Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-11-22

Henry BIeigs, the Colossal California
FOrger and swIndIer- His Extraordinary
Proposal TO Settle Ciains Against him
for $500, O,OOO-Remnrltablc Career of the
Dishonest Financier.
We have already called attention to the
notice published by G. w. Ryckman, calling
upon the creditors Of Henry Meiggs to pre-
sent their claims for settlement. Previous
to the grand disaster which led to MeigRs's
sudden fight to parts unknown, no citizen
stood higher in the public estimation. His
manners were those of sober, respectable,
and substantial citizen; his energy of char
acter had almost become proverbial and his
credit was unlimited Every body reposed
confidence in Harry Meiggs, and all were
anxious to make use of his credit for their
own profit. The San Francisco Herald, of
late date, says:
"His safe was esteemed as reliable as the
Golfers of the Rothschilds, and citizens of
every class were only too eager to make in
vestments in accordance with his advice.
Then all smiled on the unhappy man, aud
bent the hinges Of the knee. But finally
camethe explosion. On one foggy morning
in Octoberit was announced that the hitherto
popular favorite had ignominiously fed, to
escape the maledictions of hundreds whose
confidence he had betrayed, and the judg-
ment of the law against forgery.
The career of this man possesses a roman
tic interest it is impossible to escape, how
much soever we may be- inclined to con-
demn his objectionable delinquencies. He
must have q mind of remarkable recupera-
tive energy, for we are informed that not
withstanding his loss of reputation and the
questionable shape in which he appeared
before the people of Chile, no resident for
eigner stands higher at the present moment,
in the estimation of the Government of that
country. He has been continually harrassed
by the angry pursuit of his defrauded cred
itors, and on more than one occasion has
been forced to escape from their threats
to remote settlements; yet nevertheless,
his spirit remained unbroken, and he sue
ceeded in obtaining contracts of great value
and in successfully completing them. When
he first landed in Chile it is said he had
$4,000. This amount he, in some manner,
lost, and became so reduced in ciroum-
stances that he was compelled to pawn his
watch, to supply the wants of nature. He,
however, subsequently succeeded in finding
persons ready to render him assistance, and
up to the present time he has performed
work Of the estimated value of $780, 900.
On this he realized some ten per cent.
| profit; but food, unprecedented in its vi
| olence, swept away property, of the value oil
| $4,000, the result of his labors. 1t is said
that be has now some $4,000 and is the
owner of a contract for building some thirty
miles of railroad, extending the Valparaiso
and Rancuagua line to the northern mining
districts. Few men, surrounded by circum-
stances so adverse, could have accomplished
| so much.
Meiggs, we believe, estimated that his in
| debtedness, when he left San Francisco
amounted to 100000; but it is probable that
he did not know how much he really die
owe to his creditors, for the claims agains
him will most likely reach double that
amount. AS we understand the matter, he
proposes to pay his creditors ten. per cent. OF
his Indebtedness, on the 1st of July, 1861
and an additional ten per cent. in notes. al
| what time, we are not aware. For the Sc
! curity he proposes to mortgage the labor Of
| his life,