The New York herald., 1877-11-04
A NATIONAL BENEFACTOR.
The People Bear the Casket
on Their Shoulders.
LEADING FEATURES OF HIS WILL

:he mansion, hung with black and silvor. and fra.
| grant with the perfume Of beautiful tropical
aowers Resting u velvet covered base the caskes
surrounded with lighted candles, and for twelve
hours guarded by men from the Lima Fire Company,
| oi which Mr.. Meiggs was an honorary member These
fremen from the first the last proved their graft
| tude for the benefits received at the hands Of
! their dead friend Tho solemn.
| Tho sombre hangings Of the room relieved BY the
scarlet uniforms Of the guards and the numerous
lights; the varied forms Of the floral tributes scat.
tered In prousion not only on the colin,
but In all quarters Of the extensive house;
the immcuse crowd of people, OF all ranks
and qualities, who throDged to pass through the
chamber where the remains were resting, although
the sad satisfaction of viewing the features oil the de.
ceased was denied, and the genuine manifestations OF
gricl and sympathy-a contributedto the impressive
character OF the occasion. This was on the ID INST
1t is the custom Peru TO remove the body from the
house to the church where the requiem mass Is 10 be
sung the night before the day fixed for The funeral
and the hour approached Tor the translation OF the
the spacious Church OF Our Lady OF Mercy,
one OF the grandest temples In South America, tho
concourse of people steadily Increased, the tide sot-
ting in from even the most distant suburbs OF tho
city toward tho streets through which the cortege
was to pass.
EN ROUTE THE CHURCH.
At ten O'Clock the signal was given ana the massive
cofn lifted on tho shoulders OF number of the oper
atvcs of the Oroya Railway, who insisted on this
tribute OF affection Proceeding slowly down the
marble staircase Of tho house, in order to gain
the main street, the spectacle presented was worthy
oil the pencil OF Salvador Rosa. The coffin ITSELF
covered with white flowers appeared swaylng to and
ro on shoulders of the bearers whose heads
almost hidden by the floral wealth. On either side
were cleaning the gaudy uniforms OF tho hremen
red green and blue, for the Lima Com.
iish, French and Italian brigades, all bearing
torches, whose light was strangely reelected back from
the dead, wnite walls the sombre garb OF the priests
and acoytes, who lined the Staircase giving mysti-
cal back 70 the stream OF color that was pass
ing down, ana the chorus Of lamentations arising
from many dependents on the bounty OF the dead
man-women, children and ipvallds who, from the
courtyard OF the house, lifted up their voices In dis
lrcss-the whole scene was one TO be remembered tor
lifetime. With difficulty the line OF march con-
every lew PAGES the great weight Of the coffin
change OF bearers necessary and the throng
ing crowd, eager TO he near the remains OF their
friend often impeded the forward movement Az last
the portals of the Merced were reached and the COM
munity rooed in black vesments, sailed forth TO meet
the guests. The stately chants planive yet noble In
their cadence were sung ana the body deposited under
guard in the principal nave Of the church. where was
10 remain until tiic next morning Tue crowd slowly
dspersed and difficulty was experienced IN traversing
the streets Immediately ADJACENT to the church so
the torches cast brightness like that OF sunlight on
the scene.
Al six O'Clock on the morning o tho Sd the
aisles OF the temple already rapidly alliDg with
people an xsous witness the last OF the Church
over her great Al ten O'Clock, when tho family
OF the deceased arrived represented by his sons and
by several OF his most prom associates the en-
trance nearly blocked up, and guards OF nremen
placed at The doors 10 avert danger The church
was sumptuously drapcd with black velvet hangings
relieved by silver ornaments, representing tears
The altar aud sacristy were strewn with beau
tllul flowers. and the cofhn, hish on its
musical talent in Lima had been engaged to take part
In the ceremony and critics assert That never has the
melody Of the requiem mass oil Mozart been more
skfully rendered IN Peru tnan this occasion.
