The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-11
Henry Mciggs His Wonderful and Ro-
mantle Career.

HENRY MEIOGs, who died AT Lima on tho
p9th ultimo. and VIII 80 death necessarily
occasions most profound sensation IN
Peru, and. indeed, Throughout South Ameri-
ca was born In Greene county, y. y, III the
year lsll or his early life little Is known
He first emerged from obscurlty in Boston
while he was still young man. He became
noted as one who could handle heavy inter-
ests easily, and gained a reputation us
successful lumber dealer aud contractor.
From Boston he came L. New York. Here
he soon became maGnatc of the lumber
trade, and was organizing vast schemes of
traffic when the financial earthquake OF 1891
shook all his plans to ruin. He was
one Of the first to get on his feet again in
those troublous days, and. had it not been
for his boundless generosity, he would soon
have become enormously rich. But he law
ished his resources without stint on hi
struggling friends and repeatedly crippled
himself TO save others from ruin. He also
spent large sums TO encourage and develop
art lie founded the American Musical In
stitute in this city, which had brilliant
success 80 long a. lie remained here 10 Ill
rect it.
The discovery If gold in California gave a
new direction to MI. MElGOs's energy. De-
tcrmining to try his fortunes in that then
almost unknown region, he loaded the ship
Mantle with lumber and, taking his brother
JOHN j. MElGGs with him, he set sail for San
Francisco. whore he arrived IN July, lSi9.
He sold his -hipload Of lumber at twenty
times its cost making clear profit OF
$4,000 on the venture. Then, with consum-
mate discretion, he took a subordinate posi-
lion in lumber yard, and studied all the
phases and promises Of the situation before
lac riskcda dollar Of his capital. Forcscelng
the future greatness Of san Francisco, and
the inevitable demand for lumber, he quietly
Inaturcd schemes for a grand success. When
everything was ready, hc hired five hundred
men, sent them into the forests Of Contra
Costa county, fclled the choicest trees II
that then deusely wooded region, haulo,
them in saw logs to the shore of tine bay o
San Francisco, built them into huge RATE
tioated them toa wharf which he had con
structed in the city, converted them int
lumber by the agency Of steam sawmil
which ne had erected and made $4,000 il
gold by the operation.
Thenceforth. until he fell HENRY MrIGG
was q foremost man in California in bust
HcbH, Ill luthl'iphl l'pllAi'9i "hf ~ '''''
life. He had three mauas land, lumber
and music. His land and lumber opera
tions were conducted on scale OF unprece
donted magnitude. and he was popularity be
lievod to be the richest man ON the western
coast OF America. But when the great ilnan
cal pressure Of lsjl seized California Wit
its paralyzing grip, bankruptcy came upo
him like an armed man. He rose to the con
test with such enormous strength and sue
resourcciul genius that, had he sough
only to save himself he might have com
of victorious, but, with the ill-judgcd ger
crosby which was pervading element
his character, he attempted t. save all Ia
friends, and was By them dragged down int
bottomless ruin.
III tho frenzy Of that death strugg
Nh MFIGGs committed forgercs
commercial paper and city warrant
amounting ia the aggregate TO over $500
Oo0 Al last, finding the struggle hopeless
and fearing d"trrtion he ON Thursday, IL
5th day OF October 1854 with his wife al
three children, secretly left san Franci5c'
and going ON board the bark American
which hc had bought three days before an
which Was lying at anchor of u point thl'
miles south Of the city s"t sail for d'st
nation no, even known TO himself. The al
eoyory Of his Night and Of his forgcros O
cAsioncl wild excitement and wdosprct
Fricf, aud in some bosoms excited >entlmcu
Z" veng"anc" which were destined mover
le either sraulicd or placatod.
The nest that was heard of Mr. MEIGOs
was superintendent II bridges ON the Valp
raise and Santiago Railroad in Chill. T
road bed from Valparaiso to IEinI six