Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-06
APROTOTYPEO OF BALSAM0
VARIED CAREER OF CHEVA-
LIER ALFRED PARAF.
His Brilliant and Romantic Exploits in
Europe and America-DTing Forgot
ten in Lima, Peru.

y
who died in Lima, Peru, of pneumonia on
April l, is a romance of adventures such
as is seldom unfolded in real life, and to
match which in novel would require the
imagination of a Dumas. Although
scarcely 40 wears old. Paraf had success
fully swindIed the people of two eonti-
nents. and in a little over ten years he
had squandered over S2,000,000, which he
had drawn from the pockets Of his gulf
HE victims. Unlike the ordinary swim
der. Paraf selected his dupes from among
the wealthiest and presumably the most
intelligent citizens of all lands, and the
manner ia which his work was done
showed him to be a man of great natural
genius. bv means Of which had he so
chosen he might have raised himself to an
onviable position in any civilized coun-
try. The appearance Of the man was
great aid to him IN the prosecution Of his
gigantic schemes OF plumber, prcdspOsing
all with whom he came in contact in his
favor, He was Of medium height and
lieht build, with clear-cut, regular tea-
lures and large. eloquent eyes, which at
tracted men and women alike. de was
fascinating talker, and there was an ap-
parent franRness in his face which cap
mued everybody. AS an adventurer he
was the most accomplished that ever
stepped foot on these shores, and there
are scores of men in this country to-day,
as we'll as in South America, who re-
member with modification the fascinating
graces of this king OF swindlers.
''Chevalierr Alfred Paraf as he graudi-
loauentlv called himself, was OF French
extraction. and was born in Mulhaus, in
what is now the German province OF Al
SAGE. in 1873. His father was wealthy
man and the owner Of extensive calico
printing works i'm MHlhaus. lie had
brother who was an engineer in the
French army and two sisters. The family
was one of the oldest in Alsace and, with
the exception Of Alfred, one Of the most
respected in the province. The young
man who was to prove the scapegrace of
the house was given a fine education, and
as he displayed a remarkable talent for
chemical work he was sent, after gradu-
ating. to take a course of study with the
eminent French chemist, DIR. Paul Schut-
ZenbeTg, at Paris. AS a student with the
doctor Paraf developed a talent for form
ing new combinations and inyenting Im-
drOvements on existing processes which
stamped him as a scholar Of unusal merit,
and upon the conclusion of his studies he
was placed in charge Of the laboratoryin
his fathers print works. Soon aiterward
he went on an excursion to Scotland, and
here for the first time bis swindling pro
pensities came TO the surface. He was
short Of money at Glasgow and wrote to
his fathertOr supply. The response Of the
old gentleman not suiting him. be went to
the most fashionable hotel an engaged an
expensive suite Of rooms. Then be went
TO a wealthy manufacturer and told him
that he had discovered a new and cheap
dye for calico printing. He demonstrated
the truth OF his story to the satisfaction of
his victim by half an hours experiment.
ing in the laboratory, and sold his dds
cDvery" for $4,000. The dye was GER
tainly new and cheap, but it was not du-
rahle, and the manufacturer was lust
$50, coo out Of pocket, as he found soon
after when his goods began to come back
to bin.
Paraf with his little fortune. went to
Paris, where in less than a month the en-
tire sum had gone into the pockets Of adj
Yenturesses and gamblers. He lived In
ROYAL style while 1t lasted, and when he
found himself penniless he went to his
old master. DIR. Schutzenberg, and the
two chemists together discovered the
principle If the anilne dyes which have
become such an important factor in calico
printing. Parst took the invention to
Leeds and other English manufacturing
towns, and disposed OF licenses to make
and use the dyes to a great number of
print works. lie was on the high road
to fame and fortune. but be spent his
money in luxuriant living as last as he
made it, and when. in 1867, he found tick
pedient to leave Europe, as the Glasgow
manufacturer whom he had formerly
swindled was breathing vengeance
against him, he was almost penniless
again. In this predicameut ne paid a
visit TO his uncle, of the firm Of Paraf,
laval 4 Co.. Paris, and sold him "new
color which he had discovered for $10,-
COO. With this money he set sail for New
York and was well across the Atlantic
before his uncle found that his new color
had been invented and patented by a
FREUD Of his nephew, from whom the lat.
ter had deliberately stolen it.
Paraf landed IN New York in 1867. He
Wu- ihcn only - years old, very engag-
IA. ln bis manners, and gifted with a
Iesdy tongue, which was the chief weapon
VITA which be intended to attack the CAPT.
taiists 0f this country. He first called
upon Messrs. Bredt 4 Co., chemists and
q aIers ia colors. and through them Sc.
e'tfed IN introduction 10 Prof. Chandler
81 Columbia College. HIS great scheme
Hs bis tim was 20 manufacture Iodine
from sponge. and he asked Prof. Chand
Ter 70 analy re his process. The scheme
was found to be impracticable and was
dropped, and Paraf then turned his at
tentiOn to the working of his old bonanza
the invention Of eOlOrs for calico print
ing. He prolessed to have discovered al
"anlline black" superior TO any in tho
market, and with this discovery be tray
eled through the manufacturing towns Of
New England, selling licenses at from
$1,000 to $4,000 each. The result of thii
campaign was a fortune of 100000 in cash
with which Paraf returned to this city
and began a life Of elegant pleasure
which fairly dazzled the people who wit
messed 1t. He brought with him a tai
and stylish blonde named Marian
Woodbury., whom he introduced as Nine
Paraf, and took apartments on the frs
floor Of the Everett house, for which b.
paid Sl25 n week. They were furnishes
sumptuOusly, and their occupant, 10 al
appearances, had more money than h.
could comfortably dispose Of. He abso
lutely threw his gold away. ANY frien,
who desired loan OF 81, 900 or 81. 900 hat
only to ask IL, and the money was hi
without the formality Of giving a note o
any other security. In some cases Para
pressed these loans on his friends whe
he thought them in need. The result wa
inevitable. He was constantly surrOunde
by crowd of fatterers who bled him a
freely as even he could desire. IL is toll
Of him that he would drive TO the hote
early m the evening and leave the car
fiaee standing at the door all night. II
Wa go indolent 90 send down an o~de
fHf I emissal hut Poe would cheerftlll
q Ia