The New York herald., 1873-10-01
OBITUARY.
VILLA m WhcelwriSht.


nounced in the HERALDs cable dispatches OF the
26th inst, is American by birth and sentiment,
| springs from some OF the Oldest New England
| stock and is identified with the principal public
| works OF South America. He deserves more than
mere passing notice. II You ask any intelligent
citizen OF Chile, Peru, Bolivia, the Argentine Re-
public or any OF the South American republics
| who William Wheelwrght was he will tell you
that more bas been done by this sterling
/ American for the cause OF civilization and
| progress in those countries than Dy any other
man, living or dead He built the first railroad on
the South American Continent more than twenty
years ago, the first telegraph, the first iron pier,
the first gas and water works in any OF these coun-
tries. But, more than all this, he was the father
and founder OF the most successful and largest
steamship line in the world-vlz, the Pacific
| Steam Navigation Company, running from Eng
land TO Lisbon, thence TO Brazil, the River Plate,
| through the Straits OF Magellan to Valparaiso,
Caao and the 1sthmus OF Panama. This COM
pany has been in existence over thirty years, and
was inaugurated by Mr.. Wheewrghl, who had so
much iaith in the enterprise that he embarked in
it all his private fortune which, though not large,
was Tor those days considerable, and had been ac-
quired by hard labor and industry as merchant,
engaged in the coasting trade on the Pacific coast
in small brig, patriotically styled "Ihe Fourth OF
july" Convinced by the experience thus
acquired that steam navigation on that
coast was practicable and necessary he
came TO his native land to launch his enterprise
but found no capitalists who would invest IN so
chmercal project, as 1t was then considered. He
visited England and Tor four years laDored unceas-
ingy to establish company, meeting with every
conceivable lmpediment, bat was fortunate
enough to interest the late Lord Abnger and other
prominent men, and he himself travelled through
England scotland and Wales, and Induced shop-
keepers and others TO Guy even one single share to
further the enterprise. lie succeeded III having
two small steamers built rom the unds so raised,
and to-day the company owns fifty steamers wnlcn,
as fleet. surpass anything adoat. lhe last great
labor OF Mr. Wheelvrlghts life mas been III the con-
stIucton OF the Great Central Argentine
Atlantic TO the city oil Cordova, IN
the heart OF the South American Continent. This
Is the first section OF railway designed TO cross
the Cordlieras and unite the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts. The magnitude OF the works in whcA Mr..
Wheeiwrlght has been engaged the past ty years
can only be properly measured by those w.o are
familiar with the spanish republics as tney were
thirty years ago-conyulsed with chronic revol1-
ton, with unstable governments, no ambition 10
progress inert, ethargc, torpid; suspicious OF
foreigners, jealous, env Ous treacuerous; English
men, having no iaIth and little knowledge OIL those
countries, laughing aud rldicung his pro ects
the dreams oil an insane man; anu vet con-
quered all d icuties, has trlumpaed IN every great
enterprise he has undertaken. He lent Thousands
OF dollars more than twenty years ago In survey
ing the route across the Andes wGica is now beng
to, and has at last become a victim TO his own
trlng energy and devotion TO Il worn he loved
with all The enthusiasm winch only man could iee.
But his private virtues are rel hal the bes monu-
ment ne has lett behind him, ana though known to
the lew, IN comparison with pubic acts, yet
his memory Will be iondly cherished by many who
have benefited by his munhcent CHARITIES, which
were distributed not only among his own knured,
but his Deralty also found Its way to tne cause OF
science and religion in various perts the world
from donations 10 benevolent insti utons and to
the pr nting OF the Bible III the lurkIsh tongue,
which he " chiefly instrumental procuring.
Fhe sad tidng5 OF his death Will be sincerely
m0urned by men o. every station and degree
throughout spanish America, and 1t Is lifting that,
as his name and fame are especially ldentned
with south American countries, his own country
men should know that II Is TO an Amer Can citizen
that South America is chiefly indebted Tor her
resurrection from the chaos and ietuargy which
characterized it nifty years since. mr. Wheel
wright MAS born IN NeN Duryport Mass, In 1897,
and, consequently, died ct the age OF seyenty-sx.
Ripe ~ years, unceaslng in tie exercise oi his
domlta bic energy. lie has crowded INTO lis lie
mlch OIL ycissitude, persevering toll and achieve
ment as almost any other man Of tsis country, and
has made the name OF America honored wherever
he has