Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-01-03
VANDERBILT WEALTH
How It Originated Three Quarters
of a Century Ago.
Tho Founders First Money Was MADE
with an Oyster Boat His
wife's Aid In Getting
q start

un the high cliffs which skirt the
Raritan river just below tie canal out.
let is the famous old BeI.unia hote!
where Commodore Cornelius Wander.
bilt made his start in life and laid H.
foundation OF his great fortune. The
building is dilapidated, but as solid rs
in the early years OF the nineteenth
century.
The hotel was built in 1903 by the
New York G. New Brunswick Steam
boat company. With boatmer ant
shippers il became a favorite resort.
and country residents who drove int,
town hardly felt satisfied I'LL theg hat
dned at the Bellonia. Twice day the
oaches of the Trenton liue pulled up
before the inn.
In 1929 the Bellonia passed into the
hands OF Cornelius Vanderbilt, who was
unknown, except that every day Or S"
he would sail up from Perth Amboy
with boat lond of fish and oysters and
hawk them about the town.
How did Vanderbilt get the money
from fish peddiing TO buy the Bellonia :?
He didn't.
Early in 1922 William Gibbons. cap.
italist, made a night drive from New
York 10 Perth Amboy. 1t was impe.
ative that he should cross Arthur HI.
TO Tottenville. S. l. Ths night wa,
stormy. Gibbons besoughs the ferry
man to take him across. but he refused
lie then wandered into an old ferry
tavern where hardy boatmen were
gathered.
"Where's the man with the nerve &c
row me across?" be called out.
One old salt saids
"Why cap'n. you're daft"
Gibbons cried: Name your price;
I've got to go!"
just then the door swung open and
"Corny" Vanderbilt stalled in.
Vanderbilt ordered drink and swal-
lowed it in silence; then he responded:
well cap'n, I'm your man; let's
start!"
Buttoning up his coat, Corny got out
his boat, with pair OF oars, an oilskin
and lantern. The capitalist climbed
upon the rear seat and held the Ian
tern. Perhaps an hour later the two
men, after a perilous voyage, trod
Staten Island, soaked TO the skin.
Vanderbilt had just BEEN married.
and Gibbons could not persuade him tD
remain over night on the island Thu
rich man handed him card. with SOM
money, and told him 10 call ut tn,
steamboat company's office in Battery
place when he visited New York.
Some weeks later Vanderbilt did 20.
and wns cordially received. When b.,
was about to leave Gibbons gave hin
package and told him TO go TO
wharf, where he would find an oyster
smack for his own use.
With this boat Vanderbilt began 10
make money. Not many months lateI
he had saved 5000 and leased the Bel
lonia hotel. Fortune seemed TO hay.
smiled upon him, for about the sam.
time he was made captain OF the frs
steamer between New York and New
Brunswick. the Bellonia. through the
aid OF Gibbons.
Vanderbilt had plenty OF competition.
Opposing lines were started and he hac
TO hustle to maintain his preeminenc.
While he was on the water Mrs. Van.
derbilt cared for the guests who cam.
TO the Bellonia. She frequently tool
n hand in caring for their horses an,
divided the rest of her time in look
ing after the house and bar. She. on.,
OF whose descendants was to be
duchess, washed ard scrubbed TO ac
cumulate fortune. She had gooc
eye for business.
After awhile Mrs Vanderbilt felt
desire to live more like the aristocrni,
about her, and moved her hOusehul
into n house yet sanding in l;urur
street Here il was that William Il
Vanderbilt was born. Capt. Vanderbilt
was promoted and wanted TO give ~
the tavern. but his wife was not willin,
to kill the goose that laid the gOldei
egg, and continued 10 welcome tray-
elers. The good cheer of the hosielry
was famous.
Charles Spnuldnr kept an excellent
private school at No. go George street
in those days. and to this was young v
ii. Vanderbilt sent. having for schUo'
mates boys known liter in life ms Go,
Ludlow, Bishop Ricl ard Goodrich. Co,
Jacob j. Janewny. Judge Charlie. H.
Deshler and other prominent Jersey
men.
In 1894 the steamer Bcllonin was
burned. Vanderbilt was immediaiel"
transferred 10 another boat. which .
ran for several years. His shrrwdnss
won the confidence of his employer.
and when n vacancy occurred In a.
New York office "Commodnre" vnnde-.
bilt was made superintendent o! III,
line. Upon the death OF Mr. Gibbon
Mr.. Vanderbilt became president Of th,
company.
lie moved to New York with his fam.
lily and the Bellonin hotel pissed into
the hands OF Col. Peter Cheney. VIII"
later served with the Jersey troops Ur.
der Mcclellan in the civil war. II &,
now a tenement.-Blston journal.