The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-12

D.
He was an indorser of the paper OF all
these concerns for amounts aggregat-
ing nearly 81, coo, 000 He made no ind
vidual assignment, but came to the
rescue of those who had advanced
money on the strength of his name.
He paid 100 cents on the dollar III set
tlement of every claim against him,
and in so doing left himself almost
penniless. His beautiful nome and
the spacious grounds surrounding it
in this city were valued at that time
at over 100000. Under the laws of
Wisconsin this homestead was exempt
from execution, but Casper Sanger
sacrificed it, together with all his other
possessions, to meet his obligations.
1t was his boast during the days of
his prosperity that no person should
ever lose a dollar through and conf
dence reposed in him, and in his ad-
versity he was true to his word.
SACRIFICED HIS FORTUNE.
In thus evincing loyalty to his bust
ness associates and in being true TO
his manly instincts the large fortune
of Mr.. Sanger was dissipated. He stlll
retained an interest in the California
silver mines and hoped for an appre-
citation in the value of the white metal
to restore his fallen fortunes. Ii MS
health had continued good the ener-
getic Sanger would probably have
eventually recovered the ground he
had lost and amassed another fortune
He became a physical wreck Shortly
after sustaining these reVerses, anu
during the three years prior to his
death suffered from a number of at
tacks of paralysis.
During the years of his prosperity
Mr. Sanger had taken out number
of policies on his life, and at the time
of his reverses these aggregated $2OU,-
geo. Some of these were obliged TO
lapse, but at the time of his death
policies to the amount of $185,000 were
still in force, having been kept up
mainly through the earnings of Walter
as a wheelman. That such a large
amount of insurance could be contln-
ued in force through the savings OF
young Sanger from his earnings on
the track seems almost incredible. In
innate friends of the family, however,
vouch for the truth of the statement.
Walter Sanger himself, with becoming
modesty, does not eVince any desire
to discuss the subject.
An idea of his phenomenal financial
success as bicyclist, however, is con-
veyed by his record for 1894. In that
year he was at the top of the list
among the big moneymakers in his
profession, with Harry Tyler close
second. During the season Of 1884 he
was the winner of ninety-eight races,
and each Of the prizes won by him ag-
gregated in value from 500 to $3.50 at
list prices. Walter did not dream until
long after his fathers failure that his
reverses were as great as they even
tually proved to be, but when the true
situation of his fathers affairs dawned
upon him and it became evident that
even his life insurance policies were
about to be forfeited the young wheel
man came to the rescue.
SAVED THE INSURANCE.
From that time on he engaged in a
heroic struggle to save this insurance
for the benefit of his mother and the
members of his family, and his amb1-
ton in that respect was a new incen-
tive to him in his career as bicyclist
It was with reluctance that he felt
obliged to dispose of the prizes he had
won as an amateur, but there was no
other alternative for him to adopt
The prizes won during the season of
1894 were disposed of for about $4,000,
and those won in previous years also
netted him a handsome sum. For a
number of years he has also had con-
tracts with various concerns engaged
in the manufacture of wheels or tires,
and these have Melted him from $4,000
to $4,000 each season.
Since he entered the ranks of the pro-
fession in July, 1895, his earnings have
not been quite as great, but still they
have been considerable, and sufficient,
in connection with his savings from
previous seasons, to enable him to car
ry on the work he had undertaken.
While carrying the burden of paying
the premiums on these insurance poll
cies Walter Sanger has not evinced a
spirit of selfshness, and now that his
father is dead the insurance will be di-
Vided among the members of the fam
lily, his mother receiving the major
portion of it, which will leave them in
easy circumstances. During most of
this time young Sanger has also had a
wife and household Of his own to
maintain.
Walter Sanger has always been pop
ular in Milwaukee, but the feeling now
entertained toward him in appreciation
of his career of self-sacrifice is akin to
VeneratiOn.