Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-19
Henry Meiggs.

The death of Henry Meiggs at Lima, Peru, ter
minated one Of the most remarkable careers O
the age. lie was a native of New York State
having been born 10 Catskill, Greene County, or
the 7th of July. 1911, and first attained promi
nence in Boston as a successful young merchant
previous to his advent in New York in 1885. What
money Meiggs acquired in Boston he gained
through speculation in lumber, aud when he ar
rived in the Metropolis he devoted his attention
to the same article of merchandise, and in two
years, there is reason TO believe, he obtained a
large fortune, which was entirely lost in the lnan-
cial panic of 1887. lie kept manfully at work,
and year afterwsrd he was the owner of large
undergrad in Williamsburg, then an unincor-
porated town in charge of Board of Trustees of
which he was the President. lie contracted to
build St. Marks Church in that town. and, years
afterwsrd, during his exile in South America, he
sent to the congregation of that church 81 900 to
free them from debt. Meiggs again became in
solvent in 1912. and he removed his home to New
York, during the next few years, he gave much
attention to the fine arts, and founded the Ameri-
can Musical Institute. For many years afterward
be found time, in the midst of mighty enterprises
TO encourage musicians and assist them in the pro-
motion of their schemes. Upon the discovery
of gold in California Henry Meiggs left this
neghborhood forever His departure was made
in q unique and characteristic manner. He load
ed the ship Mantle with lumber and sailed around
the Cape with his brother, John j. Meiggs, arriy
ing in July, l8i9, al San Francisco, where he sold
his cargo at profit Of 1000. This money he
pocketed, and he went to work 10 lumber-yard
TO study the advantages ofthat trade in the Terri.
tory, preparing his plans 10 the meantime for a
great speculation. Afterward with 500 men he
went into the forests Of Contra Costa and feed the
noblest trees, which were hoated through San
Francisco Bay TO a wharf which he had built in
the city, and in a steam saw-mill which he had
erected with part of his capital, the lumber was
made salable, and from the results of this enter
prise the profit TO Henry Meiggs was 100000
Thenceiorward he was the most prominent man
In California until the 9th Of October 1854 lie
conducted land and lumber enterprises of great
magnitude, and was esteemed by everybody for
hi 8 generosity; but the financial crisis of 1854
crippled him. and his attempt to save the fortunes
OF his friends well as his own, utterly ruined
him. In his frenzy Meggs committed forgeries
amounting to more than 100000, and finding
that discovery was inevitable, he sailed southw ard
with his wife and children on the bark American
on the day already mentioned Meiggs found !
harbor of refuge in Chill, and his name associated
with remarkable schemes has since been constant
ly before the world. Engineers of note estm aztec
that to build the Valparaiso and Santisg, Railroad
from Llailai to Santiago would cost S27, 900 900
and that the work would take eight years. Tn
distance WAS SO miles; there rise of 80
feet and there were mountains of rock and huge
abysses all along the way. Meiggs finished th,
work in four years for $1,000, 900, and secured
profit of 81, 800 600 for himself On July 5, 1860
the first train went over the road, Perez, the Pres
ident of Chill, with his Cabinet snd the Archbsb
3D. riding on the engine with the contractor.
painting of the scene which followed the sriiva
of the train at Santiago now adorns the capitol in
that place. Meiggs refused to become a either
of Chill and to accept public office there but be
lived in princely splendor in Santiago until 1867
when be began to build railroads for Peru. Ii
that country he built 10 all 1907 miles of road
Iii of which now is practically useless. The cos
10 the Government was altogether Sl26000 000
A. one time fnanciers all over the world were en-.
tbusiastic about these enterprises. In 1876 the
nrice of Peruvian bonds in London fell t.
IL. and they are now unstable. Meiggs complet
ed biz 6rst Peruvian enterprise. road from Mel
Iendo en- the cosst to Afequifa, 80 miles inland
n January. 1871. The work WAS interrupted by
The earthquake Of August, 1868, but was pushee
forward with alacrity afterwsrd. To commemor
ste its completion Melggsis reported to have