New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-25
AUGUST BELMONT DEAD,
SKETCH OF THE CAREER OF THE NOTED
BANKER, POLITICIAN. HORSEMAN
AND LEADER IN SOCIETY.
PNEUMONIA THE CAUSE, RESULTING FROM
COLD CAUGHT AT THE HORSE sHow-Ax
ESTIMATE OF HIS FoRTUSE-FUNERAL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WHOM

HE LEAVES benin

ESTIMATE OF HIS F0RTUSE-FUNEhAL
ADMINISTRATIONS WHOM
HE LEAVES BEHIND.
August Belmont died at o'clock yesterday
morning, at his home in Fifth-ave., from pneu-
monia, which was the result of bad cold con-
tracted at the recent horse show in Madison
Square Garden. His death removes from Sew-
York man who occupied an extremely importans
and prominent place in the banking, political ana
turf circles of the country as well in the social
world.
His success in all the various positions which
he occupied was due mainly to plan that he
followed throughout his life. Whether it YVES In
financial matters, in the social circle in politics, or
upon the turf Mr.. Belmont's efforts were always
directed toward elevating the tone Of things with
which he became connected and in which he was
interested. In finance he built up one Of the
most substantial most widely known and respected
banking institutions in the country. In politics.
where he played leading part as the chairman
of the Democratic National Committee, he was al
ways aggressive and unfinching. In the social
world he was leader of fashion, in the most sub
stantia sense of that word, and his efforts toward
improving the turf have been applauded by every
lover of honest racing and competitions betueen
horses of high quality. AS collector of valuable
paintings, he was one of the first in this
country to attract the attention Of rich men in
this direction, and his private gallery opened
to the public on Saturdays years before the
Metropolitan Museum Of Art was organized. To
all the many circles of life in which Mr.. Belmont
was interested in late years, his loss will be an
almost irreparabe one.
His death came suddenly and practically with
out warning. Although he was well along in
years. his health had always been considered ex-
bo aoffh of hard (rQrman
which generally lasts years after men of ordinary
constitutions are expected to die. Those who saw
Mr.. Belmont few days ago were all Of the
opinoin that he would live for many years.
At the last moment he consented to act as one OF
the Judges of the horse show In the place OF Mr..
Burdett- Coutts, and on Thursday of the week oil
the show he caught a slight cold, to which he
paid no attention. He attended to his business
engagements for the week following, ana on
Thursday of last week was at his banking mouse
in Nassau-st On that evening he went 70 the
Union Club, where he played whist with party
of friends until late hour. The next morning
he complained of pains in his side, and the family
physician, DR.. William NJ. Polk, OF NO. Eass
Thirty y-sixth-st.. was called in.
He pronounced Mr. Belmont's condition to be
rather serious, and said that he was suherihs
from nleurisy. On Saturday the sick man had
Alfred l.. Loomis and the two physicians held
consultation They made careful examination
of their patient and at that time no symptoms OF
nneumonia had developed. However, Dr. POLK
decided to remain by Mr.. Belmont's bedside all
night. During the night Mr. Belmont became
unconscious. and he remained in that conditaon
until his death. -sr>es-.a.it ,',-.-'-,
NOTHING COULD SAVE HIM
EVERYTHING within the skill of the physicians
WAS done to save Mr.. Belmont's life, but at an
early hour yesterday DIR. Polk saw that death was
n question of a short time only. The members OK
the family were called into the sick room ana
were there when the end came. They were MIS-
Belmont. ex-C Congressman Perry Belmont, the bank
ers eldest son: O. II. Belmont, August Belmont.
ir.. and Mrs S. S. Rowland, daughter.
Mr. Belmont would have been seventy-four years
old on December g. The funeral arrangements
have not vet been completed. 1t will be quies
and unassuming one. 1t will take place on Sat
urday in the Protestant Episcopal Church of the
Ascension. which Mr.. Belmont attended. and the
burial will be at Newport.
The news of the bankers death spread rapidly Q
and it was not many hours afterward when tele-
Grams and messages of coincidence from men prom
inent in finance, politics and society were pouring
in. Many well-known people called to leave their
cards in person. The flags of many clubs were
put at half-mast and arrangements are being
made for special meetings Of the Man.
haitian Knickerbocl<er and Union clubs, OF
which Mr. Belmont was a member to take action
regarding his death.
HIS EARLY LIFE.
August Belmont was born in Alzei, which was
then in Hessan Rhine, and is now a province
of Prussia. The original family name was Shon-
berg. the German for beautiful mountain buo
the province in which the family lived was the
home of large number of French people, and
whether by his father later on by HIMSELF
his name was changed TO the present one. which
has the same meaning in French that the original
had. is questioned. Augustus father was small
banker 1t was there that young Belmont hrss
showed his love for horses, and almost as soon
as he could walk he was able to slt In
saddle As youth he spent much OF MS
time with horses. riding. driving and framing
them for his own amusement and before he was
sent away to school by his father he was a good
hOrseman.
He was sent to q small private school, ana
when be returned from it had developed the
germs of those traits which in after years made
him prominent as q leader in whatever he UNDER
took Then. too he gave indications Of what he
was afterward to become one who established
social standards and customs His former play
mates were not encouraged by him, because
they did not come up TO his idea Of what he
thought his associates should be.
August was only fourteen years old when his
father obtained place for him errand boy in
the Frankfort branch of the great Rothschild
banking house. The boy then showed the same
characteristics of thoroughness and eagcrness
to improve not only himself, but his
surroundings and he was soon brought particularly
to the attention of that member of the Rothschild
family who was at the head of that branch Of the
banking house. August was taken into the
family, and three years afterward was sent to
Naples with one Of the members Of the firm as .
clerk He made himself valuable there and
acquainted himself so thoroughly and quickly with
the firms business that he was soon put in charge
of that branch of the bank and managed Tor
time the enormous Papal and Bourbon uanSac-