Year: 1877

lumber coaster, as far as cabin ac-
commodations were concerned, with
very little furniture and no carpet
on the floor. The only extra ex-
pense incurred for the comfort Of the
expected passengers was in fitting
up two small staterooms forward
for officers quarters and the pur-
chase Of second hand sofa for the
cabin. On the Sd of October the
captain reported the vessel ready for
sea, and about nine o'clock the same
evening Seaman came on board and
told Captain Cousins that Henry
MeiggS and his family were the pas
sengers going in the ship. At mid.
night Seaman and the captain went
ashore in the ships boat alone,
landing at Broadway wharf, where
they left the boat and went up to
Mr.. Meiggs' residence, They were
met at the door by Mr.. Meiggs, who
took the captain by the hand, say
ing, captain, this is hell; but | can't
help it." In the house, besides


Mrs. Meiggs and her three children,


were Ned Seaman, a young man


named Gilchrist, clerk in Meiggs


employ; John G. Meiggs, David
Thayer, a cousin of Meiggs, and
two servant girls. The party sat
and talked until three o'clock in


the morning, during which time


Meiggs spoke freely of his troubles.


AS the clock struck three Captain


Cousins announced that it was time
they were going OH board. Meiggs
jumped up, put on his hat, giving
it a knock on the top, and said,


"By Cd, | am readyp John
Meiggs then produced a sack con.


tanning $40, 900 in gold, which was
emptied out on a table and divided
into two equal portions, Captain


Cousins taking one-half and Henry


Meiggs the other. This is all the


money that went on board the yes.
sci. The entire party then walked


down to the wharf, where Gilchrist
and Ned Seaman took leave, and the
rest getting into the boat the CAP.
tain sculled them out to the bark


In the morning a thick fog hung
over the bay, and there was not a
breath of air stirring. A tug was
engaged to tow them out to sea, but
the fog was so dense that they could
not find their way out through the
Gate, and the vessel was anchored
off Fort Point. About four o'clock
in the afternoon they again got
under way and were towed out as
far as the North Head. After max
ing a few tacks the captain found


that the tide was drifting them back
into the bay, and he was again
forced to come to an anchor. At
high water the captain hove up an.
chor and drifted out with the tide
in a dense fog. Toward morning a
light wind sprang up from the land
and by daylight they we're half way
to the Farallones. There they Law
beclamed for two days. but the fop


was so thick that they felt no un-
eaSiness about being followed. Du-
ring all this time Mr.. Meiggs was
calm and cheerful, showing not the
slightest signs of excitement. The
story about the pistol in readiness
to commit suicide the captain pro-
nounces absurd, as the only firearm
on board was a revolver belonging
to himself, which was never loaded.
A breeze finally came, and the YES
was kept away to the southwark.
After getting clear of the land, Mr..
Meiggs, in answer to an inquiry as
to where he wished to 20, said to
the captain that he might 90 where
he pleased, but he should like to
see some of the South Sea islands
and then 60 to Australia or Chill.
They first went to 0tahiti, where
they remained thirteen DAYS,
leaving there just three days before |
the papers from San Francisco, with |
an account Of Meiggs' flight, ar
rived. They then touched at Pit |
cairn Island, where they lay two
days, and from there sailed for Tai |
cahuana, in Chill. MeggS landed |
there and took his family up to the
city Of Conception for a short
time. The rest Of his career in
South America is so well known
that it is unnecessary to repeat it |
here. Meiggs paid all the expenses
of the vessel up to the time be left
it out of the $4,000 he took away !
with him, and when be landed in |
Chill he had but $4740 to make q |
fresh start in the world. The last
time Captain Cousins saw Mr.. |
Meiggs that gentleman told him
that If he knew of any men who
used to work about his mills, and to
whom he owed money, to tell them
to forward their accounts and they