The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-06-30

nificence. lie occupies house built
by a wealthy Peruvian ns he'd Salinas.
1t il two stories high and contains
over 20 rooms on the second floor. The
first fiooI is occupied by stores for the
most part, except an entrance which
Is exceedingly capacious. Meiggs has
fitted up and furnished the house with
great splendor. He always sits down
to dinner prepared for any number of
guests that may drop in on him. As
Caliao, the seaport, is tut seven miles
from Lima, it is a common thing for
naval officers in port to run over and
dine with him, and he often has 25 or
SO off-hand guests at dinner. Every
thing is in readiness for them; ard If,
sa sometimes happens, nobody comes,
he gives the food prepared for his din
uer to the poor of the city. No one
knows how much he is worth: but the
Peruvians indicate their belief i'm the
premises by calling him Monte Cristo,
the name by which he Is universally
known all along the Pacific coast of
South America.
HOW MEIGGS MANAGES TIE REVOLT
t TIONISTs.
This extraordinary man Is not only
great railroad hing, but statesman
also. Prior to his advent in Peru, that
country had been distinguished for its
revolutions, i'm fact, revolution had
become regular line ~ hnsi"ess in
that republic. Whenever the "outs"
ran low in funds they would drive out
the "ins," and take their turn at the
treasury. The Sins" always went out
rich, and were never called 10 an ae-
count by their successors, who were
almost Invariably too well bred 70
know anything about arithmetic,
bookkeeping, accounts, or anything
else except looting the public treas
ury. Besides, it was understood all
round that there was to be no going
back on gorged and surfeited "in,"
who retired handsomely and with
alacrity before the advance of a learn
ed and hungry "out." Such state
of things would never do for Meiggs.
In order to build his railroads and
have his contracts promptly carried
out by the Peruvian Government,
that Government must be stable and
and the credit of the coun-
try must be kept at par. So the great
took the revolutinary chief
tains in hand, and soon pacificated all
parties. His method of procedure was
a very simple one. He paid the ring
leaders of the revolutionists so well to
keep quiet, that they could not over
throw the Government without loss
to themselves. The most prominent
revolutionists In Peru now gets Sc, 600
a year from Meiggs, and is sure of his
money, without risk or effort ON his
part.
All he has to do is to go to Meiyg's
office at the end Of every month and
get his $500 in gold. There has not
been revolution in Peru since Meiggs
went there.
1t is probable that Henry BIeiggs is
the
B RICHEST MAN ON TIE GLOBE.
In addition to his contracts for rail-
roads, he has large bank ut La Paz, |
.he capital Of Bolivia. 1t has capital |
Of SSOO,OGO, and is the only bank of |
my account in that country. 1t |
7iels Meiggs an enormous revenue,
md as it was established by him at |
he request of the Bolivian Govern
nent, he derives many and great incl
iental advantages from ii in addition |
o the direct profits of the business,
me of which we will describe:
About fifty miles frJm the main !
and, in the Pacific Ocean, opposite |
he boundary line between Bolivia and |
Chili, is group of islands known as |
he Mijillones. Five of these islands |
ire called the Huaneras, which means
n English nothing more or less than |
deposit of guano. These deposits are
70 prodigious in quantity that the sup
ply is considered inexhaustable. On
he discovery of the Huaneras, dis
,ute as to their ownership arose be-
ween Bolivia and Chill. Being di-
ectly opposite the boundary line be-
ween the two countries, it was diff
ult to say which republic did own
hem. Finally they agreed to share
he guanO, or the profits arising from
IS sale, and
4 PERPETUAL LBASE
vas executed by Bolivia and Chilli to
lr. Meiggs, giving him the exclusive
light to export the guano. The war
etween Chill and Spain interfered
Tith his operations for time, as the
'paniards maintained a blockade of
he Chilian coast and also of the HUI
neras. But since that blockade was
Meiggs has inaugurated
n immense traffic in the guano. He
ends it to England and makes q
hundred dollars on every ton that he
axes from the islands. As the supply
5 inexhaustible, and the demand for
he guanO is unappeasable, it is diff
ult to estimate what his revenue will
'et become from this source alone.
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
Mr.. Meiggs is about five feet eight
inches in height, broad shouldered,
and weighs about 225
'ounds. He has the biggest fists and
he largest head In South America.
lis eyes are gray, deep set, piercing,
,ut amiable and kindly in expression.
lis complexion is light, his skin<is
mooth and fair, and he is always clean
haved. He has square jaw and
hin, a big nose, large mouth, and
frm closed lips. His countenance
eais the impress Of power. He would
e singled out in any company as su-
erior man, and is one whom strangers
top to look at as he passes. He is
reat m athematician, and so remarka-
ly quick at figures that the Chilians
nd Peruvians are fond of telling ance-
otes about his wonderful arithmetical
BANIsHED FOR LIFE.
Mr.. Meiggs can never return with
afety within the jurisdiction of the
'nited States, unless all the irregular
aper which he issued i'm California I
nall be first got out of the way. AS
great portion of 1t is in the hands of
Jews, who bought il up for
mere song, it is not probable that
ny arrangement to retire 1t will ever ,
e made. The holders of it want the
Ill principal, with two per cent. a
lOnth interest from its date. Meiggs
ill never consent to such an extor-
on. He has paid the poor people who
ad claims on him, and large sums to
hers, but he will never allow any
ne to wiring extortioDate usury from
i'm by attempts at intimidation. He
as always had friends in California
mDng those who were young or poor
the time of his fight, and who take ,
leasure in telling hew, for two days
efOre he disappeared, he went about
'wn paying up his bills, ranging in
mounts from $40 to $500. He had
200 in his hands belonging to a
Dung man in the office of Page. Ba-
,n d Co., who had
A WIDOWED MOTHER
ependent on him. Meiggs paid that
loney to the young man the day be-
re he left; and sum of money from
ina was handed to a firm in Mont
,mery street few days after his de- ,
arturo, with request that it should
applied to the payment of num-