The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-11-04
HARRY MEIGGS.

Buried with Pomp and Honor at Lima.
Panama, Oct. 2J.-The funeral of
Henry Meiggs, the great railroad build
er, took place at Lima, Peru, and was
an imposing affair. Two hundred
coaches and twenty thousand people
were in the procession. The coffin was
carried by the populace for half mile.
The ceremonies were the most imposing
ever witnessed in Peru. After the body
had been carefully embalmed, it was
deposited in a superb casket, richly or
namented, and then placed in one of
the spacious saloons of his mansion,
hung with black and silver, and fra
grant with the perfume of beautiful
tropical flowers. An immense crowd
of people, of all ranks and quality,
passed through the chamber where the
remains were resting, although they
were denied the satisfaction of viewing
the features of the deceased.
The funeral occurred at the church of
Our Lady of Mercy, one of the grand
est temples of worship in South Ameri-
ca. The church was sumptuously
draped with black velvet hangings, re-
lieved by silver ornaments representing
tears. The altar and sacristy were
strewn with beautiful flowers, and the
coffin, high on its pedestal, surrounded
with lights. Minister of the United
States Gibbs presided over the ceremo-
nies. During the service no eulogy
was pronounced, it being usual to
make such utterances in the cemetery.
The President of the Republic sent his
aids to represent him. Ministers of
state, foreign ENJOYS and consuls, and
the men who are the leaders in Lima
and Callao and many of the foremost
ladies Of the capital came to join in the
lamentations of the church. One of
the most affecting incidents occurred
when an attempt was made after the
conclusion of mass to place the body in
the hearse. The populace, crowding the
plaza in front of the church, abso!otely
refused to allow the casket to be con-
Quoted, save on their shoulders, and,
taking possession of it, led the process
sion for nearly half mile, when, after
strenuous representations it became ap-
parent that their mode of conveyance
would delay the ceremony until an
unreasonably late hour. then the people
consented to allow the coffin to be
placed on a beautifully ornamented
truck, but insisted on drawing it to it.
destination. The trains on the Oroyo
railroad conveyed the people gratis as
far as the Panteon, as the cemetery is
termed.
Business throughout the city was
suspended until the return of the cor.
tege, and on many houses flags were
displayed at half-mast. One of the
most eminent members of the Peruvian
bar, DIR. Luciano Cisneros, suggested
that the Government should address
the representatives of the American
| States at present in Lima to the effect
that Peru regards the loss of Meiggs a!
a misfortune to America, and that they
should attend the funeral as mourners
The municipality of Lima adopted res
olutions calling for a national sub
scription to erect a monument to the
memory of Meiggs, and the matter il
well in hand even at this early day
In Callao, also, it is proposed to rais
funds by private contributions for tn
same object. The remains were onl.
left temporarily in one of the chapel
of the Panteon until such time a
the preliminary work might be com
pleted for their reception at Villejos
This is beautiful estate belonging t.
the family. His will makes no direc
statement of the amount of his proper
ty, which, after the payment of hi
debts, goes to his children, who are en-
joined to carry on the works he begun