The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-04
HE'S A NEW PLUNGER.
Pierre Wibaux, Montana Cattle
King, Dazzles Racing Men.
Some OF His Stupendous Bets and
Luck-How He Got His Wealth.

consisting OF several thousands Of acres O
the best grazing land In eastern Wyomin,
ana many more thousands Of cattle, dif
not entitle him 90 fame, but one day las
winter business interests took him 20 Cal
iiornia, and for diversion he began To fol
low the races. In three weeks no carried
away with him 500, 900 of the bookinn kers
money and became famous. IL was not his
cain way OF Offering an amount of money
10 Dookmaker that staggered the ticket
writer nor yet the magnitude of his bets
that drew attention to him. It was his
phenomenal luck I'm following game
which Is doomed hard enough In all truth
for regular" who has the "inside. ;,
But this man, who brought with him the
breezy air and methods OF Montana. seemed
to be an outsider" yet he picked the
winners. with remarkable success In n
few days 1t was not "What Is Grammar
playing" or "Where is Pittsburg Phirs
money goingf" but "What does the Mon.
tana plunger like?' This was what they
had dubbed him, as his real name was nm.
known TO the army OF touts and race fol-
lowers.
AT first tho Montana plunger would
shout the name of the horse and tba
amount he wished to bet TO the book
maker, but he soon found that this mill
tated against him. Everybody within
hearing would rush to place his money
on the horse he favored, and the odds
would go down. After placing his first
bet no would then be forced to accent q re-
duced figure for the balance of his ploy.
This, however, did not seem to affect him.
II he liked horse there seemed TO be no
limit to his liking, and thousands of dol.
lars were wagered as though gold were
the veriest dross. But later he adopted
the methods of all large bsttors and placed
his money through commissioners. WI
baux, with ways born of the broad prai-
ries, made some big winnings. Among
them was $40, 900 on Cadmus. He put up |
$4,000 to win an equal amount. What
staggered the ring was his desire to bet IL |
ali with one bookmaker. He slipped up |
TO one OF tha books and remarked, "Giyo
mo $40, 900 on Cadmus."
Certainly, sir, was the reply given be.
fore the bookie realized what he was saw.
ing. An instant later he called the plum.
ger back and told him he guessed 81, 900
would be all he cared to take.
Inc following day Wibaux took q fancy
70 figian in the first race The odds were
10 !, and he played all the money the
DOCKS would take Notwithstanding that
10 I'll Key was an odds on favorite and
mere were IA starters In the race Figian
won in gallop and wi5aux increased his
bank roll about $50, ,O0O
during all this time the identity OF the
Montana plunger was unknown except
o few The bookmakers were under
trlct inJunctions not to reveal his name.
'nd IL would probably not have become
'hown had not some Montana cattlemep
ecognized In the envied wooer of dame
ortune the wealthy land and stock owner
ASIDE from his unique position in the
'orld OF race track followers, Pierre WI
aux is remarkable man. The story of /
is lie reads like page from the tales of
no Arabian Nights"
"A Frenchman by birth and education. :
mas become n cosmopolitan from resi-.
ence In other countries. After spending
'verai years on the continent and In Eng
ma no came to America ten years ago
ith small capital. He went direct Co
ohtana at time when cattle were a
.ug on the market and ranchmen were
ming 10 dispose OF their ranches and
ock ior haif their value. Wibaux went N
ere 10 purchase. The rumor that a
eaithy trenchman was looking for land Q,
III cattle soon spread, and before long
ey were. as they thought, unloading their
operty upon him at his own terms. Soon
'er the cattle market went up, and WI.
ux round himself with large contracts
i've Deer Tor future shipment TO Ill at
soou price. when the market again W
mt down, ho relipiously filled these con. "a "a
'cts, ana while he was forced to resort -
the conrts to obtain settlement in some
IN fnr
only three months ago that the supreme D
irt OF illinois rendered decision in his u
or against Nelson Morris the packer.
o amount involved in the suit was IN
neighborhood of $50, 900. All the -
ney that no made he invested IN ranches
cattle In eastern Wyoming, until he is
ay one of the wealthiest and largest
ch owners In the west.
lis ranges arc located near Miles Citv
town bearing his name stands upon :.
estate. His trip to California last win. M
was for the purpose of buying 10. 600
of cattle TO ship to Nebraska, and his
} track speculations were but a profit. N
incident Of his trip. II reports ara
}, he Is plunger In any sort of enter.
o he goes into, and like the tabled
AS everything no touches turns TO gold.
personal appearance and carriage Inf
IRE Wibaux Is as unlike the usual ides I'LL
Montana cattleman as he is sport
IS quiet In demeanor and dress. wear a..
nttie Jewelry, and gentle In speech. Ho
s more Ikea prosperous city merchant a.,
q man fresh from cattle range. He w
rely 40 years of age, and not n gray
shows In his clcscly cropped hair. lie
he Is not Interested in horse racing Mat
but it is moro than likaIv tbot ,h,. |
liant star will again shine i'm tho bet-
rings of our largo race traoks.-Cbi.
Times Herald. us