The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-11

his credit broke down Mr. MEIGGss health. |
He had previously had two strokes of paral- |
vsis, and the shock which this last blow
gave him struck TO his vltals. In the crisis
Of his illness his enormous iobbcry began to
be exposed The people discovered that the
decree of the Government guaranteeing his
paper had been bought and paid for. DIR.
Ia PUENrE, u lawyer. was accused OF hav-
ing received half million of dollars to get
the decree through, and it is reported That
the President Of Peru. Gen. MAIIANo lGNA-
cIo PRADo, compelled La PuENrE to dis
gorge nearly four hundred thousand dollars.
As MEIGGs had no moral sense himself. he
continually made the mistake of selecting
INSCRIPTIONS men for his most intimate
conIcdcratcs. These men never hcstatcd To
hctray him when they imagined ii he thor
interest to do 50. lie was ah-urdly gcn'r-
Gus. lie had no sound business habits,
nor was he guided by sound bust
ness principles. lie would take the
most rcci,lcss risks and trust 10 his aulacty
and luck 10 bring him through. His career
in Peru was calamity to the country. The
extravaganza Of living which he initiated
aud Developed, the rcckle-sncss of cNpendi-
turc into which he led the Government, the
unnatural expansion Of trade which the dis
bursomcnt 90 such vast sumsof money occa-
stoned. caused the financial crisis which
comc upon Peru in 1874, and under which
she il still suffering.
There is likely to Doe di-cord among the
! many executors to MlIDas's will. as their
interests are pretty ccItain to clash.
The executors are his SONS HENEY II.
and MINOR x. MriGGs. j. BAcRus, his
nephew, and ALEXANDER koBEEroN, "a
merchant Of Lima, married tu Mftoss
dauehtcr; WILLIAM II. CILLrY, the super
iutcudcnt of all OF MuGGs's railroad
and mining enterprises: Cuuhn5 RAND, an
old attacht and friend Of MEIGGs; and
CHARLES WATSON. who lately married
MlIGos's niece. At the time Of MucGss
death, WATSON held his power Of attorney.
and was his Office and financial man
agcr: iut il Is we'll known that his views
are not in harmony with those OF the other
| executors.
No one ever knew just how much Mr..
MriGos was worth His income was sup
posed to be- exceedingly large. lie was call
ed monte CRIsro all along the western coast
of south America lie had large amount
~ real estate, which was bought for the puf-
nose 81 turning IL into villa residences I'm the
vicinity of Callao and Lima. At the time of
his death this property had ceased to he Of
much practical value. lIc also had boulo-
wand property, ON which he had spent - good
deal If money. I'll, immense sugar estates
were disposed Of Some time before his death
~ L. expected that his fortune will turn ont
20 bc Il gigantic wreck, from which but Attlc
can bc saved.
NIr Mff4t4g a tf ifpfnGiFfr
ncarance lie was about five fcct eight
inches in height broad-shouldored. muscu
lar. weighed about 22j pound, and had the
biggest fists and largest head in Souti
America His eyes wcrc gray, deep set
piercing, and kindly in expression. He ha'
"a square jaw and chin, big nose, a arg,
mouth and Grm-closcd lips. His countc
, nance bore the impress of power. He wOul'
, have boon singled out in any company a
superior man. He was great mathcma
tician, and 80 rcmarknr.s quick at figure
that the Chilians and Peruyiaus are fond @
telling stories about his wonderful arith
, mctica performances.
/, Mr. MrIGcs lougod 90 return 10 tho Cnite
~tatr- lut could never got all 81 hi furg"
. paper retired, 80 as To- secure him again-
T. prosecution. lie paid all the poor poopl" il
ID. san Francisco who had claims upon hin
and large sums to others. Alter man
/. years the Legislature OF California. undo
II the pressure Of influences which MEIGG
c knew So VOL how 20 bring to bear, pass"
n a special act relieving him from the peng
- consequences of his crimes. But when h
e. WAS thus free To- return g. the United state
, he did not avail himself OF the prNil,s T,
.. his fortunes had begun to wanc, and Wit
"A ont the prestige Of great success and vas
II wealth. he could not fac" the odiul
nee which he believed his presence anon
g those whom he had wrongcd would eyo't
m lie has always had friends in Cal
81, fornia among those who were youn
IA or poor at the time Of HE flight. The
M friends have always taken plea sure
NJ telling how for two days before he d9a
,r pcarcd he went about town paying mp b
he bills to tladcspcople and employees; HOY
nj having $1,000 in his hands belonging to
r. young man in the Office OF PAG
lie BACON a. CO.. who had Widow
n mother dependent upon him. he pa
hn that young man the day before
~ lett; and how sum OF money from MEG
in was handed toa firm in Montgomery sire
,ls few days after hi departurc,wlth ARGUE
..- that it should be applied to the payment
h. uunhcrof small debts 10 parties whom
oh had not lcrn able TO sec personally. Su
"reminiscences, ms Is too often the c,sc. oN'
an hear in the popular mind the memory of :
H.. criminal acts which compelled Mr.. MrG
nd 10 flee from California and TO live and die
Of exile from his native land
lct The Intrigucs Against Mexico.