New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-17
SOMETHING. PERSONAL,

| Walker, who was well known in this com
lnnnity as a man of considerable business
| qualities, under the pressure of his pecuni-
airy entang glemcnts. calls to mind d similar
circumstance that agltated San Francisco
in the year 1852. Mr.. Henry Meiggs had
tgured IN California, and especially in San
Francisco, as man Of grea. financial
ability, and the confidence of the public in
his capacity to carry through great specu-
lative enterprises was unboUnded. He was
the most trusted member Of the city govern
ment; dealt largely in lumber and mill III
vestmcnts: had credit in the banks traded
III all sorts OF produce by the cargo; was i,
stockholder in private hank where the
poor people deposited their money: con
tracted for public works: bought and sold
real estate: in fact had his hands ia every
t hing. 1t was hardly possible, in the inter
est OF his operations, to touch any >pecula-
ton that did not pay handsome returns, for
California bought whatever was offered
IN these days, her wants We're SO
many and her cash was so plenty But
there came a day, all suddenly ard unex-
pectetly, when a rall fell upon the wheels
OF trade Wheat that had sold for Two and
three dollars fell to fifty and sixty cents per
busiiel, from abundant production: potatoes
that commanded two dollars per lslshel for
the farmers. became such drug that they
were ungathered in the fields; fruit. from
selling at seventy-1ive cents for single
peach. deprecated to two and three dollars
per bushel; lumber was of slow sale be
cause building ceased in the cities. and the
miners supplied themselves: money that had
begged for borrowers hid itself to escape
uncertain securities: the city stopped her
public works: nobody bough. beyond the
actual necessities of the hour.
a great calm fell upon every interest. ..nC
the sails of commerce hung loose because
there was no wind from any quarter 10
move them with a healthy activity. Meiggs
had not counted on this collapse. and he
was caught with his hands full OF Jobs o..
various sorts, from which there was no
chance to realize. His engagements termin-
ated, and the sources from which he had
been used to draw unlimited funds failed 70
respond to his demand for money. All OF a
sudden. Meiggs disappeared. He LaG pre-
pared his friends for his absence with a
statement that be intended 20 visit his great
mill enterprise in Contra Costa county. and
they SO reported; but the mental activity
of the people OF San Francisco was such
that they discovered facts almos: bv intu-
ition. Before the schooner that Neiggs Sc
cured his flight on had disappeared from
the lookout at the Golden Gate. il was
known in San Francisco that the great
financ;er had fed from the country. Pur-
suit was made. but the fugitive could nor be
recaptured He had sailed without direc-
ton, content TO land anywhere 50 lie es-
capped from the broken fa;,h arG ,eluded
friends behind him.
Years passed bv. and the Whereabouts of /,
Henry Meiggs still remained a mystery to !
the people OF California. twenty thousand |
OF whom, it was reported, Lad suffered by |
his failure. Within the last Two wears he
has discovered himself again. and now We
find him in South America. the same intense
speculator that he was in California. He
''>"-
magnates of Peru. and is now the director
OF vast railroad enterprises on the western
shores of the southern half of the American
hemisphere. He negotiated loan in Eu-
rope for the bonds of the Peruvian govern
nent on the most favorable terms while his
thought he was in Asia. He built railroad
across the Andes and establish 4 a line of
steamboats, without discovering his identity
with the fugitive from California. And to-
lay Meiggs is probably the weal,hiesc ard
most conspicuous man IN South America.
living i'll state and giving such teasts as
leicester once gave III the castle OF kenl-
worth. Indeed he has been q successful
nan, and although he has made money out
# Peru, he is still admitted to have made
money for Peru. Such mcI are ca!le. specu-
ators. and their practices are deemed - be
dangerous to society. Is it sof
Mr.. Walker is a man Of genius beyond 4
oubt His restless mind seeks large en-
agements as the only food capable OF sup
lying it with life. In prosperous times he
'ould have made an immense fortune for
imselt in Louisiana, as Meigss would no
oubt have done in California il Az unex- ;
ected and ineXplcable stagnatior had not
allen upon the community in which LIE was
lterested. May not \. w. Walker ind a
eld somewhere in the world upon which to {
lake his mark The circumstances under
hich he failed in Louisiana were not IA
Orable to his success. but there are oppo.-
lnities abroad where foresight. energy and
nnius may win the day.
WHAT THE LADIES DID FOR TIE GRovkE
BAKER SEWING MACHlNE.-Bevond a