The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-26
A YANKEE MONTE CHRISTIE.
The Wonderful Career of Henry Meiggs,
the South American Railway Building

| millionaire.
From the Chicago Inter-ocean.l
Henry Meiggs, the Peruvian railroad
prince, died at Lima, on the 10Th ult.
In his taking off the world of romantic
financial endeavor loses hero whose
record is unparalleled in the history OF
business effort. His life was one of gilt.
tering successes, dazzling failures, brill
liant frauds, and reckless extravaganza.
In his character he was an anomaly.
Thoroughly lacking in principle when
his interests were mt stake, he was Mt the
same time honest. A close, shrewd cal
culator in his every action, he was also a
prodigal. Destitute of any moral nature,
he became god through his lavish gen.
crosby. With all the instincts of a
hard working man, his preferences were
for the everyday life of King. Volup-
tuous in his tastes, he courted hardships
for the pleasure he found in them. In
him all extremes centered.
Born in Greene county, New York, in
1911, he in early life developed facility
for conceiving and executing plans in
volving heavy monetary interests. The
shallow streams of trade had no allure
ments for him. 1t was in the broader
sea that he found water to float his gigan-
tic schemes. Embracing in the lumber
business, he matured arrangements that
soon had placed him at the head of that
interest but for the crash of 1887, which
laid the fabric of his early fortunes i'll
ruin. He turned his ewes upon Califor-
MIA and was pleased. In July, 1S49, he
landed at San Francisco with a shipload
of lumber. His profit on his cargo was
500, 900. His profits in experience were
millions. Taking subordinate position
III lumber yard, he studied the situa-
ton. San Francisco needed lumber.
Contra Costa county would furnish it,
He hired 500 men, and cleared $500, 000
California bowed before him, made him
her model in politics and in society.
When the crisis of 1854 passed over, his
worshipers found him to be forger and
an exile. He might have saved himself,
but in trying to save his friends he had
committed crimes that drove him from
the country, but he had paid every per-
sonal debt he owed.
The next news of him reported him as
superintendent of bridges on the Valpa-
raise and Santiago railroad in Chill, n
road that had ruined every contractor
that touched it. There were but thirty
three miles to finish, and they were
through solid rock. For so, 200, 900 he
filled the air with earth apd stones, and
in two years the road was finished. The
highest honors were crowded upon him,
and the Chilenos made an idol of him.
Peru sought him, and he laid railroad
lines through swamps, and mountains,
and storms, and earthquakes. His sue
cesses were scarcely commensurate with
his prodigal style of living The enter
tainment he gave on the completion of
one road cost upwards of 5000, 000in gold.
He chartered steamships and extended
roads to convey his guests to the ban
quet. The nabobs of the republic
looked upon his expensive habits with
wonder. His wealth was unknown, but
along the western coast of South America
he was called Monte Christie, and he put
the same energy into his work that Ed
mund Dantes put into his vengeance.
His residence was the finest in Peru, and
his table ready for guests, however un-
expected and however numerous.
Around Lima was dilapidated adobe
wall, and beyond the wall weary prairie
of refuse. For an interest in the re-
deemed land he made the waste flower
garden. The staple product of the re-
public had been revolutions. Evolution
in Office depended upon the financial
condition of the "outs. When Their
treasury was ruined they routed the
"ins," who retaliated when they had
expended their stealings. A stable gov.
eminent was necessary to Meiggs
schemes. When the " outs" were i'm
poverished he gave them what they
wanted from his own means, and they
left the Government intact. He inaugu.
rated system of bribery that paralyzed
all opposition. A dangerous man was to
him merchantable article. When the
combination became too strong for him
he bought the Government.
By expanding fortunes he secured
contracts for building 1,007 miles OF
roads, for which he was to receive 1926
900, 900. These roads all led to his
financial Waterloo. For the first time
he had miscalculated. They proved
failures, and, having absorbed the con.
tract price, forced him upon the market
for money. His enemies seized upon
the advantage offered, and refused tC
accept his bills, which became drug.
He bought the Government indorse.
ment and staggered ON. His bonds fell
on the foreign Bourses, and finally be.
came valueless. The combination
formed against him struck blow after
blow at his credit Two strokes of par
alysis had weakened him, and a third
found him shattered and broken. Elk.
posures of his frauds came thick anc
swift. His creditors were clamorous
and the poorer were paid to the utter
most farthing. 1t was plain to him tha
his fortunes had fallen beyond retriev
ing, and he turned away from the cares
and troubles of life remarkable for it,
incongruities, its pleasures and ankle
ties.
He left Peru almost bankrupt through
schemes urged upon her as her saliva
ton. His death has created a financia
revolution whose effects will be felt afte
his rails have rusted and his ties rotteC
away. In his life he taught peculia
lesson of sagacity, without moral bal
ance; of generosity, without an elemen
of justice; of magnificent frauds bull