New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-07
6. w. VANDERBILT
DEAD in CAPITAL
Heart Trouble Suddenly Follows
all Operation for APP
pendicitis.

Washington. March s.-Georse W. Van
derbilt died here a. o'clock this after
noon from heart failure. following an
operation for appendicitis last Tuesday.
His death came suddenly. caused indi-
rectly through the development of pull
monary embolism, which affected the
heart, preventing blood circulation.
Although seriously i'll for some time,
Mr. Vanderbilt had sustained the opera
ton. and continued to show signs OF
improvement until the complications UNI
expectedly arose. Previous to their APP
pearance no alarm had been felt for his
recovery, and physicians said his condi-
ton was improving daily.
Mrs Vanderbilt. formerly Miss Edith
Dresser, Of New York, had been con-
tinuously I'm attendance at the bedside.
At the home which Mr.. Vanderbilt oc-
cupied here as his winter residence II
was said tonight that no announcement
OF any character would be made until
the wishes of Mr.. vanderbilt's relatives
had been ascertained. II was under
stood that the funeral arrangements
would be announced tomorrow, when
Frederick ". Vanderbilt, brother, will
reach Washington.
George Washington Vanderbilt was the
youngest child of William II. Vanderbilt.
He was born in New Dorp. Staten Island,
November Il, 1862. As a youth and all
through his life he was Of a quiet and re-
firing disposition. caring more for books
than for business or mere pleasure. lie
was educated by tutors and In private
schools
Mr.. Vanderbilt was devoted to his
books, and while boy he laid the foun-
dalton for one OF the finest private libra
ries in the world. Early in life he
planned the sort OF home he aftcrward
built. and to this end he became student
OF architecture, landscape gardening and
forestry He Inherited 100000 from his
father, and could easily carry out all his
plans.
It was while living with his mother in
the family home at Fifth avenue and
5Oth street that Mr.. Vanderbilt worked
out the details of his magnificent estate,
Bitmore. near Ashcville. y. G. lie cared
little for life in New York or In Newport
He had been charmed by the scenery of
the mountains of Western North Carolina
and there, in the Land Of the Sky he
decided 20 build his castle. He bought
10000 acres of mountain land, acquiring
so much property in the vicinity Oh MS
place that few years ago he offered to
sell to the United States government
O. f1o Of
tionaI Forest Reserve. The tract is
known as the Pisgah Forest Reserve and
lies southwest OF Asheville. 1t includes
Mount Plsgah a peak $3.50 feet above the
level OF the sea. and is one of the largest
mountains I'm the United States.
The spot Mr.. Vanderbilt selected for his
home was comparatively isolated, and to
build the great house it was necessary to
haul the material long distances. Bit
more was years In the making. Forests
had to ne levelled. mountains were graded
down. valleys were built up and roads
we're built. Little by little the great es-
tate assumed shape The house was OF
early English architecture, with some old
French chateau features introduced and
enough Of grim feudal outline TO suit the
fancy of the owner
Near by Mr.. Vanderbilt founded model
village. with church and a schoolhouse
for the benefit Of the children of the host
OF men and women employed to maintain
the estate Thousands of acres were laid
out as a deer preserve, and In thousands
more Mr.. Vanderblts knowledge OF FOR
estry was brought into play In the sclen-
fife care and treatment OF the trees and
their surroundings.
Mr.. Vanderbilt personally superintended |
the construction of the great house, that !
had accommodations for hundred /
guests He had made study or aren't |
lecture for the express purpose of under |
standing what the workmen were doing /
and II was said of him that there were In 4
America few architects who were better I
acquainted with their profession.
Mr.. Vanderbilt owned the house at
Fifth avenue and 5Oth street in New |
York. but did not spend much OF his time !
there. In the fall Of 1912 ne bought the /
home of the late Senator Matthew ,. /
Quay. No 1872 X street, Washington ana .
made 1t his winter home
Mr.. Vanderbilt was patron o. tlc al u /
aud gave to the New York Fine Arts So !
cietv tho Vanderbilt Gallery in West 0ith |
street. He presented to the city the 18th ,
street branch of the Free Circulating Ii
brary. Of which he was the founder. 10
the New York College for the training !
Of Teachers he gave the site or It's oulId-
ing on Morningsde Heights
When Nj. Vanderbilt was tnirty-slH
wears old. in 1885, he married Miss Edith /
Stuyvesant Dresser. Their only child |
Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt was born
IN 1900. She and her mother survive Mr..
Vanderbilt. OF Mr.. Vanderblts brothers
and sisters, William Nissan and Freder-
ick w Vanderbilt, Mrs. Elliot +. Shep-
pard. Mrs. William d. Sloane, Mrs. H.
Nick. Twombly and Mrs. William Seward
1yobb are Iivinp. His eldest brother
Va pdarhitt died in 1899