New-York tribune., 1920-11-24
E. C.. Benedict.
Yachts1nan and
Financier, Dies
Broker Was in 87th Year:
Victim of Heart Disease
at Indian Harbor Home
After Extended Illness
Noted for Long Cruises
Sailed 1000 Miles Up Anna
9 zon; Started Career at Is;
Dean of Stock EXCHANGE

Commodore Elias Cornelius Benedict.
broker, yachtsrlan and philanthropist
died last night Of heart disease at his
home at Indian Harbor, Greenwich,
Conn, in his eighty-seventh year. He
had been ailing for more than year
From the time of the Civil War to
to the beginning of the world conflict,
Commodore Benedict was prominent
figure in the financial word. He was
widely known for his love Of yachting
and for the energy, even in his elder
years with which he set off on many
long cruises. 1t is said that the total
miles.
When the disease which eventually
overcame him first attacked him Com
modore Benedict left Greenwich aboard
his yacht for a "trip south He re-
turned only slightly improved and from
then on sank slowly.
Commodore Benedict was born in
Somers, Westchester County, January
"a, 1884. He held for years the title of
the oldest member Of the New York
Stock Exchange. He entered that body
in 1863 and was active as head of the
brokerage firm of E. C. Benedict e. Co.
until 1917
When fifteen young Benedict came to
Corning e. Co., bankers. After eight
years with that firm he struck out for
himself, and six years later became a
member Of the Stock Exchange, or
Gold Board, IS it was then called.
For years thereafter Commodore
Benedict was leader in the field Of
pubic utility investments and obtain cd
many of these enormously valuable in
young cities in the West. Although
never an Office holder he was a keen
student of politics and an intimate
Trend OF President Cleveland and
other statesmen of his time 1t was
OH his yacht that the President under
went the secret operation for liberated
Jawbones which gave rise to disquet-
ng rumors Throughout the country
Yachting was Mr. Bcnedict's chief
recreation throughout his mature life.
At one time he was member of six
clubs, including the New York, Corinth-
an and Larchmont. He was commo-
lore of the Seawannaka Club.
In the fall of 1904 he made the most
famous Of his cruises. Chartcrtng the
steam yacht Virginia, he sailed with
party Of friends to the mouth of the
Amazon and then went 1900 miles up
the great river, venturing further than
any yacht had hitherto dared go. In
1911 another cruise aboard the Vir-
ginia was ended suddenly by shipwrecl
on the Cuban coast. Not discouraged
by his misnap, other voyages followed
To celebrate his eightieth birthd lay
he made another cruise to the Amazon
on the Atreus, which. he purchased
from John Hays Hammond and re-
named the Oneida. In 1915, while
cruising in West Indian waters, he
rescued eleven persons from the dis
masted sloop, on which Comm ssionel
Leslie Jarvis and other passengers were
sailing.
When in 1917 Commodore Benedict
retired from active business he gave tt
the town of Greenwich, in memory 0.
his late wife, q modern hospital which
cost 100000. Three daughters survive
him-Mrs. Ramsay Turnbull, of Ber
nardsville, N. j.; Mrs. Thomas Hast
ings, of Westbury, L. l., and Mrs. Cliff
ford B. Harmon, who made her home
! at Indian Harbor. His son, Frederick
was killed in an automobile accident
nineteen years ago.
Funeral services will be held to-
morrow forenoon at Indian Harbor.