davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24
FAILURE OF ERASTUS WIMAN,
What Really Caused the Cana
dams Financial Downfall.
He WAS The EASY PREY Of THE CRANK.
Men With Scheme Always Found Mlm
Ready'and willing Llstener-BeWIld-
erlns list Of Enterprises in which
Nc Was rs One Time Interested
His Capacity for work.

The lnslue s,ory 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 be stepped ont Of the commercial agency
of R. &. Dun x Co., overwhelmed with pecu-
MARY burdens. Mr.. Dun gave him claanblu
of health. He said MIR. 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 Fought
against the famous Canadian, and .Aich re-
suited in his indictment, there wa no charge
preferred when the man that made the great
agency stepped down and out.
Erastus Wiman is a remarkable man. No
matter how the criminal litigation NAV term.
mate, the career Of the Toronto newsbov 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 ligllt.
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 pleasur. Of
.amassing and pgeseryInga fortune. From the
point Of view Of the ordinary mortal, Wimu
made a score Of fortunes in as many wears
But his money flew from him as fast az it
few toward him. He manufactured the wings
with which his wealth took flight His con
stant thought was to be famous as g bene-
factor He wanted to benefit mankind. not
in the usual charitable and phlanthropc
sense, but by the Introduction Of some rracti-
cal invention the construction Of some great
highway or the cheapenng OF the necessary
commodities Of hfefor the masses.
His earnest and enthusiastic effort TO brirc
about closer commercial ties between Canada
and this country was a striking example Of the
bent Of his ambition. II is safe to say that
Erastus Wimau 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 70 be
MIXED by the lobbyists in Washington. in the
hope Of securing legislation that would help
along the cause. For several wears he arose
in the small hours Of the morning and dictated
articles to a sterographer in favor of cutting
down, as he expressed it, the oarbed wire
fence that divides the Dominion from the
United States" Nghtaiter light he 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 heneyer saved
what be acquired. Thousands Of dollars
We're to his credit in the Central National ana
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.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24

platform, hour after hour, Erastus Wiman
managed the great agency with ease and with
quickness of comprehension and a rapid
grasp OF situations that were truly marvellous.
He disposed Of business in a dav that evan
noted merchants and prominent financers
could not have handled in a week. The mail
OF the firm and his private mail, which was
almost as heavy, were taken up and answered
Ike flash He could dictate two different
letters on two different subjects to two ste
nographers at the same time and each lette,
would be concise, well worded and cover al
that needed TO be written. It was q sight u
see this man at work.
Yet this keen, shrewd, unusually intelligent
business man, who built up an enormous CON
Germ out Of a small and struggling affair wa.
the prey, and often the too easy prev. of the
ubiquitous crank. For several years. Mr..
Wiman devoted an hour in the middle OF the
day to outsiders. Then came the crank or
fatherth the aggregation Of cranks. There was
long bench outside the railing. and on this
they grouped themselves They went inside in
the order Of their arrival, except where some
more favored inventor, who had been there
before, was called 70 enter out Of his turn.
The Maunchausen tales that Wiman heard
every day would have set most men crazy.
He enjoyed them. The greater the fairy story
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24
TOLD ny COL. LAWRENCE O. nANNoN.

There have been many works written on
the war, but there are campaigns and lines Of
desperate fighting that seem 30 have entirely
escaped theQttention Of the historian.
Writers irom tine North and South have
made us familiar with the doDgs for four
years Of the Army Of the Potomac and the
Army OF Northern Virginia, so that We know
not only the battles but the skirmishes and
other minor affairs In which they were en-
gagged.
The same may be said Of the fierce fighting
in Tennessee, Georgia and Louisiana. but.
outside Of army reports have seen nothing
that attempts to give thorough account Of
the fighting along the Mississippi, from Co.
lumbus, Kentucky, TO the fall Of Memphis in
1852.
During this campaign | served under Gen
era John P. yilepigne, who, though he sub
5equenty dropped ont Of sight, was as gal
liant aman as ever wore a sword or sat on q
horse "
| have sometimes thought that General
Yillepigne's courage was Of the character that
distinguished the followers Of Mahomet. He
evidently believed in destiny and that it was
folly for man to attempt to avoid the inev-
liable. This Is, think, clearly shown by the
following incident:
After the fall Of Fort Donelson, on the
Cumberland, forced the evacuation Of Column
bus, Kentucky, the Southern forces, in order
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24


