Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-03-18

Erastus Wiman is remarkable man.
No matter how the criminal litigation
may terminate, the career OF the To-
r0nt0 neWsb0y must always remain ln-
teresting and picturesque. lie was or
tie most bu0ylnt and saDguine temper
ament from childhood. lie always saw
the sunrise and the midday orb OF light
lie never looked for sunset nor thought
of the night Ambition ruled his nature.
ITO was not amerceuarY ambition. lie
never asDIred for wealth, simply for
the pleasure OF amassIng and pre-
serving fortune From the
point of view OF the ordinary mortal,
Wman made a score of fortunes in as
many years. But his money flew FROM
him as fast as it few toward him. He
manufactured the wings with which his
wealth took flight. His constant
thought was 10 be- famous as a oeuetac-
tor. lie wanted 90 benefit mankind,
not in the usus. Charitable and pnlian-
thrOpic sense, but by tle Introduction
of s0uE practical invention, the con-
81 -dou bi some great highway, or the
.heapaning. of the necessary c0mmodl-
ties OF life for the masses.
His earnest and enthusiastic effort 90
bring about closer Commercial. ties be-
tween Canada and this country was
striking example of the bent OF bis ann
billion. TO is safe t0 say that ErastUs
Wimau has spent fortune 10 behalf of
commercial union. He travelled FAR aud
near 90 preach the doctrine. He poured
out money 90 obtain facts and furnish
literature on the subject Ha allowed
himself 90 be- MIXED Boy the lobbyists in
Washington, Ga the hope OF securing
legislation that would help along the
cause. For several years he arose in
the small hours of the morning and die
tated articles Co a steH0graper ln favor
of cutting down, as ne expressed IT,
''the barbed wire fence tbat divides the
Dominion from the United States. ~
Night after night he appeared before
che Boards OF Trade OF the leading cities
and attempted 60 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. InOus-
ands of dollars we're t0 bis credit iu the
Central National and Chemical banks
many time, but OF all that be obtained
only his real estate OBJ Staten Island and
bus Interest in the electric light plant 40
80. George remained when the downfall
came Even the Staten Island land was
accgmuarej for the purpose of disp0s-
ing of 10 iu lots 90 men oil small means,
in order shat they might have homes of
tbair own and half acre of soil 90
which they held the tit.e Visionary as
the scheme may have been, 10 was con-
ceived With the best OF objects In view,
of late 10 took equal prominence in Wiz
mans mind with his plan for improving
the fnanoa. and commercial prospects
of CanadaA
The financial downfall of Erastus
Wiman was caused by this nd0mita5.e
Enthusiasm for humanity. Let credit
be given where credit is due. ITO viii be
fashionable, for awhile, at least 20 de-
cry what WimGn did and tried Co do. III
he should be convicted, mud viii be
thrown over the numerous enterprises
be originated and pushed. It be IS ac-
Quilted, this little story viii spread and
be retOid in his praise. Again the
statement is repeated, that Mr. Wiman
became financial wreck, temp0rarily
10 least because of his constant desire
10 accomplish something practical for
his fellow men. That he wanted
10 amass wealth boo this az.
tempt is not denied. He always
said he was in search of
gold But be wanted Co maze money
from one project in order 90 spend 10 iu
another. His history proves this Five
wears ago, or possibly six, be must have
been worth in quick assets 40 least half
q million dollars, Staten Island real es.
tate not included iu the inventory. lie
could have stopped NEEDING DO
schemes, lived handsomely on bis to-
come as mausging partner in the trm OF
y q. Dun IL Co., and allowed the hall
million 10 double itself. But he didn'
doft. He poured out the thousands ia
new directions, gave his partners che
impression that be vast Wild specu.alol
and wasn't attending 90 business, snc
then came the crash.
Naturally. his ambition 90 make
name for himself iu new fields and al
the same time permit tne public ca
share in his discoveries, made Niman 9
fair target for the crank lie was the
friond OF the crank. The man with g
scheme in the West who was told OF
1Viman brought bis pet project 90 New
York and almost always got an audi
ence The half-crazy inventor, who
worried Wall street and got no hearts
fsanv learned Of Wiman, and met
cordial reception. 10 was an ODD Il
10 see the congregation or cranSs
assembled in front OF the Dig room
covering an entire door, from aay 9