The record-union., 1899-09-13

BRUCE OOupduy, TItSiuSilt Oh the JOll-
ct and Northern Indiana Railroad;
President of the bennington and ST.
Clair Railroad; President of the New
York and Harlem Railroad: President
of the Niagara River Bridge Company;
President of the Spuyten Duyvel and
Port Morris Railroad; Director of the
Wagner Palace Car Company; Director
of the West Shore Railroad; Director
of the West Shore and Terminal Com
pany; Director of the Toledo, Canada
Southern and Detroit Railway COM
pany; Director of the New York Cen
trail and Hudson River, and a dozen
other affiliated railroads.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on
Staten Island November u. 1913. Will
lam H. Vanderbilt. his father, was at
that time farmer. and Cornelius, at
the age of 16, left school and secured
a place as messenger in the Shoe and
Leather Bank. His grandfather, the
Commodore, learning of this sent for
him and asked him why he had not
applied to him for a place.
Because I did not want to ask you
for anything" was the reply. This
pleased the Commodore. and it is said
that he made a codicil to his will few
days later, leaving S1.0OO,000 to his
grandson.
Cornelius left the Shoe and Leather
Bank to go into the employ of Nissan
Brothers, bankers. but later his grand
father asked him to enter the railroad
service. The young man was making
$50 a month, and declined to leave his
place unless he got more money. He
was offered $50 and accepted it. He
was then about q years old. The first
place he was given was that of assist
ant treasurer of the New York and
Harlem Railroad.
His rise was rapid, and he succeeded
his father as head of the Vanderbilt
system.
Mr.. Vanderbilt's active career was
practically closed when he suffered
paralytic stroke in July, 1896.
Despite his enormous business inter-
ests, he found time to devote to church
and Sunday school work, which he be-
gan early in life. He gave freely to- the
railroad branch of the Young Mems
Christian Association and to the work
of St. Bartholomews p. E. Church, in
this city.
Mr.. Vanderbilts great business cares
made his life necessarily methodical,
and he was noted for his punctua1ity.
Mr.. Vanderbilt went to Europe last
spring and came home on June oath,
accompanied by Mrs. Vanderbilt and
his daughter Gladys. They went to
Newport the same day. and Mr. Van
derbilt improved constantly in his
health. On August 9th he gave a house
party at his home The Breakers. The
last social affairs in The Breakers were
upon the departure Of Alfred Wander
bilt for round the world trip. He left
for Seattle on July Doth, accompanied
by William Proudfit Burden, Ernest
Iselin and Douglas H. Cochran.
When Mr.. Vanderbilt was % years
of age he married Alice Gwynne, the
daughter of a Cincinnati lawyer His
first born son, William H., died in 1892,
while he was a student in Yale Uni.
versity.
Mr.. Vanderbilt left five children, Cor
nelius, Gertrude. Alfred. Reginald and
Gladys. Cornelius married a daughter
of Mr.. Wilson. the banker, about two
years ago, and later Gertrude became
the wife of Harry Payne Whitney, son
of former Secretary of the Navy Will
lam c. Whitney
GRIEF AT NEWPORT
NEWPORT Or. L.. Sept. 12.-The an
nouncement of the sudden death of
Cornelius Vanderbilt in New York this
morning was a heavy blow to the resi-,
dents of Newport. among whom he
had been familiar figure for fifteen
years.
Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderbilt left Newport
yesterday for New York. On his de-
parture Mr.. Vanderbilt appeared in ex-
cellent health. He had taken promi-
nent place in the summer life at New
port, and his entertainments have been
of the most elaborate character. Since
his first illness in 1896 he had lived
quietly at his villa during the summer,
entertaining but little. but during the
past season he had taken a greater in
terest in the social affairs of the city,
being especially interested in the New
port Casino, of which he was for many
years President. He was regular at
tendant at the morning concerts, the
tennis tournament and horse show and
drove out daily with his wife. He had
always kindly nod or a word for his
many friends and acquaintances. HIS
was a. regular attendant at the services
of Trinity Church and contributed
largely to its support. He was a gen.
erous contributor to local charity. and
gave annually a good sum in aid of
the local Young Mems Christian Asso,
citation. His purse was ever open to
aid the sick and distressed in Newrort
and on his departure in the autumn
each year he left a considerable fund
for distribution among the poor during
the winter.
Two of his children-Cornelius Van
derbilt, Jr., and Mrs. Harry Payne
Whitney-occupy cottages here.
Mr. Vanderbilt purchased The Break.
ers from Pierre Lorillard in 1884, and
occupied the villa until the fall of 1893,
when it was destroyed by fire. The
following year he began the construc-
tion of the new The Breakers. which
is one of the most palatial and extern
sive estates in Newport. its cost alone
being estimated at ST 100000.
Bonds Declared Forfeited.
! SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 12.-Police
/ 10 Io nYTnr nit a6