High up IN the dome Of the church appeared the
appropriately draped. Presiding over the ceremony
were the Minister OF the United States. the Hon
Richard Gibbs; Minor and Henry Meisgs the only sur
whom his only daughter was recently espoused
Great tact shown IN the ssleclion OF those VINO
were to be nonored with the position oi palbearers
HIS most trusted associates and workers were
chosen, led, as was natural, by the representative OF
Messrs Ciiey, Rand, Thorndike, MallnowskI Dubois,
Sar.ori ana Garcio-CaIderon all men OF prominence
and intimately connected wth those wonderful enter
prses which have placed the glory OF Henry Meiggs
Ut such an envabIe height During the service no
euogy was pronounced, II being usual here TO make
such utteances the cemetery ITSELF as indeed was
most coquently done over the collin
THE FUNERAL PROCESSION.
Tho President OF the Republic his aides 10 repre-
sent him. The Ministers OF State, foreign ENJOYS and
consus, men who are leaders In Lima aad Calao
many OF the foremost ladies' oil the capital aud women
seldom at funerals hero came to JOIN In the
amcntations and al the same time congratulations Of
rang through vautcd arches OF the temple there
we're none present who did not unite in the suppca-
ton. One OF the most affecting incidents occurred
when the ATTEMPT made, alter the conclusion oil
the mass 10 place the body In the hearsc destined TO
convey IL TO the cemetery, some two miles distant.
Ine populace, crowding tho plaza IN 'front.' OF the
Merced Churcn, absolutely refused to allow the casket
to be conducted save on Their shoulders anu taklng
possession OF II, led the procession Tor nearly hall
mile, when, alter strenuous representations II became
apparent tnat tins mode OF conveyance would delay
the ceremony until unreasonaDly late hour
DO placed on beautifully ornamcnted truck
pe longing to the nremen, but insisted on
drawing II 10 lis destination. Two hundred
carriages followed the remains, and at least twenty
thousand people were in line The trains on the
Uroya Railway conveyed people gratis as lar rs the
Panteon, as the cemetery IS termed and were
crowded. Business throughout inc city was sus-
pended until the return vi the cortege which took
place half past two =. NJ, and on many houses aags
were displayed at half mast
NATIONAL HoSoRs.
One OF the most prominent members Of the Peru
van Bar Dr. Luciano Cisnero suggested that the
government should address the representatives OF
American states at present in Lima TO the effect that
Peru regarded tue loss of Mr.. Mcggs as misfortune
TO America, and that they should attend the funeral
mourncrs The idea well timed, for Chill,
Peru, Boivia Costa Rca ana Nicaragua are
witnesses 10 the iriumphs OF his eonius and power
But the suggestion was not followed, not from any
want OF appreciation, but probably from some exag-
gerated notion OF euquet or punctio. The nunic.
panty OF Lima, however. instantly adopted res0u-
uon calling Tor q national subscription 10 erect
| monument TO the memory OF Mr Meiggs, and the
| matter Is well IN hand even at this early day. In
Callao also IL is proposed TO raise unas by private
tripution Tor the same iaudabe object The remains
were ony left temporarily III one OF the chapes oil mo
! Panteon untl such time the preliminary work
m gut be completed for their reception al Villegas
ms Is beautiful estate belonging TO the iamily two
mics from Callao ana on the line OF the oroya Rail
| way. Dy a happy circumstance IRON The mound
where the bouy OF the dead is TO DO finally
au one sees al his feet the blue Of the Pacific,
and gazing up tue valley OF the Rimac, can discern in
the tar distance the peaks OF tho mighty Cordilicra,
rocks aud prcc.pces now speeds the loco.
| motive So standing ueside the grave Of Mcggs can
be the two points he joined together tho ocean
and tho Andes-a success which Is the beginning OF tho
great future awaiting Peru
| MR.. MEiGGS.
The following Is an extract from the will OF the latc
| Mr.. Henry MeigRs.-
| 'ln the name OF Almighty God |, Henry Meggs,
born IN the town OF Catsk, Green county, State Of
! New Yors, United States OF America on the TIN day
july lsll but resident in the city oil Lima, Capi.
tai OF the Republic OF Peru, now being In my iull
| senses and desiring 10 avoid any question among my
heirs, case of my sudden decesse have determined
! TO make my sealed viii, whicn now do, as foIows:-
| FUsi--That my legal obligations be paid
Secona-I declare that was legally married 10 my
| first WIFE, Gertrude Burns, who died November IL,