Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-05
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
Dividends of Seven enths of One Per
Cent on Wiman's Liabilities.

NEW YORK, Jan. 4.-LSpecial. lit
was almost like meeting Il ghost to
read the other day about the payment
of a dividend of not quite seven-tenths
of 1 per cent on the liabilities of Eras
tus Wiman. whose period of greatest
prosperity was followed early in the
present decade 10y collapse more pit
liable than is often recorded.
1t was in 1898, l think, that Mr.. Wi
man went to smash. His troubles
were preciptated by II. G. Dun & Co.,
the big commercial agency concern,
but their chief cause, no doubt, was
too enthusiastic faith in the future of
Staten Island. 1t is beyond question
a beautiful place for residence and
some day may fulfill Mr.. Wiman's
fondest expectations and more, but he
was certainly ahead of his time. He
invested tremendous sums in Staten
Island property and induced many 9th
ers to do likewise. 1t was while he
was booming the island as few islands
ever have been doomed that he was
nicknamed the king of Staten Is
land"
Gan Accidental Canadian"
Mr.. Wiman has always been consid-
cred a Canadian, and, in truth, he was
born near Toronto. But he was only
IAN accidental Canadian" for both his
parents were Americans, and his IA
ther was n citizen of the United States.
Curiously enough, as it seems on this
Il, 81 IL,
he has lived nearly 30 years right in
New York and near by, he has affected
great pride in his Canadian birth and
to this day considers himself subject
of the queen, as he really is in law.
Erastus Wiman is now on the shady
side of 80. He is a big man bodily.
with a rather heavy, embarrassing
face, which began to wear worn and
weary expression long before bank
ruptcy overlook him. He began life
poor his father being a working me
chanic on Canadian wages. Owing to
the permanent financial stringency of
the Wiman family, Erastus began to
earn his own way when only n small
boy. His first occupation was selling
| papers. Afterward he became a print
er'S devil. Then he learned to set
| type. From the case he advanced-or
was it retrogression?-to the post of
reporter. From that job he passed to
the commercial editors desk in the
office of the Toronto Globe.
Getting In with Dun.
That was in 1S56-43 years and more
| ago. AS commercial editor of The
Globe he attracted the attention of Il.
G. Dun & Co. and soon became the
firms Toronto representative.
After a bit he was put in charge of
all the r. G. Dun & Co. business in Can
ada. In 1865 he was made member of
the firm. His removal to New York
followed as a matter of course. Here
he met bright American girl, wooed
her successfully and married her. His
large real estate ventures were made
in her name in order that he might not
be obliged to renounce his Canadian
citizenship. Very soon after coming
here he began to gather the Canadian
elements in New York together, was
one of those who founded the Cana
dian club and for years contributed
heavily to its financial needs. After il
had been put upon n sound footing the
English element got control and
! changed the name to the st. James
club. For some reason Wiman didn't
like that, and his complete Withdrawal
from the organization followed.
Undoubtedly his feeling has always
been far more cordial toward the Unit
ed States than toward England, anC
this has been shown by his attitud,
concerning commercial union between
the States and the Dominion. AS lon.
as he was lin it, he was always, il
season and out of season, advocatin,
such a union There was a rumor n
one time that he was to be knighted
but it was a rumor only.
When the Blow Came.
Wiman's worst trouble came becaus
of certain action taken by r. G. Dun 4
Co. They found that he had used tn
firm name in some way not technical,
legal and caused proceedings charging
him with forgery to be instituted. TIL
trial was one of the sensations of 1885,
and it resulted in conviction in the SEE
, ond degree. Wiman fought as hard a
he could, of course, and appealed tn
case, yet he had to go to Jail in defaul
of bail
The falling of Wiman was really
pathetic thing. He hadn't the leas
idea that he'd have trouble about get
!, ting bail and because of this wrote t
only five men for help. OF all the me
who had profited by his lavish expend
lures ON behalf of Staten Island the
{ had profited most, perhaps, but not on
l of them responded. They had bee
| glad enough to ride with him when h
drove the band wagon, but they ha
e no notion of giving him lift when b
. was down in the mud.
Wiman at "Space Rates"
A short time before his trial Wilma
went back to newspaper writing, an
> his efforts to dispose of manuscript &
= regular space rates" here and thel
were as pathetic as his efforts to g
h bail. He sold copy in some instance
h but his earnings in that direction wei
ridiculously small
e His work on success in life-Ive 70
: gotten its title-had begun to sell pre-
J. ty we'll when reverses overlook hin
d but of course the general Wiman brea
r up spoiled sales Those who have rea
e it aver that the book is filed vii
l. good, sound business sense. Wiman
liabilities were $513,404.36. The div