St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-18
FAILURE OF ERASTUS WlMAN.
What Really Caused the Cana
dams Financial Downfall.
He WAS The EASY PREY OF The CRANK.
Men with Scheme AIways Fcund uir,, y
Ready and willing Listener-BewiId-
ering List of Enterprises in Which y
He Was at One Time Interested "a
His Capacity for Work. 81

The inside story of Erastus Wiman's fnan-
cial troubles has not been told. When he
failed about year ago, his assets were re-
ported to be sufficient to meet his liabilities.
Yet he stepped out of the commercial agency
of R. G. Dun & Co., overwhelmed with pecu-
mary burdens. Mr.. Dun gave him clean bill
of health. He said Mr.. Wiman left the firm
without tarnish. That should be remembered
in the light of recent events. Whatever may
be the cause for the serious charges brought
against the famous Canadian, and which re-
suited in his indictment, there was no charge
preferred when the man that made the great
agency stepped down and out.
Erastus Wiman is remarkable man. No
matter how the criminal litigation may term
mate, the career of the Toronto newsboy must
always remain interesting and picturesque.
He was of the most buoyant and sanguine
temperament from childhood He ALWAYS
saw the sunrise and the midday orb of light.
He never looked for sunset nor thought of
the night. Ambition ruled his nature. It
was not mercenary ambition. He never
aspired for wealth, simply for the pleasure of
|amasslnS and preserving a fortune. From the
point OF view of the ordinary mortal, Wiman
made a score of fortunes in as many years
But his money flew from him as fast as it
flew toward him. He manufactured the wings
with which his wealth took flight His con-
slant thought was to be famous as a bene-
factor. He wanted to benefit mankind, not
in the usual charitable and phlanthropic
sense, but by the introduction of some practi-
cal Invention, the construction of some great
highway or the cheapening of the necessary
commodities of life for the masses.
His earnest and enthusiastic effort to bring
about closer commercial ties between Canada
and this country was q striking example of the
bent of his ambition. 1t is safe to say that
Erastus Wiman has spent fortune in behalf
of commercial union. He Travelled far and
near to preach the doctrine. He poured out
money to obtain facts and furnish literature
on the subject. He allowed himself to be
MIXED blythe lobbyists in Washington, in the
hope OF securing legislation that would help
along the cause. For several years he arose
IN the small hours OF the morning and dictated
articles to stenographer in favor of cutting
down, as he expressed it, the barbed wire
fence that divides the Dominion from the
United States Night after night ne appeared
before the Boards of Trade in the leading
cities and attempted to arouse an interest in
his theory. .-.....
Wiman wanted money for the good he could
do with it. That is the reason he never saved
what he acquired. Thousands of dollars
were to his credit in the Central National and
Chemical banks many time, but of all that
he obtained, only his real estate on Staten
Island and his interest in the electric light
plant at st. George, remained when the down