Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-11-24

80, sAG in the life and
= 49, adventures Of
Louis de Rougemont, concerning
whom and his experiences the news
papers of England and of the Con-
tinent have of late been devoting a
very considerable portion of their
space. In Paris, the original home of
de Rougemont, the people have fairly
gone wild over him, and are literally
devouring everything that is written
or printed about him. The interest
displayed in other cities in the man
and his history is very great; but in
view of his astounding and amazing
experiences it is not to be wondered
at.
In the Wide World Magazine there
appears the first of a series of articles
telling, in the words of de Rougemont
himself, his experiences. The fact
that after careful hearing and investi-
cation such eminent scientists and
geographical experts as DR.. j. Scott
Kettle and DR.. Hugo r. Mill are
agreed that M. de Rougemont's MARIA
tive is not only perfectly accurate but
of the highest scientific value, is par
ticularly significant, and will unques-
tionably remove doubt that might
otherwise be suggested in course of n
perusal Of the narrative.
In all the annals of geographical
science there is practically but. one
case that can be compared for mo-
ment with NJ. de Rougemont's--but
in that instance the man returned to
civilization a hopeless idiot, having
lost his reason years before, amid his
appalling surroundings In the case
of de Rougemont he comes back after
his astounding life of two and one
half years on a desolate, microscopical
strip of sand, and of some thirty years
as a cannibal chief in the wilds of I'M
explored Australia, in the full posses
sion of his mental faculties.
Without anticipating these remark
able adventures it will be well, follow
ing the order as laid down by de
Rougemont himself in' his narrative
briefly to chronicle the important
points in his earlier life and the events
and happenings, many Of them, too
nothing short Of wonderful WIFI -"
STARTS LIFE as a EARL FISHER.
Born in Paris in 1874, he early
moved with his mother to Switzer-
land, where he was educated. When
he was nineteen years of age he was
asked by his father, still resident in
France, to return to Paris as q con-
script; but to this his mother OBJ
iected and instead suggested the son
should follow his inclination to travel
and see the world. To aid him in his
purpose she gave hin. 1000 francs.
and with this not unsubstantial sum
the young man set out for Cairo
thence going to Singapore. In Sing
apore he met a Dntoh,s - -a,Aer'
r. -, HalIe, who was look
te'ei 99&8t for funds with which to fit
out his forsy-ton schooner, the Velel-
land, SO that he might set out for the
pearl fishing grounds off the south
coast OF New Guinea. An agreement
was entered into by the Captain with
de Rcugemont, with the result that in
a short time after the schooner set
ssil with a crew of forty-four all told
the Captain, de Rougemont, forty
men and two wonderland dog.
The fishing grounds reached, the
entire crew each day took to the sew
eral shell-boats, with the large whale
boat accompanying them, leaving de
Rougemont, whose duty it was to re-
ceive the oysters from the men and
credit each with the number he de-
livered, alone with the dog in the
Velelland. This was kept up for al
most the entire season, until prob
ably about $50, 900 worth of pearls
had been gotten. Then provisions
becoming short, the boat made for the
New Guinea main in order to replen-
ish stores before starting for home.
While there, going over the oyster
shells that were left, de Rougemont
discovered three black pearls, which
are particularly valuable because OF
their rarity. AT once the "pearl
fever" seized the Captain and crew
anew, and nothing would satisfy them
ether than a return to the fishing
grounds and renewal of the fishing
in the hope that more of the black
pearls might be found.
1t was then-the year was 1864
we'll on in May, and the season should
have been ended, for the change OF
the monsoon was actually due, and
great storms might spring up at mo-
ments notice. To this fact, however,
neither the Captain nor crew would
give heed. And thus, in their greed
for the shining pearl lying in its shell
a. the sea bottom, these men went on,
al unconscious of their approaching
Aoom-each day going forth in their
little boats, leaving de Rougemont
alene with his dog on the larger boat.
One morning in July they started out
as usual-but they never came back.
A great tidal wave overturned their
smaller boats, and when they took to
the whaleboat it was carried out and
ont and out into the apparently Him
table sea, by the force and fury of
the waves and wind and nevermore re-
turned.
Alone, save with the dog as a com