It was an accomplishment that said everything about Vanderbilt's negotiating skills and iron nerve. Impromptu newspaper interviews with the Commodore, comments by those who dealt with him, and the minutes of board meetings show him in full command as others nearly broke down in fear.
Actually it was about not being fully leveraged when a big storm hits. Cash became King and he had lots of it. That in turn came from having a defensible advantage in operations.
