The record-union., 1893-11-11
CORNELIUS THE THIRD.
he Is Now the Chief of the Van
derbiltS.

The Brainy Cr0Sus VINO Decllneu TO
ASK Any Favors from His Hard
Fisted Grandfather-Some Good Sto-
ries of the Famous Family.
When the New York papers recently
printed the name of the heaviest taxpay-
ers in that city the Vanderbilts were put
down as paying 100000 on their estate.
This was the largest sum and shows the
Vanderbilt property to be worth about
$120, 900. This prodigious fortune Is
now in the third generation of its hold
ers. Its foundation was laid by Corne
Illus Vanderbilt, the first of the name.
The brainiest of its inheritors to-day is
Cornelius Vanderbilt, the third. The
''old Commodore was a man of hard,
firm and selfish fiber. Until he was 27
years old he worked hard with his own
hands. Later, having just become owner
of fast schooner or two, he started
line of clippers to Aspinwall, having for
a partner old George Law. These ves-
sells connected with line to San Fran
cisco, which later he sold to Commodore
G. X. Garrison. When the gold discov-
cry III California was sending thousands
OF people to that Territory, says the
Washington Post, Garrison made up his
mind that the "boom" was no transitory
hing. So he went to New York and
made a contract with Commodore Van
derbilt to buy his line of fast clippers.
But while the contract was preparing for
signature and transfer Vanderbilt re-
ceived information from George Law,
who had gone out there to see how mat
ters really were, that caused him to be-
lieve that he had sold out too cheap. So
when the papers were brought to himfor
signature he declined to ratify the bar
gain.
'Why, d. it, Garrison" he said, ''Pve
been cheated. You've got the best of me.
l wont I ratify the SALE"
'You made the trade. didn't your"
"Well yes, did," the other man said,
"but | am giving the property away in
selling at such figure. PHI be d. if Pll
do it; and that's the end of it," And the
hard old man turned to his desk with a
flush in his face and an ugly gleam in his
cold, steely blue eye.
IRON WILL BACKED BY A DERRINGEB.
Four days after this Garrison came
into Vanderbilt's office again Several
people were there. but he waited until
they had all gone. Then he took from
his pocket a roll of papers. "Commo-
dore Vanderbilt" he said in calm, even
tone, "I've brought you that contract
selling your line of ships from New York
to Aspinwall and from Panama to San
Francisco for you to sign this morning.
Please look over il and see if it is cor
rect" and Garrison untolded the papers
and laid them down before Vanderbilt.
The old mans face turned as red as fire.
He showed the papers TO one side, and in
a voice hoarse with anger, said: 'By
this and by that [ thought [ told you
the other day that l wouldn't ratify that
contract, and l won't. Now, that's the
end of it," and he roughly threw the pa
pers toward Captain Garrison.
The latter picked them up off the floor
and arranged them without word. He
then started for the door. But instead of
going out he locked it, put the key in his
pocket and walked back to Vanderbilt,
who was watching him with some curl
osity. He carefully spread out the pa
pers again before the other man, and
drawing a six-inch Derringer he cooked
it and held it within foot Of Vanderbilps
right ear.
Commodore Vanderbilt" said he very
slowly, ''do you see that clock on the
mantel? 1t is now five minutes to IL. If
when that clock mas finished the stroke
of IL, you have not signed that contract,
by Cd will blow your brains ali over
this floor"
turned very pale. He knew his man.
The clock sounded tick, tick. 1t was
three minutes, then two, then one min
ute of IL. "Good God!' thought Mr..
Vanderbilt, must l be murdered right
here with no chance for my life?" The
wheels of the clock began their whir
preparatory to striking the hour. Before
the first stroke had rung out Vanderbilt
seized the pen before him and by the
third note of the hour he had written his
name to the contract.
''Sand it," said Garrison. In those
days blotting paper was not used and fine
sand took up the ink that was not dry.
After il was sanded Vanderbilt put the
papers in their envelope. Then Garrison
unlocked the deadly pistol with which
he had coolly shot Sterling through the
brain over his wife's shoulder, with her
arms around him, and put it in his pocket.
He took the papers, walked to the door
and unlocked it.
"Commodore," he said, 81 shall never
tell of what occurred here this morn
ing"
From that time, though they passed
each other daily on the street and sat in
the same Board of Directors, the two men
never exchanged word.
PLUCKY YOUNG CORNELIUS.
When Cornelius NOW the head of the
New York Central Railway, with its vast
connecting lines) was Is he was a fine,
well-grown, manly lad. He was an OBJ
servant boy, and he saw what a hard
time his father, w. II. Vanderbilt, had to
maintain six fine, growing children. with
healthy appetites, on not very fertile
eighty-acre Staten Island farm. "Bill, ;"
as the old Commodore always denomi-
mated his eldest son, worked very hard,
like any other day laborer, until long
after he was 10 years old. His father be-
lieyed in people maintaining themselves.
He never gave his eldest son penny
and allowed him TO shift for himself All
this the boy knew. So one day the boy
asked his mother if he could go over to
New York. He walked down Nassau
street until he came to the great bank
with a capital of s., 100000 the biggest na-
tional bank then, and probably now, in
the United States He walked in.
s'Can l see the President?" he asked of
the observant porter.
Just then a pleasant-faced gentleman
passed in.
'.Thars him." the porter said.
Cornelius walked in after him.
Ibid you want to see me?" the gentle
man asked when he saw the boy.
Eyes, sir, if you are the President of
the bank" was the reply.
The man waited.
81 want to get something to do, sir,n
the boy said. Here is letter from my
teacher. / have no other references"
Mr.. Kennedy took the letter and read
it, He glanced up at the youth. The lad
somehow pleased him. He had a frank.
faoa apd IoolraI ctaafJilxy xyo,,