The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-30

has been: us the man who calls himself
Louis de Rougemont, and who claims to
have for something like thirty years
among the cannibal blacks Of Australia
a great traveller or a great imposter?'
The Daily Chronicle asked this question
early in September, and since that time
has kept up a continuous fire of denial,
criticism and ridicue against the 'modern
Ctusoe" But De Rougemont has not been
without warm supporters, and the public
has seemed disposed to listen with inter
est to his story and TO believe it until 1t
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 ne
has related thus far has been repeated in
every quarter Of the globe, and it certain
~ has fulfilled the claim of the French
mans hackers as being the most mar
yelous story man ever lived to tell"
When Louis de Rougemont, or Louis
Grin. as his name is now reported 10 be,
applied to the Hon Hunneker Heaton some
months ago for an Introduction to some
London editor, it is doubtful IL he looked
upon himself as in any way a wonder
full man. He had recently worked his way
from New Zealand to London on trad
ing vessel and was out of money. He
modestly explained that he had been a
uearl fisher. had lived among the Austral-
ian blacks, and had had some adventures
which he believed might make an inter-
esting story. Until he became stranded
In London. he claimed, it may be truth-
fully, he had had no thought OF writing
about his experiences.
Through Mr. Heaton, who is interested
in all affairs Australasian, the traveier
was introduced to Mr. w. G. Fitzgerald
of Sir George Newnes' Wide World Mag
azine. His story must have impressed the
managers of that publication, for they
shortly announced that they had discov-
cred new Robinson Crusoe," whose act
ual experiences were even more remark
able that those of DefOe's imaginary hero,
and that his own account OF his Wohder-
full adventures would begin publication IN
the August number of their magazine.
Public curiosity, which had been mildly
stimulated by the advertisements Of the
rev prodigy, received a genuine surprise
when the first installment of De Rouge
mont's story appeared in print. 1t IS put
ting it mildly to say that his adventures
der the guise of truth. The 5000 cargo OF
paris. the giant octopus, the wreck on the
lonely sand-spit, the turtle-back rides anu
the other wonders which formed the IN
ception of De Rougemonts tale are Ia
miiar TO the reading public Ihey prov
ed a large dose to swallow at one gulp,
and it is not surprising that they were
received with establishment and incredul-
ity But Crusoe and his publishers were
not abashed 1t was announced that the
geography of the story had been eXamin-
ed and checked by DR.. Scott Kettle ana
DIR. Hugh Robert Mill of the Royal Geo
graphical Society and that they believed
1t true The most Incredible incident of the
first portion of the story was that
In which the narrator told how he had be-
guiled the weary hours on the sand-spit
by riding on the backs of immense turtles,
keeping them at the surface by leaning
far back on the shell and guiding them
by poking his toes In their eyes. But Ad-
miral Markedly who had had long expe-
rience among the South Pacific ISLANDS,
came forward and said that he had known
of this feat being accomplished by natives
there and that it was by no means lmpos-
slble.
Then de Rougemont enjoyed genuine
triumph. He was invited to address the
bristol congress of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science. He read
two papers before this dignihed BODY on
his geographical and anthropological OBJ
eervations among the Australian natives
More than this, he was the non OF the
hour. and his papers were the great feat
IRE Of the meeting The worthy and dis
tinguished gentlemen who compose the
british Association are now greatly PAIN
ed and scandalized to think OF their en-
thusiasm over the man VINO, according 10
recent revelations, was In service as a
footnnau and courier during considerable
WI
TO be lording IL over tribe of fierce can
nibals. ~.
Under this august patronage De Rouge
mont became popular hero lie was m
vited to fashionable clubs and spoke at
dinners in company with the most eminent
men of The country. But presently ne
again fell under suspicion, and some parts
of his story proved TO be impossible OF
verihcation. De Rougemont said that he
was born in Paris, but it was Impossible
TO find any record OF the event or Oh ms
family there. Moreover 1t was found mat
De Rougemont, or his double, was born
In Neuchatel, Switzerland, was christeneo
there under the name Henri Louis Grin
and that he had revisited his native town
IN August of this year. 1t was also sald
that he was we'll known in Sydney under
the name of Green, or Grien, that he mao
lived there for number OF years ana hau
a wife and family stul residing there.
Hinder these circumstances De Rouge
mont bore himself admirably. He submit
ted to examinations and re-examinations
etll clinging to his narrative IN the man
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
20 his account of long exposure to the
weather; the deep lines and wrinkles Of
his face and his wearied, ditfident air were
those of a man who had endured great sur
fering and had been long unused to civil
ization. There were many Inconsistencies
however. in his account of his early life
and he finally relapsed into silence, re-
fusing to answer any more questions.
The enemies of De Rougemont acknow-
ledge that rhere may be a considerable
substratum Of truth in his stories. 1t is
known that he was at one time engaged
in the pearl industry. and il is believed
that Peter Jensen, who figures in the
narrative, as his partner in this enter
prise, is still living in New Guinea II
Is acknowledged, too, that he may have