The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-04
ERRATIC DE MORES.
Sensational Stories of the French
man Massacred In Africa,

Sensational Stories of the French
man Massacred In Africa.
Chicago Post.
Reports have been received from
Tunis, in Africa, which fully confirm
the announcement that the one-time
famous Marquis de Mores and band
Of men which was under his leadership
have been massacred. The party con-
sisted Of IS men altogether They were
bound for the Soudan, where their mis-
sion was that Of enlisting chiefs among
the Arabs In movement against the
British in that country. Rumors Of
their fate were received before, but the
latest reports are authentic, and state
that every man of the Mores party was
killed. The massacre took place near
Gadames.
By the killing Of the Marquis de
MOres, there passes away one of the
most remarkable characters that has
come to the United States for adven-
ture and the accumulation Of worldly
goods within recent years. The Mar
quls was exceedingly erratic, followed
no advice in his mad career, except
that OF his own mind, and wasted all
the money upon which he could lay
his hands through the indulgence of
an unwary father-in-law. During the
three years from 1888 to 1886 the bad
lands" Of Dakota were the scene OF
De Mores action, and here he won
fame through his peculiar ways and
foolish ventures. In the early eighties
the Marquis came to this country from
France. His home was near Cannes.
his rather-1n-laW was Baron Won Hoff-
mann, and, with his credit to back him.
he set out for Dakota. His idea was
that it was possible to reap large profits
by killing cattle and shipping 1t from
the Western ranches, instead Of bring
Ing it to Chicago alive. He established
large slaughter houses, with the car
rying out Of his scheme in view.
But the money was thrown, away.
De Mores idea proved a poor one.
Medora, along the Missouri river, was
rounded by him when he arrived in the
West. OF it the sanguine Frenchman
decided to make great city, but now
it has only a population of about a
Dozen Having persuaded Won Hoff-
mann to give him the necessary money,
he started the Northern Pacific Re
frigerator company, which never
brought returns. It was his intention
to supply the whole West with beef,
but when he had erected a 5000, 900
slaughter house, a score Of similar
buildings at points along the Northern
Pacific road, besides purchasing a cold
storage house in st. Paul for $40 900
and building 100000 plant in Duluth,
the enterprise proved total failure,
and after having spent nearly a mil
lion, Baron Won Hoffman, positively
refused to be bled for any more.
The great slaughter house, a model
OF its kind, still stands at Medora but
1t Is Of no USE
Aside from his airy and unsuccessful
scheme to ruin the business Of the Chi
cago packers, killing scrape in which
the Marquis figured prominently, helped
to make his career in the bad lands"
famous. The trouble was the outcome
of an attempt on his part to fence in a
part of the bad lands without re-
gard to the pony trails over which
most of the travelling was done. This
was considered an invasion of the
rights by the ranchers, and the barb
wires were continually cut and as often
repaired, until finally hunter by the
name Of Frank O'Donnell, while drunk,
swore he would shoot DeMores on
sight If he persisted in fencing in the
pony trails" When the threat reach
ed the Frenchman he at swore out a
warrant for 0'D0nneu A deputy sher-
1ff came on from Mandan, but as
lODonnel was accompanied by two
other hunters, Luffsey and Wanegan
when the dupty sheriff arrived, he was
not arrested. Foreseeing this the Mar
quis and two employees started out
ahead, and when O'Donnell and his
companions came along shots were ex-
changed, the result being that Luffsey
was killed. But though DeMores al
ways claimed to have fired the fatal
shot, it has been proven that he was
not the man.
Leaving the Dakotas after three
years marked by failure, the Marquis
went to Kansas City and built a
slaughter house there. Then he went
to China and embarked in a railroad
scheme, which, like HIS previous en-
terprises, didn't work. Finally his love
for adventure led the careless and Wis
1onary F'renchman to Africa, where he
and those with him met the termina-
ton Of their earthly wanderings.
A. L. Packard, Of Heath & Milligan
spent some time in the company Of the
Marquis de MOres while Mr. Packard
was editing the Bad Lands Cowboy at
Medora. He was better acquainted
with the erratic Marquis than, perhaps.
any one else in this country
During his three years doings in
the bad land became we'll acquainted
with the Marquis de Mores," said Mr.
Packard this morning. II always liked
him, but he was arbitrary, and no one
could give him advice. He would make
up his mind to do a thing, and do it,
no matter how foolish it might be. Thus
he made a complete failure CT all he did
in Dakota. The Marquis had an in
sane idea about killing cattle on the
ranch and shipping it East, and failed
to take into consideration that such a
thing would not pay.
Credit was always given De Mores
for being marvellous shot, but he was
very poor, indeed, until he went to
Paris, where he became an expert and
a deadly shot in duels. The stories Of
his killing people in the bad lands are
foolishness. He never killed any one
Luffsey the man whom he claimed to
have shot was killed by a 1850 Win
chester bullet, and De Mores carried a
50-95 express rifle. I explained this to
him, and he was always vexed with me
on account OF it.
MANY sensational stories have been
written regarding the man, so that the
truth NAV sound tame. That story
about Baron Won Hoffman, giving him
$4,000, 600 is untrue He possessed no
elements Of success, and was too vesion-
airy, but could make friends easily An
instance of his utter foolishness was
the purchase of 5000 head of 'dogies.
which were no good whatever, from
Col. Simpson, owner Of the Hashknife
brand, next to the leading brand in the
United States. When $500 Of them had
arrived, Won Hoffman,, who furnished
the money with which to buy the worth
less cattle, struck town. The New