Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-10


Who died from peritonitis resulting from an
operation Tor appendicitis.
the exception of Mrs. Belmont none of
the members of the family had time to
reach the sick room after the hurried
summons was. sent to them.
Ever since the condition of Mr.. Bel
mont became critical more than a week
ago Mrs. Belmont's children. William
X. Vanderbilt, jr., and Harold Wander
bilt and Mrs. William X. Vanderbilt jr.
have been almost constantly within call
of the sick room. Worn by the long vigil,
they retired early this morning when
there appeared to be no appreciable
change in the sick mans condition and
were sleeping soundly when the sum-
mons came.
Passed Bad Night.
Mr.. Belmont had passed a bad night.
but toward morning appeared to be rest
ing; easily: when. soon after $40 he was
seized with terrible pain. DR.. Lane
Hart hurriedly called Mrs. Belmont and
she had just time to reach the room be-
fore her husbands death.
Mr.. Belmont had not been actively en-
gagged in business for some years. He
had always been very popular among a
nent position in club and social life here
and in London and Paris.
Mr. Belmont had not been in the best of
health for some time. but his condition
was not such as to cause any alarm
until appendicitis developed June l. The
previous Saturday, although the day was
rainy and the air raw, he went down to
Belmont Park to witness the running Of
the Belmont stakes. At the time he ap-
peared to have suffered no i'll effects from
"a nd AMI hn
oughly.
When the physicians were called
Monday, however. and diagnosed his ILL
ness as appendicitis they found his heart
in such a condition that there was much
hesitation before a decision to perform an
operation was reached. Thursday, how
ever. it became apparent that the only
hope for his recovery lay In an operation.
He rallied nicely after the operation. and
II was believed that he would make a
however. there was a severe sinking spell
followed by unconsclousness. That night
peritonitis developed and from that time
until his death there was little hope that
he would survive.
Son Of First August Belmont
Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont. born No
vember IL. 1858, was the third of the sons
of the late August Belmont. being the
younger brother of Perry Belmont. who
went in for politics.. and of August Bel
mont. who went in for finance until he
fioated the company which built the sub
way under New York. Oliver Belmont
was the youngest son of the elder August
who lived to maturity. There was one
son younger who was accidentally shot.
The family picked Oliver to follow the
career in which his grandfather and great
uncle had become famous.
grandfather Mafthew
Perry. the commodore who opened Japan
to the commerce of the world. His great
uncle. after whom he was named, was
the Perry who went down in history as
the hero of the battle of Lake Erie. So
II was decided that Oliver Belmont should
make the navy his career
He was sent TO Annapolis and gradu-
ated. He entered the service. but re-
manned only two years. when he resigned
his commission and came back 70 New
York. He graduated from the Naval
Academy in 1874 and resigned from the
service in 1876.
On his return to New York after that
he entered the business which his father
had left and which his two elder brothers
were carrying on in the firm of August
Belmont & Co.
1t was six years after this. in 1883 that
Belmont married Miss Sarah Whiting
daughter of Mrs. Augustus Whiting. The
marriage was far from a happy one.
Mr.. Belmont and his bride began to dis
agree. il was said. even before their we'd
ding trip was over At any rate they
separated a few months after the mar
riage and in 1885 Mrs. Belmont secured a
divorce. daughter was born to her
after the separation and. when three
years later Mrs. Belmont married George
L. Rives. her daughter Natica. took the
surname of the stepfather. Natica Rives
married James A. Burden, jr.. and was
accidentally killed by Illuminating gas in
February last at her husbands home on
5th avenue.
Marriage to Mrs. Vanderbilt.
1t was Oliver Belmont's second mar
riage-to the divorced wife Of William
X. Vanderbilt-that brought him most
prominently into the public eye. Mr. Bel
mont's second wife was before her mar
riage 10 w. X. Vanderbilt Miss Alva
Smith Of Mobile. Ala. Her father was
Murray Forbes Smith. and she was one
Of three sisters who were called the
three southern beauties
Soon after her entrance into society
she met Mr.. Vanderbilt and shortly aft
erward had married him. She was the
mother Of Mr.. Vanderbilts three CHILDREN
William X. jr.;~ Harold and Consuelo
who afterward became the Duchess Of
Marlborough. and is now separated from
| the duke.
] Hardly year had passed before there