'ns greater 'le interest ne manifested He
wa never cross or abrupt he was splendid
''''sH,'' II 'he seHeLne struck hm as worth
ms anu 700 many scnemes struck
rl ,','- "''' way ne A4us ahoIher appointment
'''7 '''''N ia" pa.sAl OF MODEL on some
w. vi Whatever u Iiisnt De with MN and
.,'-'''' i'HHleoIa'e poverty. our would come
''V 'l,s'' D2oA oi Toll o' 'liiS' ana the patent
W. '''' ''. .1ei VI cue ample ore would remain
VI. U'P,''' u''''' 'u''-ei conversation TOOK
E'--'
- ~ 10 me pam Cru'h % say mat Erastus
m'l'1" was Iu!nei Ahanciaily by the crank.
l.s 20 d 'ot.S''eU"us 'lc.- o. 'he crank IN
"oguce' No' tAaJ ne he.Dea every crank or
y'e'9 P.'le'' l"ay was presented
~ l'' lal' i''s -al'ule "ouI nave been an
l''u uI,l'' several years sooner. many OF the
'.'''.,S' 'S.ls 1''y "0iu 'ot llie moment IL
--.2iY @.ie way Dao really praise
y.- "g..i! IioJyy'5' 'oHe ol 'hsm were pro-
i.,, l'.oIs.S VIZ lis1 aHO'eu .nelr craAk7 % the
.i' r'i- were "'1l!s as special aUor-
80 o',,e ,J'u '.l9 "!!Ief tlat =
/ u1 s-'y' .,, '"iIe1 HuL0'eu cI-AAs IN ofder 20
So' '' ,1' 'uiu''Ie lI,el.'oA or Jhe promising
o'7'''eL! vl 'le HuIofeu ana lFst crank. 1t
N@S plou"'ly " Grams 1gain meaning no dis
is7peC' IN '''7 use ol 'l7 Woro' that first
''' '''s "uC'N'"'g "els.''hs machine TO
" "-li''i' > '''ei''y"' me Oa1aulah made
Pi'V ~ money OUT u III, ana Is sun doubtless
i, ieIe''.ns royalty, unless ne ai5p9s9d oI his
.I'7'ss,' Two -uiC-'s"l Ia'N poys Drought
'He y! e'''1 P1i'e''@5- 10 'ne manager oi the
lo.-l'l,si'''' "sei,'5' ne s'41 'le lofe.Sh pat
.n's 'y' d" Ia' HguEe' Du' sunk slVVVJO IN
"!ILs I" il"Ae ''e machine d success IN TINS
county, ln .''e Voo". o''~Ace7 ol success,
'iIa' H7 PuO'isi1o d le" lnoA'hs age, ne tells
'''e MANNER i'll "II-i many so7d 'hlhgs came
10 nm,
b1l MS ambition was unoounded when it
s'''"i" nave pe'u Aeld III cAech. he took up
700 many '"'Ass al once Even with his
-'"' , ,e''uS eayac'y .o' WORK. ana beginning
MS ua', as ne "'1, at -''' o'clock IN the morn
.H=' anu Nv' l'Ns At up OhI4 SIN ID the even
ING lie 'ou.a io' Keep al WIN the procession
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24

drol in Europe. These priests are specially
trained, and are respectively tenor, bass and
counter tcnor, the lrst chanting the narrative
without change Of the keynote. When he
comes to the words Of the others, the bass
sings in deep, resonant voice, with rich
tones, the words of the Saviour, while the
counter tenor impersonates the inferior
characters, and the multitude are imperson-
ated by band o. musicians within the choir.
The effect Of this musical Dialogue, Is inde-
scrbable. 1t is repeated every day till
Thursday. On Passion Wednesday white
yeiconceals the clergy during mass. On reach
ing the words: THE veil Of the temple was
rent in twain, the'veil before the priests is
split from top to bottom, amid the laundering
explosions Of powder in the lofty galleries,
which symbolize the earthquake that accom-
panied the rending of the veil of the Temple
On Wednesday evening, the Miserere is
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24

