New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-10
ERASTUS WIMAN DEAD.
Once Famous Promoter Dies at His
Home on Staten Island.

AL@Stus W imam, journalist, author, promoter
and for years one Of the most prominent citi-
zens OF Staten Island died last night at his
home. in Wall and Jay SITS. St. George Staten
Island. Mr.. Wiman suffered from q stroke OF
paralysis about three years ago and never fully
recovered For the last year he had been help
less in mind and body On Monday he received
tne stroke which was the immediate cause of
MS death. and lapsed into Inconsistencies. from
which he did not rally
With Mr.. Winan when he died were his son.
Harry Wiman. and Mr. and Mrs. Norman
Walker. of Staten Island. the latter his daugh-
ter. Mrs. Wman's health was too feeble to per-
NIT her being at the bedside, and it is not ex-
pected that she Will Ions survive her husband
Mr. Wiman was born in ChurchviTe. Peel
County Ontario. April q. 1894 After completing
his education in the common schools OF Toronto
ne learned the printers trade in the office OF 1.-THE
North American" a newspaper owned by his
cousin. William MacDougan. In 1886 he became
reporter on The Globe" and later was made
commercial editor. In recognition OF his work IN
gave him gold watch in 1858 For years he was
are c6ances Of success and EPisodes i and OBJ
servations in the Life Of a Busy Man" He was
In 1880 Mr.. Wiman left Journalism 20 enter the
employ Of r. G.. Dun's Commercial Agency. He
became manager Of the Canadian branch OF the
New-York Office. and subsequently became general
manager at a salary of $4,000 a year. 1t was at
the development OF Staten Island where he had
made his home; and began to interest himself and
outside capital in various interests for its expOita-
ton He thoroughly aroused the island, and fer
but through the various Legislative bodies 1t was
MS ambition TO show that Staten Island was in the
terested in trolleys water works electric lighting
ferries and railroads on the island. The expensive
nome which he built near ST. George was lately
sold TO the Staten Island Club for Sl5.O0O. mere
fraction OF what Mr.. Wiman put into It.
BUILDS ARTHUR KILL BRIDGE
He made president OF the Great North
western Telegraph Company. of Canada. in 1881.
and was also director of the Western Union
Telegraph Company. In 1854 he was elected pres-
dent Of the Staten Island Rapid Transit Company.
authorization Of the Arthur xiii Bridge. between
strumental in the establishment Of the Canadian
Club IN thls city, ana became is first PRESIDENT.
and Canada was one OF his pet dreams He origi-
mated a movement looking to that end and sue
ceeded In having his PRINCIPLES supported by the
Liberal party In Canada. lie also nstru-
for debt in New ork state in ISIS He was pres-
dent Of the Consolidated Lake and Canal Trans
jet of utilizing the free canals OF the State TO
reduce freight rates on toodstuffs;
Mlmau's PRINCIPAL associate n his Staten Island
projects was Robert Garrett. With him he in
vested all he haO and moe and expected To realize
millions as result. In the midst OF their plans
CARROTS mind gave way and interests hostile 10
Ohio. That meant death to the Staten Island in
teIests Property values. which had gone up at ia a
in control. dropped rapidly when 1t bSCame ap-
parent that their plans were doomed 10 failure
staten Island has not yet recovered from the shock
Of that disaster. To such extent were values
disturbed Staten Island that 10 not till after
consolidation that values Of adjoining properties
began 70 assume any relation to each other. EN-
perts from the Tax Department were thrown into
confusion by the situation and they worked months
before getting the tangle straightrned out
DECLINE IN FORTUNES.
Since 1894 the fortunes OF Mr.. Wiman have de-
clined rapidly In spite OF his best efforts his prop
erty and investments slipped from him one by one.
In 1883 he made last effort retrieve his fortunes
by organizing a corporation which was TO enter the
field against Il. q. Dun * Co. with whom he had
formerly been connected The scheme proved a
failure
In 1894 he accused by the Dun concern Of en-
heZLilng funds while connected with the corpora
tiun. He convicted In the lower courts. but the
case carried TO the Court Of Appeals. where the
decision reversed.
II was not till 1897. after nearly twenty years of
tied citizen In that year he took out his naturza-
tion papers and ran independent candidate
FOR councilman Of greater New-York. He received
only a small vote. During the campaign ne refused
his politics. but afterward called himself q
Democrat.
lie leaves besides n widow, three sons-HaTry.
William and Louisiana two daughters-Mrs- Nor
man Walker and Mrs. Jacob Cram lac funeral
will be held on Friday afternoon At 3 O'Clock IN
Christ Church. New Brighton The Rev Dr. crow
der and Archdeacon tombstone Will Oficlate