Evening star., 1898-10-29
AS TOLD BY HIMSELF
M. De Rougemont's Story Does Not
Meet With Entire Credsnce.
LIVELY CONTROVERSY NOW GOING ON
At Best His Remarkable Tale is
Only True in Part.
CONCLUDING NARRATIVE
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

For two months the great controversial
question in England has been, rs the man
| who calls himself Louis De Rougemont, and
who claims to have lived for something
like thirty years among the cannibal blacks
of Australia, great traveller or a great
impostor?' The Daily Chronicle asked this
question early in September and since that
time has kept up "a continuous fire of de-
| nial, criticism and ridicuIe against the
modern Crusoe." But De Rougemont has
not been without warm supporters. and
the public his seemed disposed to listen
with interest to his story and to believe 1t
until it should be proved untrue The world
at large has watched this paper war with
interest too, for the account of De Rouge
| mont, or at least such part of it as he has
related thus far, has been repeated in every
quarter of the globe, and it certainly has
fulfilled the claim of the Frenchman's back
ers as being the most marvellous story mai
ever lived to tell.''
When Louis De Rougemont, or Louis
Grin. as his name is now reported to be-
applied to the Hon. Hunneker Heaton some
months ago for introduction to some
London editor it is doubtful of he looked
upon himself as in any way a wonderful
man. He had recently worked his way
from New Zealand to London on a trading
vessel and was out of money He modestly
explained that he had been pearl fisher
mad lived among the Australian blacks and
mad mad some adventures which he believ-
ed might make an interesting story Until
ne became stranded in London, he claimed
1t may be truthfully, hs had had no thought
OF writing about his experiences
In the Guise OF Truth.
Through Mr.. Heaton, who is interested in
all affairs Australasian, the traveller was
introduced to Mr.. w G. FITZGERALD of Sir
George Newnes' Wide World Magazine.
His story must have impressed the man
ayers Of that publication, for they shortly
an ounced that they had discovered a new
ROBINSON CruSoe,' whose actual exnAri-
ehttS were even more remarkable than
those of Defoe's imaginary hero, and that
ms own account of his wonderful advea-
lufes would begin publication In The August
number of their magazine
fupnc curiosity, which had been mildly
simulated by the advertisements of the
ne" pfodigyS received a genuine surprise
"han the first installment of De Rouee-
INC INC nj story appeared in print 1t is put
uhS 1t mildly to say that his adventures
were tne most remarkable ever related
uHuei the gulse of truth. The $50, 900 car
go of pearls, the giant octoDus the n,rack
on the lonely sand spit the turtIe-back
rides and the other wonders which formed
the INCEPTION of De Rougemont's tale, are
itiiiiiar 10 the reading public They proved
a large dose to swallow at one guln ana ;t
is not surprising that they were received
Win astonishment and incredulfty. Rut
Crusoe and his publishers were NOT
atashed 1t was announced that the eeog-
raphy OF the story had been examined and
cnecked by Dr. Scott Kettle and DR.. Hugh
robert Mill of the Royal GeographtcaI So
clety and that they believed it true. The
most incredible incident of the first portion
or the story was that in which the nara
Tor told how he had beguied the weary
hours on the sand spit by riding on the
packs OF immense turtles, keeping them at
a rf J,y-1
and guiding them by poking his toes in
their eyes. But Admiral Markedly who
had had long experience among the South
Pacihc Islands, came forward and said that
he had known of this feat being accom-
psheG by natives there, and that it was
by no means impossible.
Made Big Hit.
Then De Rougemont enioved y ,nn,,;n.
triumph. He was invited to address the
Bristol congress of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science He read
two papers before this dgnified BODY on his
geographical and anthropologicaI ohserva-
tions among the Australian natives More
IMAM this. he " as the lion of the hour and
MS papers We're the great feature of the
meeting Ihe worthy and distinguished
gentlemen who compose the British assu-
cation are now greatly panied and scan
dal1zed to think Of their enthusiasm over
the man Who according to recent reve!a-
eioii9 was III service as a fOOtman and
courier curing a considerable portion of
the time when he was supposed to be lord
ing 1t over a tribe of fierce cannibals
Under this august patronage De Rouge
mont became popular hero. He was in
Vlted TO fashionable clubs and spoke al
dinners in company with the most eminent
men of the country. But presently he
again fell under suspicion, and some parts
OF his story proved to be impossible of veri-
hcation. De RoCgemont said that he was
born in Paris. but ii was impossible to find
any record OF the event or of his family
there. Moreover, 1t was found that De
Rougemont or his double was born in Neu-
chatel. Switzerland, was christened there
under the name Henri Louis Grin, and that
he had revisited his native town in August
of this year. 1t was also said that he was
well known In Sydney under the name of
Green. or Grlen, that he had lived there for
a number of years, and had wife and
family still residing there
Chung to His Narrative.
Under these circumstances De Rouge
mont bore himself admirably. He submit
ted to examinations and re-examinations
still cl1nging to his narrative in the main
though admitting that he might be mis-
taken in many of the details His appear
ance told in his favor. The extreme bronze
of his face and arms lent credence to his
account of long exposure to the weather;
the deep lines and wrinkles Of his face and
his wearied, dffident air We're those of 3
man who had endured great suffering, and
had been long unused to civilization There
were many Inconsistencies, however In his
account of his early life. and he finally re-
lapsed into silence, refusing to answer any
more questions.
The enemies Of De Rougemont acknowI:
edge that there may be a considerable sub
stratum of truth In his stories. 1t is known
that ne was at one time engaged in the
pearl industry, and it is believed that Peter
Jensen. who figures in the narrative as his
partner in this enterprise is still living in
New Guinea. 1t is acknowledged too that
he may have lived for some years among
the blacks, as no record of his doines from
about 1875 to 1880 has been found With
important notifications 1t is likely that
his story will be proved TO have a basis in
tact. AT airy rate. in spite of the damag-
ilg revelations that have been made re-
So riding his credibility, De Rougemont still
sticks to his story. Apparently his pub
fishers have not lost their confidence In
him, for they announce that they will con-
tinue his narrative, adding merely the
words 'as tc1d by himself" The story
whether fact or fiction, is stirring enough
Giving only the main events, from tho
point where the last installment of his
published narrative ends, it runs as fol-
lows:
According to De ROuEemont.
In making his first attempt TO regain civ
IL for