Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-02-25
A strange Career.

"Honest Harry Mciggs" was one OF the
we'll. known residents Of San Francisco,
twenty-three years ago, an alderman and
chairman of an important financial
committee. He was very pleasing In his
manners, and was immensely popular.
So much confidence was placed in him
that the adjective before named was fire.
quently used in conjunction with his
name, in the papers and elsewhere, No
one hesitatcd to put money in his hands,
for he allowed liberal interest. Mechanics,
clerks, wash women, and all classes--eX-
cept, perhaps, a halfdozen knowing ones
would rather deposit with him than in
the savings banks. He built blocks Of
stately houses, a public hall and a costly
wharf But he was too enterprising. The
value Of property fell with fearful rapidity,
the wharf lay idle, for 1t was not in The
business part of the city, the rent Of the
hall scarcely paid the taxes, and the other
rents would not meet the interest on
the mortgages. Meiggs, finding himself
horelessly involved, borrowed right aud
left. Warrants upon the City Treasury
were issued by him I'D libitun'. Some of
these were genuine but Illegally issued,
but the signatures on large portion were
forgeIies. Upon these he raised money,
klNluk iuNlli dH NOlldltlbls ~ 10 DIilfNtu
that he obtained as much as 81 900 900 In
a fraudulent manner. lie owed the bank
ing firm of Lucas, Turner d. Co. (W. Il.
Sherman) $4,000. Sherman alone felt
unsafe, and he succeeded in getting the
amount reduced to $25, 600, for which they
held mortgage on The house of Meiggs,
and $4,000 in city warrants. The crash
then came. 1t was found, one fine morn
ing, that Mciggs had chartered bark,
which was in waiting outside the harbor,
and in the night he and his family had
embarked in her. 1t was atterward found
that IT had sailed for Peru. 1t was be-
lieved that Mciggs had about 100000
with him, the balance of the 81 ,000, 090
having been used to hold up his credit
until lie could make the preparations to
leave There was great CONSERVATION in
San Francisco. Mr. Webb (of Salem,
Mass) was Mayor, and there was hurry
ing to and fro, council meetings, and gath
erings at the corners OF the streets. There
was much real distress caused, also, among
people in moderate circumstances, but the
nine days wonder was soon over. hTeiggs
reached Peru safely, and commenced con
tracing with the Government to construct
railroads. BY these operations in that and
other South American countries he am ssed
lOIIuHe lar up III Tile HllllOHS. lHuCCu
some place it as high us S12,000,000 1t
Is said that an enterprising wash woman,
who had placed $1,000 in the hands OF
Meiggs, hearing of his prosperity, visited
Peru, and her debtor not only paid the
81, 200 but the expense of her journey
both ways, and a handsome sum in addi-
ton. 1t is stated that he has paid up sew
eral other San Francisco debts, but Gen.
Sherman has not seen his $4,000 yet,
though the SIS, 900 mortgage held good.
Within two or three years Meiggs has
lohgcd to see his native land, but dared
not trust himself in the United States.
Money, however, is a power not to be de-
spiscd, and by its judicious use he sue
ceeded in inducing the California Legis,
lature 10 remove his disabilities" and
he can now travel anywhere he chooses
without fear of the consequences of his
transactions of twenty years ago. He is a
grand millionaire, and his daughter fig-
ures in Washington as the Peruvian
heireSS ~