Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-16
A VANDERBILT ROMANCE.
The First Unsuccessful Wooing of tho Old
Commodore, Cornelius.

Commodore, Cornenus.
a romantic story has como to light Of
the first Unsuccessful woong of old Com
modoro Cornelius Vanderbilt, founder
of tho family fortunes, and was related In
tho Now York World.
The commodore's first flamo was q Miss
Sally Lake of Staten Island. Sally's
mother, according to the story, rejected
his suit, called him poor trash and told
him not to darken her door again. AS for
Sally, she was dutiful daughter.
The scono was tho old Austen mansion,
at the foot Of Pennsylvania avenue, Cliff
ton, overlooking tho bay. Scratched on
one of the window pancs facing south are
to BIO seen to this day tho words, sally
Lake and c." The words wero
scratched with Sally's diamond ring, and
the &c" presumably stands for Cornelius.
The mansion is one Of tho best preserved
Of tho pro- Revolutionary buildings around
New York 1t dates from 1710. In 1t arc
tho Same solid old white oak beams, cedar
rafters aud cypress shingles that were
there when the English flag foated over
tho Battery. 1t is on gently sloping
hillside, running almost to tho river, and
tho view 1t commands of tho Narrows and
upper bay and tho Long Island shore and
Wiz lONtr phTb vi tno ivy 10 supciDs
There John II. Austen lived five years.
| lie was n we'll known real estate auctioneer
| in tho days of early New York, and ho
| and tho commodore were close friends.
Mr.. Vanderbilt con1ded much to him,
and ono of his condolences was his i'll luck
with tho first woman that caught his
fancy, Sally Lake. Mr.. Austen died q
year ago, and his daughter Mrs. Oswald
Muller, who resides in the old house, told
the story to World reporter.
"Tho commodore used to row past this
house." she said, land soon became ac-
quaintcd with Sally Lake She was beau
| tiful and engaging and entirely captivated
| him. You see, the water Is not many
| yards away
"Ono night she called to him from tho
| shade of the trees, Cornell, Cornell, why
don't you round TO and como in?
NOW this, tho commodore used to tell
my father, was just what he was waiting
for. Ho made fast the boat to the rocks
and ran up tho slope. He wore boating
suit, broad brimmod straw hat and wooden
shirt with collar unbuttoned and turned
down low. His mock, he used to tell my
| father, with n laugh, was as red as the
waffle of n turkey cock.
THAT was the beginning He called fire.
| quontly after that, and with tho usual re-
suit. IIo became madly In love- but the
girls mother could 500 no prosperous fu-
ture for tho boatman, and ono afternoon,
after Mr.. Vanderbilt made o visit, there
was stormy scene between the mother
and tho daughter, for the commodore had
made an impression. Tho mothers firm
ness prevailed, and she forced Sally to give
up her boatnan love-.
"Tho next day when Cornelius called
the door was slammed in his face. AS
get the story, Mrs. Lake said to him In
most cutting style, No such poor trash as
Cornelius Vanderbilt will ever darken my
door again.
"Mr. Vanderbilt went away very much
cut up. He often told my father that Mrs.
Lakes words wero ono Of his strongest in.
centivcs to be successful in business.
Tho lovers correspondent for awhile,
but thoy never met again.
GAS to tho words of the widow, Mr..
Vanderbilt told my father that one after.
noon us he and Sally were communing in
tho fashion Of lovers and watching the
passing ships, no took her diamond ring
from her finger and commenced to scratch
her name and his on tho pane. They were
surprised by the watchful mother just rs
the &C. was finished. He doubtless intend
cd to write Cornelius and after that the
date"
Mrs. Muller said her father had often
told her the story, but 1t did not - very
far. She was reluctant to repeat IL fol
publication.