The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-11-14
A Remarkable Man.


Public attention has been directed to the
extraordinary career Of the late Henry
Mciggs, BY news Of his death which took
place recently at Lima, Peru. and the elab-
crate accounts of his almost princely obse--
quies.
Not only were the funeral ceremonies
the most imposing ever witnessed in Pc.
ru," being attended by enormous crowds
of all ranks, but 1.-THE last rites of the
Church for her great son" were of an elab-
grafton, pathos, and solemnity that sover !
eigns might envy. The populace seized
the coffin aud carried 1T on their shoulders,
with frequent relays Of volunteer pall-bear-
ers, for long distance, before they would
allow it to be placed, instead, on the bier;
and 10000 people were in line. Business
in Lima was suspended during the ceremo-
MES, and the municipality forthwith adopt
ed resolution for a national subscription
to a Meiggs monument. That operator
was not without honor, save in his native
country.
From the time when he commenced life
10 Boston as a contractor, through his
grandly successful speculations 10 lumber
in New York, his bankruptcy in 1887, bis
realization of another fortune, his second
failure, his striking and brilliant California
career, his reckless crimes when the crash
Of 1854 came upon him in the Pacific State,
his disgraeeful fight from this country, bis
magnificent successes in Chill and Per1,
! where his genius made itself conspicuous,
q down to his later and once more clouded
days, the people of the United States have
> followed bis history with curious interest
The grand works he accomplished in South
= America gained him q worldwide reputa-
!. ton, while the brilhancy of his life at San
4 tiago and Lima and the stories of his fabu
lous wealth and princely generosity won TO
e him the fame of Monte Cristo.
It There are many who will be inclined t,
d believe that the story of Henry Meiggs' lif
= has 10 it more Of evil than of good. With
" splendid abilities aud remarkable power b,
% was destitute of moral sense, reckless, au-
70 dacious and INSCRIPTIONS. His bushes
3 career reminds one involuntarily of the act
% of Dick Turpin or a Claude Duval Fl
was Indifferent as to what means he used
u accomplish his ends. lie would hire tn
e corrupt and debauch the pure with equs
nonchalance. When trouble came upo
him he did not hesitate to stamp upon hiu
= self the brand of a torger in his dssperat
but hopeless effort to redeem his fortunes
he threw money about him with prodigal
Ie ity, and seemed to have no thought or car
i for the future, trusting to his genius to RI
g. plenish his purse as highwayman woul
: trust to his arms and his horse. His gen
erosity was as eccentric as It was often NJ
0. bic. He would help the poor, and glory
c. doing some unexpected act of princely lii
b. crafty to an old friend or TO one he ha
20 wronged. Now that he has passed ava
= without having accomplished the wish III;
q is believed to have been nearest to his heal
E. for many years-namely, to return to b
S. native country aud be at peace-no one wi
&c be disposed to remember his faults, viii
all will be ready to do honor to his unique
% tiouable good and generous qualities al
IN to bis splendid genius.