The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-13

HIS wife. says an exchange. Even the
great vanderbilt fortune had a Swo-i
man hand in It's founding, and here Is
q pretty story OF how Mrs. Vanderbilt
helped her husband: zone story about
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt which
I have never seen In print was told to
me many years ago by Daniel Drew.
and Il have no doubt bul that It Is ati-.
sthentic," said q man who has known
intimately the men who have made
New York history during the last half
century. Various stories have been
printed about the beginnings OF Van
lderbilts fortune, and they all 10 10
show that luck played a very insigni-
ficant part In them. Vanderbilt made
money because OF his energy and
shrewdness; but don't believe that 1t
Is generally known that Mrs. Wander
ibilt aided him very materially5Gat IA
time when he thought q good invest
,ment was slipping through his hands
because he had not enough money 10
take advantage OF his opportunity.
Daniel Drew knew Vanderbilt well,and
before his death he frequently enter
tanned his friends with stories about
the commodore's early life. 1t was when
Vanderbilt was simply an energetic
young captain connected With the I'm
Ion line for Philadelphia and Balti-'
more, through to Philadelphia In one
day. that the Incident OF which Mr..
Drew delighted TO tell occurred. In
those days the steamer Emerald, Cap
tain c. Vanderbilt. left her wharf, on
the north side OF the battery, at noon
every day, Sundays excepted, with pas.
sengers for New Brunswick and Phila-
delphia. Passengers. were many, as
many people went down to New Bruins
wick and back by boat for the pleas
ure of the: trip. New Brunswick''s hotel
or halfway house. was dirty and III
kept. AIRS. Vanderbilt saw her soppor-
tunity. She suggested 10 her husband
that they should take the hotel, re-flt
1t, and run Il in a style that would at
tract 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. e as, .S
LAS Mrs. Vanderbilt had suggested
the scheme, her husband told her that
DIG VII luC IlbtCl sClk uhN
have the profits. Mrs. Vanderbilt was a
strong, Industrial, frugal woman, and
she turned the hotel upside down. Clean
ed It. and made It Mt for guests. She
named It Bellona hall. after the steam y
ship Bellcna, which her husband then
commanded, and In very short time
the fame OF 1t had spread to New York,
and parties were made UP to visit be-
cause of the excellent fare to be found
there. It also increased the profits of
the line for which captain Vanderbilt
worked, and his salary was increased to.
$4,000 per year. For twelve years Mrs.
Vanderbilt managed Bellona hall, with
profit to herself and pleasure to her
guests. During these years Captain
Vanderbilt had been studying steam
ships and Investigating the chances
forNprofit in traffic on the Hudson and
along the sound. He wanted to be one
Of the transportation magnates of this
city. and although his fortune was
small he had valuable IDEAS gained
from years of practical experience as a
steamboat captain. and he felt sure that
IL he could get the right opening he
need not fear the greater wealth OF the
rivals. He had never questioned Mrs.
NanderDlltS management OF sfne Nolel,
but he knew that, she had saved some
money. In 1929 his opportunity came.
He haG . chance to get a controlling
interest In : steamship for $4,000. He
had IS. 900 in cash. which he had saved,
but he didn't know where to raise the
balance. He told his vile about the
steamship which hetwanted, and ex-.
planned TO ncr his plans for making
money II he could get the ship. 4 need
$4,000 more said the captain. and
don't know where ] can getSit.' 4 will
give 1t to YOU said Mrs. Vanderbilt,
and to her husbands surprise she pull.
: ed the money ort from under the bed.
/, She had saved 1t from the profits Of
the hotel. : Captain Vanderbilt bought
his 6oat,s and then he bought many
Others, but, his; first ship tesowcd to:h!s
tx . :