The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-02
WILL NOT LEAVE BILTM0RE.
The Vanderbilt Story il the Sew York Journal
is Not True,

IS aOt true,
An Asheville special to the Atlanta
Constitution says: ''The story in the
New York Journal OF Sunday, covering
an entire page and in a most sensation
al manner announcing that George
Vanderbilt has determined to abandon
his palatial residence at Biltmore,
reached here to-day and scattered con-
sternation. 1t is false from beginning
to end. The article is denounced by
Charles McNamee, Vanderbilt's man
ager and attorney, as a tissue of lies.
Christmas was celebrated on the estate
by a tree that contained gifts for the
200 employees and their wives and child
rem and work in all the various de-
partmentS continues as usual, except
that the force of workmen is somewhat
reduced because of Mr.. Vanderbilts alb
sence from here for a year while trav-
cling abroad. The statement that the
Vanderbilt mansion has been injured
by settling or otherwise is absolutely
untrue. Only an earthquake could move
it. AS to the statement that Wander
bilt quit his handsome place because
there was no water to drink-bah! The
water supply there is adequate to the
needs of a town of hundreds of inhabi-
tants This notion brings a laugh to
every face here. 1t is simply ridiculous.
The Journals article states that Geo.
Vanderbilt had been running a little
farm here and had been losing money
on it. In point of truth, he has several
departments which are on paying
basis. No cattle are being sold except
the less desirable, and recent purchas-
es have made Vanderbilt's herd of Jer-
seys the finest in this country. Plans
for 100000 poultry building have not
been discarded and the general work of
improvement goes on from day to day
and week to week. The Journals fake
is ridiculous. 1t is rot from start to
finish.
The story that George Vanderbilt will
abandon his North Carolina castle is
told in thrilling fashion by Cholly Knick
erbocker in the New York Journal of
Sunday The writer goes quite into de-
tails and among other things says: Ever
since George Vanderbilt sailed away
for India to shoot the tiger in his ma
tive jungle and to do such other things
the fine world has been wondering what
drove the young millionaire to what it
is pleased to consider an extraordinary
proceeding. Some go even so far as
to call it a freak. Why does he do it?
Whatever made him risk his precious life
in such a foolish and unnecessary enter
prise? Why didn't he marry and stay at
home? Was not his mammoth game pre-
serve in North Carolina good enough for
him? Why should be travel around the
earth to shoot elephants when deer were
at his door? Wherefore has he developed
this sudden and unexpected taste to Stay
rare animals in strange lands?
These are the questions that one hears
on every side The four hundred can't
understand George at all. Tigers and
elephants were never in his line. He
preferred his pen to his gun, and his Ii
brary was more attractive to him than
all the jungles of the earth. Why, then,
did he give up all that he loved best,
take out a million dollar policy on his
life, and go off to certain discomfort and
possible death?
1.-The answer is simple, but striking
1t is because he spent ten million dollars
on biltmore, his North Carolina estate,
and then couldn't get a drink of water
when he wanted it!
ITO thoroughly appreciate this remark
able statement it is necessary to go into
the hitherto unwritten history of Bit
more"