yos on tha Va,,,po commanded bv Cop-
toin Roggs in tha Nississinni inst b,forc tbo
contnre Of New or,e,ns W. had a hot birth
1nriny tbe bonhordmont Of Fort ~ philin
and 0soor D,rt was a nova,,. h,v Ma s,id
he was siyt,ep roinc. ON seventeen Eut he
looked two yours y,,prar rn1col I rot Il
glimpse or him inst ne the 0ght oppppd and
I th6uoht what , pity if ,yos that a cent,,
bondsom, IooIir, Ind like him was NOT nj
bom, and nj school This bc,icye1 to be .
iob ro,. r1I, crown mon bot blcss Won that lad
Osca, Dent bud in him tbe heart of Il giant.
When the action was mt the hottest T
hoard thgt hov sbopf gri .laurb MS if he er.
loved # Ua6it NOR, i'm e,ttincammunitiog
tn the rupners than any two others and with
in nm bour tine smoke and powder had hIaca
epej him tiu he looked Ikea darky.
bpori C,pt3ip Bocr, hail Osrlr rs he
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24

TO hold possession o! the lower Mississippi,
determined to contest to the utmost the pas
sage Of the Federals at Island Number Ten.
In this work OF resistance and obstruction
General Yillepigne was most energetic and
conspicuous. As general oAeer, he might,
without laying himself open to the charge Of
timdity have had his headquarters ont Of
the Iino %. fire, but this would not suit hin
it would be Ike an inHdclity to his creed.
Being within less than mile of the enc
mys batteries the Generals headquarters,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24

| had witnessed, must confess the question
struck me like eonundrum Of the heaviest
calibre. At first l thought Of the old Admiral
Himself, lashed to the shrouds OF the Hart
ford in the battle with the ironclads and forts
in Mobile Bay, but then every one has heard
Of that Everybody, however, hasn't heard Of
Oscar Dent, and 50 III spin this yarn
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24

A reward Of $500 has been offered for a
good national song to take the place of Hail
Columbia, Yankee Doodle and the Star
spangled Banner. Such songs are never
written to order, or in competition Tor prize.
The chances are we shall have to put up with
the old songs. They are quite good enough
ior most Of US -
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24
TOLD BY JOHN .. WATERS.

l was a warrant officer in the Navy, most
Of the time under Fauagut, SO that | saw q
good deal of fighting, but when ! was asked
to think Of some particularly brave act that
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24

.of paint company at Boonton, n. j., that
made fine grades Of paint out Of pulverzed
iron Stag. cf companythat made brick down
along the Kill Won Kill, and Of cold storage
concern in New York. near the Brooklyn
bridge, lie was interested, and where he
was interested it meant he was active in
dozen other enterprises Hewas at the same
time talking and writing about Commercial
founding the new resorts of South Beach,
Union and Arden and Arrochar.
Yet, with all these surgnc, struggling in
terests in his mind, he gave heed to the crank
and had money ready for the next good pro-
iect that came along. Truly. it is folly to say
Erastus Wiman was ruined by II. &. Dun or
Staten Island or any one thing you might
name, He carried too heavy q load and car
ried it too long. His big, generous heart and
his ambitious, active brain, were too many
for his purse. With the means of Wander
bilt, he would undoubtedly have added to the
list Of benefits he has unQuestionably con-
ferred upon the public. But give the crank
time and he would get away with the millions
OF u Vanderbilt. LAWRENCE S. MOTT.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24

The New York Herald advises its readers to
keep their eyes open, as there are great
many nickel counterfeits in circulation in
New York and it hints that as theyare passed
on the street cars that the conductors know
more about the fraud than they are willing to
confess
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24
heard the Jugles sounding the aa.4a..

a5arso orders Of the officers. and the
aD-rerng yels of the men, as they ru-ual
forward at the atatcl,. I5 seemed impossible
that sparrow could ay uuhit across ,u.t
obstruction and in the face ofthat awfg' a.u.
was in the fort working ata gun. ana noting
The gaps and the broken formation o. th.
men IN grey as they came nearer and nearer
Much as I wanted 20 See them beaten / felt
at Ia, mJmel, an indescribabls pride iu this
splendid and almost insane exhibition of
daring.
Nearer and nearer, but with decreasing
numbers they came. Far 10 the rear the
charging column was broken and men be-
twos tens and scores could be seen s.urrying
20 the protection Of the standing timber. We
felt convinced by this time that the assault
had lost its danger, but the men far TO the
front. and close up to the fort, dii no. dream
that their supports were gone. Conspicuous
among these men in grey was an officer with
u heavy beard. He carried in one hand his
sword and in the other flag, thus making
himself particularly conspicuous. With less
than fifty men behind him, this daring officer
got free from the DISTINCTIONS. and with %
shout dashed up the parapet, and there
planted his flag
It was only for an instant. A hundred
shriI voices shouted: Don't Shoot Himn
but it was too late. The riaoman behind
fired, and Colonel Rodgers Of the Texas
brigade, the brayest man ever saw, fell dead
on the remnant Of his tattered flag.
Soon after noon the enemy retreated.
pretty badly beaten, and in appreciation Of
his gallantry We buried the Confederate
colonel that evening in a special grave and
with the honors he deserved
CHARLES GIVEN.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-24
r0LD ByCApTlIN uARaY HAMILTON.

