The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-24

sisted in his determination. These threats
had absolutely no effect on the young
| man, who said that no love that was
worthy of the name could be affected by
the loss of money or material things.
So deeply did the latter feel on this mat
ter that, although he shrank from pub
licity, he gave out this statement to the
! newspapers:
"The engagement of c. Vanderbilt Jr.
Is against his fathers express wish and
without his consent
All society took sides on the question.
The Vanderbilts were many and power
full but on the Wilson side there were
the Astors and the Goelets.
Just before the day first fixed for the
wedding the prospective bridegroom was
laid up with an attack of acute infiam-
matory rheumatism and could not be
married. His father hoped that the de-
lay would give him another opportunity
to influence his sons mind. When the
boy was nearly we'll his father returned
from Newport one day and saw his son,
who had just come in from a drive. The
father remarked that he was looking
quite well.
YES" said the son, II am feeling well
enough to be married"
That began an angry discussion, which
onIy ended in a reiteration Of the sons
determined ton to marry Miss Wilson, and
of the fathers determination to disinherit
him.
Immediately after the interview the
father was attacked by a stroke Of apo
plexy, which almost killed him at the
time, and which eventually led to his
death The emotions of this painful
meeting undoubtedly brought on the at
tack.
On Aug. g. 1896, while the elder Van
derbilt was still lying at deaths door,
the momentous wedding took place. 1t
was celebrated in the Wilson house, No.
51l Fifth avenue. Not one of the Val-
derbilt family, except the bridegl DOM.
Tor any Of their relatives or near 1flendS
| were present
| After a brief honeymoon at Saratoga
| the newly-wedded pair went for very
extended trip to Europe. 1t was while
they were still away that society began
to be excited by the news that sour
rilous reports had been put in c.rcula-
ton concerning Mrs. Cornelius Wand r
bilt Jr. The Wilson's received a mum.
Der of anonymous letters on the subject.
A valet named Sugden brought an action
against r. T. Wilson for $1,000, which
he said the banker promised him for
endeavoring to track the writer Of the
anonymous letters. Sugden was after
ward arrested for robbing Mr.. Wilson.
The affair was involved in much mys-
terry, which has never been entirely
cleared up.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, the elder, slowly
struggled back to life, but his right side
remained partially paralyzed. He could
never again take charge of the enormous
affairs which he had formerly directed.
His attitude toward his son remained
unchanged, and he did not meet the lat
ter until more than two years after his
marriage.
1t was announced that Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt, the second surviving son,
would be the principal heir to the for
tuno. An entertainment was given in
Newport last summer to celebrate his
coming Of age, and, although the disin-
herited brother vas in the same little
town. he was rot even esked This
year young Alfred started a luxu: ious
voyage around the world, and was hon
ored as the prospective head OF the
house.
A baby was born to Mr.. and Mrs. Corr
nelius Vanderbilt Jr., nearly two years
ago but, although they named him Cor
nelius In honor of his grandfather, that
did not soften the latter's heart. Dur
Ing the past year, however, partial
reconciliation was effected. Father and
son met In Newport and New York ana
were on kindly terms once more but the
father would not admit Of the slightest
reconciliation with his daughter n law.
1t is understood that his son will re-
ceive a handsome fortune under his faith
er's will, but he will still be regard d
as having been deposed from the lead
ership of the family.
About year ago the elder Cornelius
Vanderbilt was attacked by second
stroke Of apoplexy. Although it was very
slight, it was a warning that the END
was likely to come at any moment f, ON
this disease. 1t came on Tuesday last,
and so suddenly that a doctor coulc
not reach the house before the patient
died.
Young Cornelius Vanderbilt had been