The New York herald., 1877-10-24
HENRY MEIGGs' FLIGHT.
THE STORY OF HIS VOYAGE IN THE BARK
AMERIcA-THE CAPTAIN UNBURDENs HIM

pElr.
fFrom the San Francisco Chronicle, Oct l6
Notwithstanding all that has been said and written
abou. the flight OF Harry Meiggs from San Francisco
the story as actually occurred hasncvcr been given
to the public. Ono sorelytried man has bccu pos
session Of particulars Of the exodus from the time
the preparations begun, but under obiga-
tions not to reveal them The death OF Mr. Meiggs
has last unsealcd his lips and, actuated by desire
to correct the many highly coored and faIse state-
mens havo been made, be gave the story yester
day to a reporter Of the Chronicle. Captain jacob
Cousins the person referred to- who OF tho
bark America, 10 which Mcisgs sailed. says that
the 26th OF September, 1854, he tho cabin OF
the bark conversing with Captain Virgins, who
was then in command of the vcsseN when
Vickery Seaman, warm personal friend OF
Meiges and connected with him in business. came
aboard and announced that he had bought the vessel
ana askcl Captain Cousins no would ,aKo cpargs Of
hor. rIe Captain asked whcro the vessel Tas gong,
10 which Scainan replied, Probaby to Australia with
sen as az
know that Meiggs was very much embarrassed hnan-
oialy and suspected that hc WAS 10 bo tho principal
pnssenecr but said nothing OF his SUSPICIOUS, simply
accepting Tho command. The vessel was hted just
Ms any Ordinary lumber coaster, as lar rs cabin
commodations concerned, with very littc iurni-
ture and no carpet the floor. Tho only extra cx-
pense incurred Ior the comfort of the expected pas.
scngers was In fitting up two small staerooms forward
for officers quarters ana the purchase OF second
hand sofa Tor tho cabin On tho I'd oil October the Cap
tain reported Tho vessel ready Tor sea- and about
O'Clock tho SBsmc evening Seaman came board ADD
told Captain Cousins that Horny Mcggs and his
family were the passengers going Ia tho
snip. A. midnight Seaman and the Captain went
ashore in the ships boat alone, landing at Broadway
wharf, where tncy left the boat and went up 10 Mr..
MeiRgs residence They were met at the door by Mr.
hclEgs. who took the Captain BY the hand, Saying,
'.CapLan, this IS hell but cau't help IT," In tbe
house, besides Mrs. MegRs und her three children,
were Ned searnao. ayoung man named G,christ, i
clark m g. Duvtd
Tbayor, a cousin OF Meiggs. and two servant girls.
The party sat and talked until three O'Clock IN tho
morning. during winch time Nciggs spok cirocy OF his
troubles. Az ia. clock struck three Captain cousins
announced that It was time they gong On board
Mcggs Jumped up, put ON his hat, giving IL o knock
on tSo top, and bad ..By G-l am ready" john
Mcisgs then produced sack containing $1,000 III
gold, which was emptiod out on a table and divided
INTO equal portions, Captain Cousins taxing one
half and Henry Mcggs tho other. This IL NIL tho
money that won't on board tho vessel. The cntIrc
party then walked down 10 the wharf, where Gcbrist
aud Ned Seaman took leave and The rest getting INTO
tno boat the Captain sculicd tbcm out the bark in
the morning thick log hung ovor the bay
tug was engaged 10 tow them out to sea- but 0g
dense they could not lind their way out through
tho Gate, and tho vessei anchoredeon Fort Point
About iour o'clock IN tho afternoon thcy again got
under way lowcd out as fur North Head.
Alter making a lew tacks the Captain found that the
tide was drifting them back into the bay, and ne
again forced to como TO an anchor At high water the
Captain hove up anchor and drtcd out with the tide
In Il dense fog Toward morning hight wind sprang
up from tho land and by day thoy hall way
TO tho Faraloncs There they lay Lecallnsd Tor Two
days. but the Ios was SO thick that tnoy lelt
about being followed. During all TINS
Mr. Mciggs calm and cheerful showing not tho
slightest signs oil excitement The story about the
pisto IN readiness 10 commit suicide the Captain
nounces absurd us tue only ircarm on board a
revolver belonging 10 himself, which was never
ioaued breeze hnaily came. and tho
vessel kept away 10 the southward.
Aicr getting clear OF the land, Mr.. Noegs in
TO inquiry to where he wished To CO. SAID to the
Captain mat he might go whore ne pleased, but he
should lko to some OF the South Sen Islands aud
then 20 10 Australia or Chill Thcy first Ota-
hit where they remained thirteen days. leaving hero
just three before the papers IRON Francisco,
with an accoun. OF Mcges' fight, arrived They then
touched at Pcairn lsiand where they lay two days,
and from there saica Tor lacahuana Chill Mciggs
landed thcro ani took his family up TO the city OF
Conception Tor n short time. The rest OF ms career
South America IS SO well known that rs unnecessary
to repeat here. Meiggs paid ali the expenses Tho
vessel TO the time nc lett II OF the $4,000
took away with him, and wnen he landed ia Chil he
had but ~ 7s0 To make fresh start the world. Tho
last time Captain Cousins saw Mr. Mcg,s that gentle
man told HIM tnat VI nc knew any men who used TO
WORK about his mills, ana TO whom lie owed money
tell them TO forward their and they would be
settled