Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-12

was exacted from several who got on board.
A lot of men on shore, of the same stripe,
would give up nothing that they had obtained
without pay. They provided themselves with
canvas and blankets, while the women were
without covering or protection from the wea-
Their, save quantity of brush.
From the San Francisco Herald of the 9Th.
EXTENSIVE FORGERIES.
S25 1000 Forged Comptroller's Warrants
In cireuiation--The New Comptroller Mis-
sing.
At an early hour yesterday morning it was
rumored on the streets that Henry Meiggs had
disappeared from the country, and that his
flight was to avoid detection of his guilt in
forging city comptrollers warrants to very
large amount. Messrs. Adams Il Co., sent q
messenger to ex-Mayor Garrison, and requested
information as to whether certain warrants held
by them were genuine. Mr.. Garrison answered
registry and found the numbers wrong, and
thus detected the forgery. Before 4 o'clock,
upwards $225, 900 in forged city comptroller's
warrants were discovered in circulation. Many
of the brokers have been victimized, and un
fortunately many parties, who can lily afford
to suffer the losses occasioned by this whole
sale forgery.
The evening papers came out about o'clock,
containing an announcement from Adams q
Co., that they had discovered that forged comp
troller's warrants to a large amount were in
circulation, and cautioning the public against
purchasing warrants until the result Of inves-
legations being made by them was known. The
whole city was in q ferment, and on the cor
ners crowds congregated, and the name of
Henry Meiggs was mentioned in terms that
would shame fend incarnate. The blanks
are fac smile of the genuine, and have been
engraved expressly for the purpose, either in
this city or the eastern States. The signatures,
rs. r. Harris and &c. X. Garrison are ad-
mirably executed, and may possibly have been
autographed. The successful manner in which
the forgery was committed may be inferred
from the fact that both the late mayor and
comptroller instantly pronounced the warrants
when first presented to them, genuine.
Henry Meiggs, one week since, one Of the
most popular men in California, was guilty of
this extensive forgery. On Friday, his failure
for the sum of eight hundred thousand dollars
was announced; and further on Tuesday last
he purchased the barque American, fitted her
up in princely style, and the same night sailed,
in company with his family and brother, the
newly elected city comptroller, John G. Meiggs,
LOT " ports IN Inc acluc.
The American, in which the Meiggses es-
capped, cleared upwards of week ago. The
captain, when Intercepted few days since by
a merchant in this city, stated that she had
been bought by two wealthy gamblers, who
we're fitting her up for trip of pleasure and
adventure on the Pacific. She cleared for
sports in the Pacific" but the captain stated
that she would proceed first to Pugets Sound !;
after examining which, she would run over to
Australia.
1t is Ro,o pretty generally understood, that
firms in Neio York haze been victimized IN
amounts equal to, If not greater than the San
Francisco merchants and bankers and ii is
supposed that fully half a million Of the spu-
rious ,cdrrdnts hare been hypothecated IN Neso
| York, and loans obtained on them on much
more favorable terms than could possibly be
got here.
The impression last night was that upwards
Of Sl,000,000 comptroller's warrants were
forged and given as collateral security at fifty
cents on the dollar. From this source the sum
of 100000 was realized. The total Of forge
ries of warrants discovered is $25O000.
Upwards of $250,OO0 Of the stock Of the
California Lumber Company was also forged.
| This was hypothecated at about twenty five
cents on the dollar, making S62,500.
| The actual forgeries upon some of the mcr
camille firms in the city are calculated TO
amount to the sum of $4,000 at least. The
following figures viii convey some idea of the
extent Of the Meiggs operations so far as they
have been developed:
Amount Of failure. ................... $500, 600
Comproller's Warrants forged. 100000
California Lumber Company Stock
forged ........................ ..... 25O,OOO
Foigeries on sundry firms........... $4,000
Total. 81, loo, OoO
From the above fogeries the following sums
we're probably realized:
81, 100000 compirollers warrants
hypothecated at so cents on the
dollar. $5O0,O0C
| S250,000 California Lumber Com
pany's hypothecated at rs cents
on the dollar. .................. $500
Forgeries on several firms 10000
Total .........-................ $612,50O
1t is thought by some that this is by nc
means the extent Of this colossal swindle, and
that in few days much larger amounts will
be discovered.
The America, it is said, was provisioned for
two years voyage, aud her bill for "fne
stores" such as preserved meats and fruits
spices, wines, DC, amounted TO the sum Of
$1,000. II is also said that she carries four
guns, two Of them brass pieces. Her crew be-
| ing composed of men ready 10 do the bidding