Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-09-14

G. Vanderbilt. lues""s "i'''
Vanderbilt left Newport for the pur
pose of attending a meeting of the di-
rectors of the New York Central rail
road which was to be held today He
was feeling as we'll as usual and had no
premonition of death lie reached this
city about 9 O'Clock last night, was
driven to his home Immediately and
went to bed about 10 o'clock. He woke
up about complaining OF feeling very
i'll. He called his wife, who immedi-
ately sent for physician. Vanderbilt
died within a few minutes, before any
physician arrived DR.. Delaheld who
had been attending him, when he ar
rived pronounced the cause of death 10
be cerebral hemorrhage. Because
death was so sudden the coroner was
notified but there will be no formal in
quest, The funeral will be In St.
Bartholomew church, probably next
Friday. A telegram has been sent to
several points in China and Japan in
forming his son Alfred, who is travel
ing in China, of his fathers death. A
burial permit has been granted and the
body embalmed."
Sketch of Vanderbilt.
In many respects Cornelius was the
best of the Vanderbilt family. He was
SO rich that the possession of his
wealth is said to have dragged upon
him just little yet so lngrained was
the wealth getting and the wealth
accommodating quality in his character,
COngental with him for three genera
ton, that his greatest ambition was
20 be the richest man in America, He
had an almost morbid dread of becom-
ing poor.
He was the eldest son of the late
William H. Vanderbilt, who was the
son Of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the com
modore." His mother was Margaret
kissam a descendant of the Knicker-
bOckers; therefore he had the best
blood of New York in his veins. Col
umbia and Yale gave him the education
upon which he built up a cultivated
mind, Some 30 years ago he married
Alice Gynne. From his boyhood Mr..
Vanderbilt studied railroads. He was
deep student OF finance, but 1t was IN
knowledge Of railroads and railroad
ing that he eXceIled. He understood
that great matter through all its wide
range. He knew locomotive thor
oughly and would name its every part
He was a very good mechanic and
made some valuable suggestions in
car building
He was also a good civil engineer
lie delighted in spending his money in
ways that gave pleasure to others. He
was never so happy as when he was
entertaining a large number Of his
friends, or when he was dispensing
some OF his money for the relief OF
the poor or the sick. He was princely
in his entertainments, tiinglng his
pocketbook 70 the caterer and the
florist telling them to pay themselves
He liked to leave all the details 20
his wife. Some years ago he was
/ lavish in his entertainments.
Ward McAllister once said Wander
bits dinners were the best cooked
dinners in New York city Mr. Van
derbilt himself never was a gourmet
and Jared simply He seldom partook
of his own sumptuous dinners. He
once paid as much as $4,000 for one
concert at his house The singers
were members Of a grand opera com
pany When Hading and COquelin
were in New York Mr. Vanderbilt
fecite for his guests. With all this
he was not ostentatious While he de-
sired to do everything to please others
he shrunk from being thought merely
extraYagant He was really eager to
please.
He was more Of AmphItryon than
Maecenas and could not at all be com.
pared with Midas. He did not take NJ
poor painters. sculptors and poets lie
was deeply religious He liked the
Episcopallan creed best. and very often
passed the box around In his church
re gave IiDeIdi4g u lht EhHfGn DfI-
vateiy and was ever a warm friend 70
bis pastor In religion he was ex.
eedingly humble. and loved to give e
charities. He established the penny
proyident fund on the east side Of New
York for the poor OF that section He
built a fine four-story stone structure
and presented il to the fund. II has D
library. bathrooms. gymnasium, lee