The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-01
WILLIE X. THE RULER
DEATH OF CORNELIUS WANDER
BILT MAKES HIM HEAD OF
FAMILY
HE CONTROLS THE ESTATE

ests That Have Been Accumulate
ed the Past Hundred Years in His
Charge-He Was the Master Spirit
In Effecting the Recent Large
Railway Consultations.
NEW YORK, Sept. 2S-With the death
Of Cornelius Vanderbilt, William K. Van
derbilt becomes the actual head of the
family, as he has been practically for the
last three years. A new, but not an IN
experienced, hand will direct the financial
interests of the Vanderbilt connection
Another and a powerful force has come
to the front. The days of the old commo-
dore will be recalled. for willie Il. :
much resembles his grandfather. Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt's properties were -eputed
to be worth $100, 100000 or more, repre-
scented largely by railroad stocks. His
death scarcely caused ripple in the mar
ket. His immense fortune was SO ar
ranged and cared for by trustees that
the life or death of the man himself af-
fected 1t little.
Three years ago Cornelius Vanderbilt
was stricken with paralysis. For twenty
years he had borne the burden of the
family. His brothers and sisters, all men
and women Of strong character and latent
possibilities, were content that it should
be so. They respected his judgment, ac-
quiesced in all that he said and did, and
gave little thought to business. The years
of work and worry told upon him, and
when the stroke came that disabled him,
so far as any further participation in
active business was concerned, it was
only natural that his brother, William K.
Vanderbilt, should assume the burden
and step into the post thus vacated. The
huge machinery of the Vanderbilt system
never slipped a cog, a tremor ran through
the whole apparatus, and then a steady
and strong hand was felt at the throttle
and the huge mechanism throbbed along
as usual. Cornelius Vanderbilt retired.
His great fortune was adjusted and in
vested and taken in charge for him, so
that he was not obliged to give it another
thought, and so when his death came
there was this knowledge of it's security
and there was no panic or confusion.
''WILLIE X" A STRONG MAN.
In William K. Vanderbilt much that
was picturesque in the family promises to
be revived. For years he has been famil-
iarly known as ''Willie k and 1nnum-
cradle stories are told Of his doings Just
fifty years old is the new head of the
house of the Vanderbilt. He is clean
shaver, with hair slightly curling; firm,
strong features, expressive eyes, quick
and majestic action, and restless energy
riCtin oicn 60,
those who are interested III original ac-
tons and transactions of magnitude He
seems to have inherited much of the
knack of his father and grandfather for
quick comprehension and firm, decisive !
action. Unlike Cornelius, he has no love
fCr minute details He delights to deal
in big things. When ne was nothing but
a man of pleasure he put an amount Of
energy into his employment that told of
the latent possibilities for great work
He built the house at Fifty-first street
and Fifth avenue, which is one of the
show places of New York city. He built
the Marble house at Newport, than which.
there are few finer in the country He
country place at Islip. Long
Island, and built .ana4enormous, roomy,
rambling house upon it, When this
burned he was in Europe, but within a
short time after his return a large force
of men were at work to rebuild it. He
built yacht, which he named after his
wife. Later he built the one he now
has, which Is one of the finest pleasure
crafts in the world, and he called it the
Valiant. He explored many parts of the
world and made tour through Russia
i'll private train, at a time when no
enc outside of royalty was supposed to
do such things in that country. He never
went on the turf to race horses upon an
excessive scale, but he always took a
great deal of interest in racing, and it is
said that he only refrained from going
on the turf at the earnest request of his
mother. He die buy a number of brood
mares and ship them to France for breed
ing purposes, and last year some of his
youngsters were entered in French races,
but attracted no particular attention. 1t
is said that his colors may yet be seen
on the turf. as his mother is no longer
alive. He is a large owner Of the stock
of the Coney Island Jockey club.
HIS MATRIMONIAL TROUBLES.
Mr.. Vanderbilts married life is well
known to nearly every one. His domestic
troubles. separation from his wife, and
subsequent divorce are all well known