Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-13


HOURS AFTER HIS RETURN TO
HIS NEW YORK HOME-HE HAD
BEEN IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS,
AND RETIRED SOON AFTER RE-
TURNING FORM NEWPORT,
WHERE HE HAD SPENT THE
SUMMER HIS BRILLIANT
CAREER AND RAPID RISE TO
THE HEAD OF THE WANDER
BILT SYSTEM.
NEW YORK, September 12.-Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt died at 5:15 o'clock
this morning at his home at Fifty-sev-
enth street and Fifth avenue, this city.
There were with Mr. Vanderbilt at the
time of his death his wife, his daughter
Gladys and Reginald, his youngest son.
Mr.. Vanderbilt arrived at his Fifth
avenue home from Newport with Mrs.
Vanderbilt at 9 o'clock last night. He
appeared in excellent health and spirits
and retired soon afterward. About
midnight he was seized with illness
and the household was reused. The
patient grew rapidly worse and died at
5:l5 o'clock.
Mr.. Vanderbilt's death was caused
by a stroke of paralysis, the second
which he suffered. The first attack
was in July, 1896 The stroke which
caused death occurred about midnight.
The patient was semi-conscious until
death.
Chauncey NJ. Depew reached the Van
derbilt house at 1880 o'clock. He re-
manned but ten minutes. When he
came out he was greatly affected and
with tears in his eyes said he was too
deeply grieved to give any information
at that time.
William K. Vanderbilt, brother of the
dead man, arrived soon after Mr.. De-
pew. He was much agitated. He said
when asked for information: my
brother died suddenly at SIS o'clock
from heart fail, . brought about by All
attack of acute paralysis, which occur
red at midnight. When he died his
wife, his daughter Gladys and his son
Reginald were with him
Mrs. Vanderbilt and her daughter,
Miss Gladys, are Frustrated by the
shock, and physicians are attending
them
Mr.. Vanderbilt left five children, Cor
nelius, Gertrude, Alfred, Reginald and
Gladys. Cornelius married daughter
of r. T. 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
liam c. Whitney.
At II o'clock the coroner's office was
asked to send coroner to the Wander
bilt house, and Coroner Hart respond
ed. The reason for this is because of
the fact that Mr.. Vanderbilt's regular
physician was not with him at his
death, and strange doctor was in at
tendance, who had been called into the
case less than "a hours before death
ensued.
The disposition of Mr.. Vanderblts
estate is a matter of some doubt. Cor
nelius Vanderbilt, Jr., was alienated
from his family by his marriage two
years ago with Miss Grace Wilson,
daughter of T. R. Wilson, the banker
Of this city, and it is thought probable
that this son will not be the principal
heir. The opposition to young Van
derbilt's marriage was based upon his
youth and the fact that Miss Wilson
was eight or ten years his senior.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on
Staten Island, November 27, 1S43.
William H Vanderbilt, his father, was
at that time farmer, and Cornelius,
at the age of IS, 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 why he had not applied
to him for place.
Because | did not want to ask you
for anything" was the reply. This
pleased the commodore, and it is said
that he made codicil to his will a
few days later leaving $1,000000 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 month and declined to leave his
place unless he got more money. He
was given S65 and accepted 1t. He
was then about q years old. The
first place he was given was that of
assistant 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 pra I'll
cally closed when he suffered a para
lytic stroke in 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 Y NJ. C. A. +,
and to the work of st. Bartholomew's
P e Church in this city
Mr. vanderbilt's great business cares
made his life necessarily methodical
and he was noted for his punctuality.
He went to Europe last spring and
came home on June "a, accompanied
by Mrs. Vanderbilt and his daughter.
Gladys. They went to Newport the
same day. and Mr. Vanderbilt i'm
proved constantly in his health. On
August 5 he gave a house party at his
home. The Breakers. The last social
affairs in The Breakers were upon the