The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-28
A WOMAN THE CAUSE.
How Cornelius Vanderbilt Was
Stricken With Paralysis.
lie Was Raging Mad I'm Stormy
Scene with Ills Son.

The recent serious illness Of Cornelius
Vanderbilt is still the theme for talk at
Newport Many of Mr.. Vanderbilt's most
intimate friends and associatcs have cX-
pressed tho utmost SURPRISE that one of his
physique should have been the victim OF
a paralytic stroke, especially when his alb
stemious life and habits are taken into con-
sideration.
No event which has ever happened In
this generous, courtly gcntleman's life has
ever affected him so much as the deter.
mined effort by his son, Cornelius, Jr., TO
marry Miss Grace Wilson, and tho cause
for this terrible blow is now told for the
first time and is vouched for fully
AS far back as last August young Van
derbilt, who has since proved himself d
young man Of great determination, con-
fidcd TO his father his desire 70 make Miss
Wilson his wife. At first the Vanderbilts,
the father especially, smiled and said moth
ing ard made no serious opposition To the
young mans suit, believing that his icol-
ing would In time die out, A trip for him
was planned, first abroad, then west, but
he stubbornly refused To leave New York.
Miss Wilson had shown great and de-
cided preference for young Vanderbilt but
no one of her set ever dreamed that she
II
mony with the boy, for the Discrepancy III
their ages made every one think that she
was only amusing herself with bin. 1t Is
stated now, however, that ut tea given
last February TO lot of girls she positive
ly affirmed her intention of marrying
young Vanderbilt, and SO tho news COM
mcncod To spread rapidly
1t naturally got To tho cars OF Mr.. Van
dcrbilt, and in consequence "A stormy inter
view was held between the father and son
early in April The father first gently
pleaded, then commanded. The son showed
perfect indifference 60 tho wishes of his ia
ther and, remaining obduratc, went az
once 10 the house of Miss Wilson and inn
plored that their engagement be formally
announced.
A meeting of the Wilson family was
held, and they were then made fully cog
infant of the violent opposition to the
union of the young people. Notwithstand-
ing all this and knowing that the young
man S career in life would be seriously af-
fectcd, II not completely blighted, the Will
sons gave dinner at which the announce
ment of their daughters marriage in May
to young Vanderbilt was made and duly
chronicled.
Mr.. Vanderbilt at once made a codici,
to his will, cutting off his eldest son With
So 600 year in trust invested. The we'd
ding did not occur in May, for the delicate
Lad was attacked by inflammatory rheu.
matism, and the event was postponed, at
first indefinitely, and then set for the first
week in August. Daily the lines deepened
in the face Of the anxious father, and his
friends knew that his mental trouble and
anxiety for his sons happiness and health
were making inroads on his own health.
AS n last resort on July IA, Mr.. Van
derbilt went, with Drs Janeway and Me-
Burney, TO admonish the obdurate young
man against the step he was about to take
and to urge him TO travel and regain his
shattered health. Young Vanderbilt de-
clared that nothing would move him, that
no power could mako him alter his deter
mination to make Miss Wilson his wife,
and that, If need be, he would repudiate
tho whole family which loved him SO
dearly.
1t was Mt this juncture that Mr.. Wander
bilt arose. his face livid with rage and an
ger, but before the anathcma which he
would have hurled ut his disbcdicnt son
could be uttered he clutched at his throat
and fell from the stroke OF paralysis which
startled the world.
When ii was announced that death night
follow Mrs. Vanderbilt and her daughter
went to the son, who pcrsistcntly refused
to approach his father, and pleaded with
him to ask forgiveness of his father and
seek IA reconciliation. This young Wander
bilt refused most positively to do, and then
Mrs. and Miss Vanderbilt went on their
knees and prayed the boy TO do rs they
asked. He stubbornly refused to sec his
father OF to inquire as to his condition.
Since MIR. Vanderbilt has been conscious
and has been able To talk he has requested
that the marriage be at least postponed un-
Gil late In the fall, but even this request, it
is understood, has been denied. Now York
Journal.