The herald., 1893-06-04

Colonel Griffin was educated at CO.
lumbia college. He studied engineering,
and in 1868, embracing an opportunity
to see something Of the world, ne went
with surveying party to Panama, and
helped survey ship canal across the
isthmus. He went on similar expedi-
tion to the isthmus of Tehuantepec. He
then returned home, studied law, and
was admitted to the New York bar in
1850.
At home he was married, but losing
his wife and two children by death, in
1853 he went to the United States of
Colombia as civil engineer. He was
rapidly promoted in the government
service and was commissioned lieuten-
ant colonel.
He there married, Miss Eva Guadalupe,
of q distinguished Spanish family, and,
charmed by the prospect OF plsnter's
life, he secured large grant of land In
the Caucs valley, and for four years WAS
very prosperous.
He was seduced by relatives of his
wife into taking an active part in poll
tics, but, unfortunately, his was the
losing side. His grand estates were con-
fiscsted, and he was glad to be able to
escape from probable death by coming
to California.
Landing at San Francisco he at once
procured employment as writer upon
the histories of II. II. Bancroft, who was
married to one of his kinswomen.
The five volumes on Central America
and several on the early history of Mex
leo and California are almost wholly the
product Of his pen. Published under
his own name, they would have won for
1t immortal glory. Such is one of the
numerous acts of injustice which have
been committed in this world, for which
there seems to be no remedy.
He also wrote the greater part OF The
Dance Of Death, book against waltz
ing, brought out in San Francisco by.
William Herman, a photographer, in the
70s. 1t made great sensation, and was,
roundiy denounced. Colonel Griffin
never claimed any originality in this
work, but always said 1t was translated
from a former work in old Belgic, alb.
breviated and adapted for the time.
After travelling for come time in Eu-
rope, he returned to America and sur
veyed the bar of Tampico and the river
Panuco in 1880.
In 1881 he surveyed a railroad route
from Fort TETON to the Mojave river,
and then came to Los Angeles, where he
was more or less frequently connected
with the press as reporter and editorial
writer.
For nearly six years his principal
business was that of notary public.
He built beautiful home in East
Los Angeles, where still grows the gar
den of rare exotics, choice flowers,
varied trees, cacti and other plants.
Flowers and music were a paseionn in
him, and often inspired his pen to
poetry, of which many stanzae but not
all have been published. Some OF them
betray deep pathos. He WAS frequent
contributor to magazines and the press,
and his later days were spent in almost
the exclusive pursuit OF literary In
dustry, 30 much did 1t absorb his mind
in fact, to the positive detriment OF his
temporal affairs.
He was learned in Greek and Latin,
and his happy translations of the odes
of Horace were the continual delight OF
his friends. He was thorough scholar
in all the Romance languages.
He could talk them perfectly, and
what was further was exceedingly
well versed in the literature and his
tory of the peoples who speak them. His
amount of learning in this direction
was very great. At his death he lett
roll upon roll of translstions and notes
of various authors of all kinds, in the
different European languages, all tran
scribed in his peculiar handwriting,
which il printed would fill many vol
umes. His literary laborss were simply
prodigious. Books were his companions
no less than flowers, and his great de-
light was in his library of over 5000 vol
umes. covering all subjects, and manv
exceedingly rare.
the translation of the Sutro documents.
These we're 10 different papers, which
were secured by Mr.. Sutro in 1884 from
the royal archives in Seville. They
we're certified copies of the official re-
! nor.. ~ the I'en, II N n, ~