The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-12-09
vANDERBiLr's FORTUNE.

~ 10 IAN IN Ok0 bSllOuld HOl0l,
where Commodore Cornelius Wander
bilt made his start in life and laid the
foundation of his great fortune. The
building is dilapidated, but as solid as
in the early years Of the nineteenth
century.
The hotel was built in 1903 by the
New York n New Brunswick Steam
BOAT company. With boatmen and
shippers 1t became a favorite resort,
and country residents who drove into
town hardly felt satisfied till they had
dlned at the Bellonia. Twice a day the
coaches of the Trenton line pulled up
before the inn.
In 1923 the Bellonia passed into the
hands of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who
was unknown, except that every day
or so he would sail up from Perth
Amboy with a boatload Of oysters and
fish and hawk them about the town.
How did Vanderbilt get the money
from ish-peddling to buy the Bellonia?
He didn't.
Early in 1922 William Gibbons, a cap
italist, made a night drive from his
city (New York; to Perth Amboy. It
was imperative hat he should cross
Arthur Kali to Tottenville, S. I. The
night was stormy. Gibbons besought
the ferryman to take him across, but he
refused. He then wandered into an old
ferry tavern, where hardy boatmen
were gathered.
where's the man with the nerve to
row me across?" he called out.
One old salt said: why, Cap'n, you
must be daft"
I Gibbons cried: Name your price;
I've got to co."
Just then the door swung open and
"Corny" Vanderbilt stalked in.
Vanderbilt ordered a drink and swal-
lowed it in silence, then he responded:
We'll, Cap'n, I'm your man. Let's
START"
Buttoning up his coal Corny got out
his boat. with a pair of oars, an OIL
skin and a lantern. The capitalist then
climbed upon the rear sea- and held the
lantern. Perhaps an hour later the
two men, after a perilous voyage, trod
Staten Island, soaked to the skin.
Vanderbilt had just been married and
Gibbons could not persuade hin to re-
main over night on the island. The
rich man handed him a card, with
some money, and told him to call at
the steamboat company's Office in Bat
terry place when he visited New York.
Some weeks later Vanderbilt did go,
and uyoc oor1iolJy rooo;1ol vyL.- -
was about to leave Gibbons gave him
a package, m told him to go to a
wharf, where he would find an oyster
smack for his own use.
With his boa Vanderbilt began to
make money. Not man, months later
he had saved 5000 and leased the Bel
lonia hotel. Fortune seemed to have
smiled upon him. for about the same
time he was made captain Of the first
steamer between New York and New
Brunswick. The Bellonia, through the
aid of Gibbons.
While he was on the water Mrs. Van
derbilt cared for the guests who came
hand in caring for their horses, and d.
vided the rest Of her time in looking
after the house and the bar. She, one of
whose descendants was to be a Ouch
ess, washed and scrubbed to accumu-
late q fortune. She had a good eye for |
business.
After a while Mrs. Vanderbilt felt Q
desire to live more like the aristocrats
about her and moved her household
into q house yet standing in Burnet
street. Here it was that William H.
Vanderbilt was born. Captain Van
derbilt was promoted and wanted to
give up the tavern, but his wife was
not willing to kill The goose that laid
the golden egg, and continued to well
come travellers. The good cheer Of the
hosiery was famous.
Charles Spaulding kept an excellent
private school at $40 George street, in
those days, and to this was young w.
H. Vanderbilt sent. having for school,
mates boys known later in life as Gov
ernor Ludlow, Bishop Richard Good
rich, Colonel Jacob j. Janeway, Judge
Charles d. Deshler and other prominent
Jerseymen.
In 1884 the steamer Bellonia was
burned. Vanderbilt was Immediately
transferred to another boat, which he
ran for several years. His shrewdness !
won the confidence of his employers,
and when q vacancy occurred in the
New York Office Commodore Van
derbilt was made superintendent of the
line. Upon the death of Mr.. Gibbons
Mr.. Vanderbilt became president Of the
company.