The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-28
VANDERBILT.s START.
Daniel Drevv's story OF the Help GiveI
by Mrs. Vanderbilt.
New York Sun. Il

Daniel DreW's story OF the Help Given
by Mrs. Vanderbilt.
New York Sun. A9
lone story about Commodore Cornelius
Vanderbilt which have never seen in print
was told to me many years ago by Daniel
Drew. and l have no doubt but that it is
authentic" said man who has known in
timately the men who have made New York
history during the last half century. ''Vari-
Gus stories have been printed about the be-
ginnings of Vanderbilt's fortune and they
all go to show that luck played very in
significant part in them. Vanderbilt made
money because of his energy and his
generally known that Mrs. Vanderbilt aided
him very materially at a time when he
thought a good investment was slipping
enough money to take advantage of his OPP
portunity
Daniel Drew knew Vanderbilt we'll. and
before his death he frequently entertained
his friends with stories about the commo-
dores early life. 1t was when Vanderbilt
was simply an energetic young captain con-
nected with the Union line for Philadelphia
and Baltimore, through to Philadelphia in
one day! that the incident of which Mr..
Drew delighted to tell occurred In those
days the steamer Emerald, Captain c. Van
derbilt left her wharf on the north side
of the Battery. at noon every day, Sundays
excepted, with passengers for New Bruins
wick and Philadelphia. Passengers were
many, as many people went down to New
Brunswick and back by boat for the pleas
ure of the trip New Brunswick's hotel,
or halfway house, was dirty and i'll Kept.
Mrs. Vanderbilt saw her opportunity She
suggested to her husband that they should
take the hotel, retit it, and run 1t in style
that would attract guests. Vanderbilt
thought well of it, and, after leasing the
hotel, he took his family from his fathers
little house at Stapleton to live in New
Brunswick. AS Mrs. Vanderbilt had sug
gested the scheme, her husband told her
that she might run the hote! herself and
have the profits
Mrs. Vanderbilt was a strong indus
trious, frugal woman, and she turned the
hotel upside down, cleaned ii and made it
fit for guests. She named 1t Bellona Hall
after the steamship Bellona which her huS-
band then commanded, and in a very short
time the fame of it had spread to New
York, and parties were made up to visit it
because of the excellent fare to be found
line for which Captain Vanderbilt worked.
and his salary was increased TO $1,000 per
year. For twelve years Mrs Vanderbilt
managed Bellona Hall, with profit to her
self and pleasure to her guests.
During these years Captain Vanderbilt
had been studying steamships and investi-
eating the chances for profit in traffic on
the Hudson and along the sound. He want
ed to be of the transportation mag
mates of this city. and although his fortune
was small he had valuable ideas, gained
from years of practical experience as
steamboat captain, and he felt sure that IL
he could get the right opening he need not
fear the greater wealth of his rivals He
had never questioned Mrs. Vanderbilt's
management of the hotel, but he knew that
she had saved some money. In 1929 his OPP
portunity came He had chance to get
a controlling interest in steamship for
$4,000 He had 5000 in cash which ne had
saved, but he didn't know where to raise
the balance. He told his wife about the
steamship which he wanted and explained
could get the ship.
~ need $1,000 more said the captain,
and l don't know where | can get IT, -
<ierbilt and to her husbands surprise she