore. DIR. Mclean had pronounced his
death the result of a sudden stroke OF
paralysis. due to the bursting of O large
blood vessel at the base of the brain, Of
the kind that are absolutely fatal. He
stated that Vanderbil's death was as
painless as 1t was sudden. The doctor
knew his patient most intimately, and
promptly certified to the cause of death
to avoid the unnecessary formality of
a coroner's inquest and on autopsy.
AS soon as 1t was ascertaned beyond q
doubt that Vanderbilt was dead, men
servants were summoned and helped
carry the body of their dead master up
stairs to the bedroom he had occupied
in life. Mrs. Vanderbilt was Frustrated
with grief, and telephone messages were
sent to the Grand Central depot to sum.
mon her sons and to the residence of
her son-ln-law to inform them of the be-
reavement. Cornelius, William X. and
Frederick w. Vanderbilt had beer to-
gether in the offices at the depot less
than half an hour before the message
came, but had gone away together. The
message found Cornelius in q meeting
of the trustees of the American Bible
society at Bible house. He fastened at
once to the house, whittier Mr.. Depew
had preceded him dumb with distress
over his friends death. One by one the
other children arrived, and as the re.
ports spread with lightning-like ra-
pidlty through the city near friends of
the dead magnate also came. Universal
CONSERVATION and grief prevailed at the
most unexpected news of Vanderbilt's
tdeath. While he had for two years past
been a victim, more or less, Of indiees.
tion, with attendant ills and kindred
serious disorders, he had lately, despite
frequent reports of his death, been APP
parently mending. There had been an
improvement in the general tone of his
health that was particularly noticeable
to-day. On Monday night he
attended the performance in
the Metropolitan opera house,
and nothing was apparently further
from his mindthan sudden death. Like
most people Vanderbilt had his own
private superstitions, and one of them
was that if he ever passed the age of
sixty-tive years, which for some reason
in his family's history he looked upon as
a critical age, he wonld be good for
twenty years more. In conversation
with a near friend more than three
weeks ago he stated this as his belief,
and rejoiced In the knowledge that the
turning point was nearly reached. Had
he lived to May 9Th next, he would have