The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-08
THE Vanderbilt FORTUNE.
HOW 1T ORIGINATED SOME srx.
ENTf-FiNE YEARS AGO,
no" eorn! Vanderbilt Met VIM.
6ibbons-Hix Promotion From
Commodore TO Superintendent,
and Then President OF Company.

oa the high cliffs which Skin. ,na
haFian river 3ust below the canal o,,t-
/ iet Is the famous cd BeIlonta hn,~i
where Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt
made his start IN life and iali the foun-
cau9h OK ms great fortune. The build
Ing = ailapidaitd. bat as solid as in me
carry years Of the nineteenth century
The hotel was built in ISIS bY tha Sav
York * New Brunswick Steamboat Com
Tany. With bo&imen and shippers i. be-
came faForite resort, and country resi-
dents "na drove into town hardly felt
satisfied TIL they Rad diaed AZ the Bel
lohla. Twice day the coaches ~ the
Trenton line pulled Up before the inn.
IN ms the Beii0nia passed into the
hans.s OF Cornelius Vanderbilt who was
unknown. except that every day or 80 ne
would sail up from Perth Anboy with
boat load Of FISH and oysters and hawk
them about the town.
How did Vanderbilt get the money
from FISH peddling 10 buy the Beuon!a.
He didn't
Early in Ise2 William Gibbons. capt.
iallsi. made night drive from New York
10 Perth Amboy. 1t Was imperative that
ne should cross Arthur kill 10 Totem
VILE. :. /. The night was stormy Glib
bons oesought the ferryman 10 take him
across. bat he refused. He then wan
dered into an old ferry tavern where
hardy hogtmen were gathered
Where the man with the nerve TO
rev ME across he called cut.
one old salt said;
Why, cap'R. you're daft
Gibbons cried: Name your price: I've
got To go"
Just then the door swung open and
"Corny" Vanderbilt stalked in.
Vanderbilt ordered a drink and swat
lowed IL in silence, then he responded;
Well. capn. I'm ya..g man. lets start"
Buttoniug up his coat Corny got out MS
boat, with a pair 81 oars. an oilshin
and lantern. The capitalist climbed
upon the rear seat and held The Ian
tern. Perhaps an hour later the Two
men. after q per.lous voyage, trod staten
Island. soaked 10 the skin.
Vanderbilt had just been married. and
Gibbons could not persuade him 10 re-
main over night on the Island. The rich
man handed him II card, with some
money. anu told him 10 call at the steam
boat companys cftce IN Battery place
when h. visited New York
Some weeks later Vanderbilt did Ga.
and was cordially received. When he
was about u leave Gibbons gave him a
package and told him To go 10 a wharf.
where h. would nnd an oyster boat for
his own use.
With this boat Vanderbilt began 10
make money. Not many months later
he had saved SEQ and leased the Bellonla
hotel Fortune seemed To have smiled
upon him. fer about the same time he
was made captain Of the first steamer
between New York ard New Brunswick,
the Bellonla through the aid Of Glib
bons.
Vanderbilt had plenty Of competition.
Opposing lines were started and he had
To hustle II maintain his pre-eUtuence-
While he was on the water Mrs. Van
ierbilt cared for the guests who came
20 the Bellonia. She frequently took
hand in caring for their horses. aud d.
vided the rest Of her time In looking
after the house and bar She. one 81
whose descendants was Ia he duchess.
washed and scrubbed To accumulate p
fortune. She had 4 good eye for bust
ness
After awhile Mrs. Vanderbilt felt q
desire IN live more ike the Rrisiocrats
about her. aud moved her household into
a house yet standing In Burnet street
Hero IL was that William II Vanderbilt
was born Capt. vanderbilt was pro-
.nrr.f and wanted 10 give up the tav-
ern. bu; his wife was not willing 10 kill
the goose that laid the golden esq, and
continued In welcome travellers. The
good cheer 81 the hostelry VAS famous.
Charles Spaulting kent an excellent
i.riv a. s.hooi at Nc. 3-8 George street.
in thSss days. and To This was young ".
II Vanderbilt; sent. having for school
mates bows known later IN life "a Coy
ludlow. Bishop Richard Goodrich. Col.
Jacob J. Ianeway. Judge Charles ID
Deshler ard other prominent Jsrseyrnen-
In 1854 the. steamer Beliouia was burn
"a Vanderbilt Was Immediately trans
scrrea % another boat which Fan foTA
several years HIS shrewdHe~s won he :
confidence If Nls employers. and when |
vacancy occurred IN the New York Office !
..Cornfnoaor~" Vanderbilt was made su- |
,@rsufefltent ~ the line. Upon the death /
- Mr. Gibbons Nj. Vanderbilt became |
president q the company.
TIa moved IN New York wi'h his fam |
~ ana tie Bc1lonia hotel passed into |
n. hands II COL Peter cheney. who |
later served WIKI the Jersey troops |
under Ger. Mcclellan in the rivii var. |
Il - row terernenf--boston Journal.