Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/300



Harry, quicklj'-  and  vehemently  say  your  prayers  so that  hell  may  hear,  for  if  the  north  wind  fails  you, you lose  jour  head  and  the  South  American  govern- ments a great  railway  financier. Alas 1  the  Active breaks down  and  the  swindler  escapes.

A magnificent  audacity  characterized  all  the  tran- sactions of this  the  prince  of  California  swmdlers,  or as  his  victims  put  it,  he  "played  it  in  fine  on  'em." Thirty-three thousand  dollars  of  Wm  Neeley  Thompson and Go's  forged  notes  were  endorsed  by  Henry  Meiggs two and  a  half  months  prior  to  his  departure. Stock of the  California  Lumber  Company,  of  which  he  was president, was  forged  to  a  large  amount — some  said half a  million. It was  his  custom  invariably  to  give his forged  paper  as  collaterals  to  moneyed  men  who would lock  them  up  and  make  no  attempt  to  realize on them ;  or  he  would  deposit  it  in  some  bank,  take  a certificate  to  that  effect,  and  obtain  the  money  on  the certificate. In this  way  his  guilt  was  kept  secret  up to  the  last  moment.

When the  captain  of  the  American  was  questioned why he  was  fitting  up  his  boat  so  sumptuously  and whither he  was  bound,  he  replied,  that  the  vessel  had been purchased  by  two  wealthy  gamblers,  who  in- tended a trip  of  pleasure  and  adventure  on  the  Pa- cific, first to  Pugret  Sound  and  then  to  Australia. In leaving the  city  with  his  family  Meiggs  took  a  car- riage and said  he  was  going  to  San  Mateo;  but  stop- ping at Mission  Point  on  the  bay,  he  embarked  in  a small  boat  for  his  vessel,  which  was  lying  in  the stream. No sooner  was  he  fairly  on  board  than  the bark was  towed  out  to  sea,  and  hoisting  all  sail  was soon out  of  sight. Before leaving  he  wrote  a  letter to Goddefroy,  Sillem  &  Co.,  informing  them  of  his intended departure  from  the  country  never  to  return. Owing them  a  large  amount  he  left  a  confession  of judgment  in  their  favor  for  two  hundred  thousand dollars, under  which  they  immediately  attached  a large  amount  of  property. This letter  and  confession