JOHN S WATERS
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-15

THE BAPTISTS IN DALLAs.-A spec
lal to The New Orleans Times. Demo
crat from Dallas, Texas. says: To-day
the first of the thousands who are com
ing to make the Southern Baptist con
vention the biggest UNCONVENTIONAL
%concourse even held in the city are ar
irving. The promise of many of the
delegates leads to the belief thatmany
more are to come. Divines, lawyers,
statesmen and orators will make the
occasion one to be remembered for the
history of this city. The convention
will be n of untiring interest as it's
elements have touched the entire
world, being missionary in character,
and representatives will come from
beyond the confines of civilization.
Dallas will make this event a red let.
ter occasion in the history of her hos
pitality for hundreds of homes, irres-
pective OF denominations, have opened
their doors and will vie with each
other i n extending a welcome to the
delegates.
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-15
ABSOLUTELY PURE

tive on the road, and do much business
for those who employ his time. 1t is
not necessary for him to drink. 1t will
ruin him to gamble. 1t will side
track him to be dishonest. The drum
mer who has come to stay is tho man
who honors his profession by all the
qualities which honor q man in any
other profession.
The drummer knows the best towns,
the best business men in each town,
and above all, the best hotels. for
when his business is Over he wants Il
square meal and a comfortable bed.
Withal this is u healthy life. The
drummers are all fat and sleek, and
know of no life more healthy and in
MIGRATING to the physical u If y
drummer Is sober and keeps good
hours and gets all the sleep he can, he
will generally live to be q hundred
years old.
It is always with pleasure to me
that l stand up before a large body Of
travelling men and talk to them about
the things that belong to the soul and
that affect character and destiny.
have preached to six hundred or eight
hundred drumers gathered in IL build
ing, and have always found them re
spectful, attentive and responsive.
May God bless these men of hard
ships and privation wherever they
may be, and shield them in the hour o
temptation, and guide them success
fully to the haven of rest, is thu
prayer of one who is interested il
them and who has been benevolent il
all of his thoughts concerning them
SAM =. JONES.
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-15
HE WAS PUNCTUAL.
The Fidelitys OF an Old Darkey In
Elayery Times.

a group Of gentlemen, mostly from
Dixie, we're discussing certain phases
of the institution of slavery as it
existed in their region, at one of the
down town hotels. The faithfulness
Of the black man to his master was
heartily attested by those present,
nearly all Of whom had owned slaves.
There never was a moro loyal sub
Ject than the old-time plantation
darby" said Maj. George Griffin, of
Columbus, Ga, "The percentage of
slaves who tried to gain their freedom
by running away was very small, which
was the best proof of their contented
lot. My father had cmigrated from
South Carolina to Georgia, bringing
with him about thirty negroes, in
themselves constituting u respectable
fortune. He was q thrifty planter,
and with the aid Of his colorcd vassals
his. worldly possessions increased
rapidly. Among the number was Il
who from the fact of his ability to do
about twice the work of an average
hand, and also for his good disposi-
tion, was a primo favoritc on the place.
a was really the pet Of the family {:
he could shuck more corn M pick
moro cotton than any of his colleagues,
and whithal was rs amiable as a child.
"One summer night Dan left his
cabin and walked up to the big house
rs the servants styled the residence
of their owner. He found my father
seated on the veranda, smoking his
pipe and coming up to him said, Mars
George, I've got a favor to AK of YOU
"'What is it, Dan ?"
"'You know I've a twin brother
back in Souf Carolina, dat I amt seed
in eleven years. l want you to let me
go on a little visit to see Ruebcn, for ]
thinks u heap OF dat boy"
well, the upshot of it was, that
the necessary consent was given.
There was no railroad closer than
Atlanta, but Dan thought little of
walking that distance. When the day
came for him to start he was tho
happiest mortal on earth. Father
gave him Il nice suit of clothes and
plenty Of pocket money. He was to be
back in six weeks. Some of ourneigh-
bors prophesicd hat VIC had seen the
last of Dan, but not SO, / recollect tho
night when he came down tho road
whistling II merry tune, He.hud en-
joyed II great time with his brother,
and the six weeks was up to q day.
WaShinrtOn Post.
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-15

