The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-20
How TiUo Ocean Tragedies Gaue Back
 in Each Case to the First Wives AM They Had Lost ~
by DiUorce--. and Took

Newport and every heirloom anu tohen that denoted headship of the family Thls place was particularly dear to the nrst Mrs. Vanderbilt, because it was there that she had passed her honeymoon, when expectations of happiness were unclouded It was there that he had his finest horses, that he accumulated his most valuable personal belongings and that he made ms real home.
 His second wife was equally attached to Oakland Farm, for she had planned to make it the principal scene of her social triumphs. After her husbands will was read she paid sad farewell visit to the beautiful place. She said goodby to the old employees looked over the gardens and stables and packed up all her belong ings. Mrs. French Vanderbilt, who has been living at Harbour View, Newport, is ready to move into Oakland Farm with her son.
 How much importance Alfred Vanderbilt attached to Oakland Farm is partly shown by the wording of his will, in which he says:
 q hereby give to the executors of this, my will, as trustees of the trusts and or each of the trusts created by this, my will, full power and authority, in their discre- tion. to sell at public auction or private sale, at such times or places, in such man. ner and upn such terms and conditions as they shall deem expedient, or to lease or to rent or to otherwise dispose Of, in such manner, for such periods and upon such terms as they shall deem expedient, any and all my real estate, wheresoever the same may be situated, excepting only my said real estate known as Oakland Farm, as well as any and all personal property, constituting a part of any such trust, and to execute and deliver any and all deeds leases or other instruments necessary or proper for the accomplishment Of such purposes"
 Alfred Vanderbilt left to his oldest son the coach Venture, which first made the reputation of its owner as the leading amateur coachman of the world. The testator also left to this son the family portraits and the busts of his father, Cor nelius Vanderbilt, bequeathed to him by his fathers will, and finally the cherished gold medal voted by Congress to the little fellows reatgreat-grandfather Commo- dore Vanderbilt, at the close of the Civil War This medal is regarded as great honor in the Vanderbilt family. Alfred Vanderbilt further desired that in the event of his oldest sons death without sons the medal should go to the testator s oldest brother, Cornelius Vanderbilt, who was partly disinherited for marrying Miss Grace Wilson against his fathers wishes.
 The provisions of the will on these points say:
 q give and bequeath to my son, William H. Vanderbilt, my coach known as the Venture.
 q give and bequeath to my son, William H. Vanderbilt, the portraits and busts be- queathed to me by the first article of the will of my father, Cornelius Vanderbilt and the gold medal voted by the Congress of the United States to my great-grand father, Cornelius Vanderbilt, at the close of the war of the rebellion, in 1865, and which medal was bequeathed to me by the sixteenth article of the will of my father If my said son shall not survive me, ther give and bequeath said portraits and sait bust and said gold medal to my brother Cornelius Vanderbilt"
 With all these heirlooms and tokens O. distinction as head of the family, Alfred Vanderbilt left proportionate share of hil estate to his oldest son. For instance, h' stipulated that his trustees should se aside ample funds for the upkeep of Oak land Farm and other property left to thu oldest son.
 A trust fund of $5,000000 established b, Alfred vanderbilts father for his benef was left entirely to the oldest son. Alfred had already settled $16000,000 on his frs wife on their divorce, and this, of course will go to her son.
 It is significant that Alfred Vanderbilt place in the Adirondacks, Sagamore Lodge was bequeathed to his widow, Mrs. Mar garet Emerson Vanderbilt It was thi place to which the deceased sportsman used to retire fer relaxation when his re lations with his first wife were becomin strained It had no pleasant association for her and would have been an unwelcom gift, even if it had been left to her son.
 In leaving Oakland 70 his oldest sor Alfred Vanderbilt followed the example C Colonel John Jacob Astor, who beques4he