DANGER FROM OVER EXERTION.-
Among people over fifty, danger Of
death from heart failure, after sudden
eXertion rs in running for a train. is
by 40 means confined to such as have
obvious heart-disCaSe. Many hearts,
While showing no symptoms of disease,
are unfit to stand Il sudden strain, and
for such, nrun to catch Il train, aid
especially II III uphill, is sufficient to
produce Il ~dilatation which may start
u long or even fatal ILLNESS, or may
cause immediate death. 1t is interest
ing TO observe how frequently cuta-
! strOpc occurs after the effort is over.
While the race is in full swing there
is plenty of room in the systematic cir
culatiOn, and thus, although the heart
works hard it does not work against a
great resistance. When, however,
tho cXcEtion is over, things are very
different. Suddenly, when the object
Of ambition is secured, the contracting
lung pOurS into the left side of the
heart the excess of blood which it had
contained, and the artcrial tension in
crcaSoS in consequence of the lesscned
demand for blood by the tissues. The
heart, then, with more blood to propel
and u greater resistance to overcome,
is strained to the utmost, and if it's
tissues are weak, the result is often
fatal. Runners who have been on the
verge of this condition agree in saying
that the sense of palpitation and suf-
location on after violent cXer-
ton ceases, that it is aggravated by
sitting still, and that it is best reliev-
ed by movement and continued deer
respiration.
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-15

The biggest solitary wave ever
known was that caused by the Peruvian
earthquake of August Is, 1868. In nc
oth"r instance, VIC are assured, has it
been known that a wcll-marked wave OF
enormous proportions has been propa-
gated over the largest ocean tract OF
tue globe by an earthquake whose ac-
ton has been limited to a relatively
small region not situated in the centre,
but on n side Of tho wide area
travcrsed by the wave. at africa it
was fifty feet high, and enveloped the
town carrying two warships nearly a
mile beyond the railway to the north
of the town. The single sea travelled
northwnrd and westward. Its height
al san Pedro, California, was sixty
feet. 1t inundated the smaller mem
berS ~ the Sandwich group, $500
miles away, and reached Yokohoma,
in Jarnn. IN the early hours of the morn
Ing aitcr taking In New Zealand on
the say. 1t spent itself finally in the
South Atlantic, having traversed
ncrrIy tho whole globc.
The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-05-15

sweet charity of people, who gave
welcome to them. An editor Is o pecu-
liar institution. He can lampoon and
scarify another editor, and call him all
the scandalous names In the dictionary
and then they meet together in press
conventions and on press excursions
and drink toasts to each other and get
loving and mellow and slobber all over
one another, and next morning go TO
fighting as usual. We outsiders can't
do that. 1t must be on the idea that
| Silney Smith spoke of when he said
| that q little morsel of SANDER was the
| sweetest thing In the world. III all
| that these editors nave accused one
another of be true, then most OF them
are fit for the chaingang. But 1T Is
not true, and the people know 1t, and
make allowance for 1t and smile. ]
heard a good one on Phil Byrd the
other day! Phil runs The Rome Hust-
Ter with a lively lick and scarifes
around in such a sweet way that the
victim can't get very mad. When Gov
ernor NOrthen% returned from the Cor
bett- Mitchell fiasco, The Hustler said
General Northen has returned from
the front with his bottle-scared veter
ans. He came back safe and sound
save a thumb that he sprained trying
to cock q cannon" Mel Cannon ha'
a keen sense of the ridiculous ant
laughed when he read it. He took the
paper home and finding his old father
the Confederate colonel, 1T the dinneI
table, he read it to him and laughed
again. but the old colonel stop
ped eating nor smiled o made q re
mark. "Petty good, for Phil, isn't it
father?" "No, / don't see anything
smart in it. Governor Northern wa
trying to do his duty and protect til
people from the bad influences Of
couple of vagabonds, and as for Phi
Byrd, If he is fool enough to believ
that o cannon has got q cock to it, h
ought to quit running a newspaper
Cooking q cannon! Who yer hear,
Of such a thing And the old wal
horse seemed to be utterly Disguised
RIII, ARP.