The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-14
CULVER UP-T0-DATE
Louis de ROugemont, the Mod
ern Robinson CruSOe.
Is 4 VERSATILE ADYENTURER
Bogus French NobIeman Who Startled
London with His W onderfnl Tales of Adj
venture Among the savage Tribes of an
Unexplored Region Of Australia Has
Long Record Of Chieanery and Deceit.

UnexpIored Region of Australia Has
Been Identified rs II enri Louis Grin, with
Long Record of Chieanery and Deceit.
Louis de Rougemout is now the talk OF
London. The columns OF one of the Eng
hsh magazines has been filed with the
thrilling adventures OF this modern Rob-
inson CTusOe, who proves 10 De 10 other
than an unfortunate inventor, the son Of
a dissipated Swiss farmer, 4 gentle
mans servant" and his real maine
Henri Louis Grin.
Little less than year ago, this man,
gaunt and zeedy, landed at the London
docks from a New Zealand steamship,
having worked his passage over from
Wellington, doing a little IN the line of
Sentleman's servant ana extra jobs OF
stocking. Possessed of a vivid magma
ton, he occupied his nights and spare mo-
ments by telling the most marvellous ad-
ventures III the southern continent, until
he was believed 10 be a hero OF most eX-
traorGinaEy circumstances. Being firm
believer in Spiritualism. he claimed %
have been warned by his unseen friends
not 10 sail in the Mataura. which was ac-
tually wrecked in the Straits Of Magellan
and all hands lost This coincidence help
ed strengthen the growing belief in Henri
Louis Grin's strange tales.
Finding himself almost alone and
triendless in London, he cast about for a
way IN which to earn a livelihood The
hrst role which he assumed Was that of
an inventor. He had a diving suit, he
said, which was so ingeniousIy made that
treasure, long since abandoned because OF
the unfathomabIe depth of the sea could
be had for the picking up There was
only one thing lacking-Capital Where
was the diving suit? he was asked He
was sorry not to be able TO show even i
drawing of il. The spirits had forgotten
TO warn him against sending it by the
other ship, very likely, for it went down
Win the Inflated vessel. He was per-
Ieclly willing 10 get duplicate drawings
from Australia If some one would advance
Ihe necessary money. He would make
his machine, and have it tried in the deep
deep sea. Bristol Channel, say, with boat
fus OF insurance men and other interest
ed people, and show to their astonished
eyes how money and Jewels could be
brought up from untold depths. Some
doubling ThOmaseS asked if ne would 20
down in 1t himself. IL is a question thar
requires careful consideration. He does
not explain why he hesitates. Having
round friends among the SpirituaIistic set
III London, he inquiries of the spirits the
proper course TO follow. IF YOU go
Gown they answered, the spirits will be
with you"
Death Trap for Divers
happily for Grin, the experiment had
oeth trled before. The poor diver buck
!eu on the brass armOr and went down.
lie came up-but he was dead. An ex-
pert aver pronounced the machine TO be
= hrst-class death trap"
Grin also figured as a pbotoeranh.r
having done little business at il out In
''uhey, ana progressed TO be portrait
dttiSL ealing on Il charitable Swiss
business hrm, who We're willing to help
MN along little in this matter, he re
ceiVed an order for a portrait from the
head of the firm. When the artist ask
ed for photograph he was considered
an impostor. These good people then
learned that Grins portraits" were pure
~ mechanical work Not long afterward
Wh@Ei inquiries were being made about
the man with the view To exposure. they
furnished the first clew to the identity of
Henri Louis Grin and Louis de Rouge
mont
His next venture was in the literary
field. He was not only imaginative. but
ambitious. He wanted to write a book.
All mis- life he has been in the habit of re-
IdtinS the most startling stories, having,
from MS earliest years. been an eager
reader of tales of adventure. The diving
machine failure, photograph Il failure
also, The literary idea took possession OF
MIN. BY this time he was in COmmunica-
ton with his family in Switzerland His
brother, an energetic Swiss pastor. ad-
vises him against literary work knowing
what scant education Henri POSSESSED,
but another adviser turns up at This time
and saves the situation. The new friend
proved 10 be an old friend. who had given
Grin little work in the way Of selling
lots Of building land in Sidney. For rea-
sons which are not very clearly given
this man-Mr. Murphy-severed his con-
nectiOn with the estate which he repre-
scented, and returned TO London. He is
known as an adYentUrer in the West Au-
stralian finance. BY pure chance he met
his old cdnyasser, Grin. who, IInding a
sympathetic listener. TeCited his Difficult
ties and projects Mr.. Murphy became
Grin's counselor and friend, and very
soon, under Murphys patronage, ne left
mis- shabby room and took u moro rcspec-
table lodging in Bloomsbury.
his Literary Career.
During this time, either the Swiss pas
tor, Mr.. Murphy, or some other friend
had procured him a readers ticket 10 the
British Museum IN the name OF II. /.
Grien-Grin AngiiciZed-and he used it
constantly, deyOuring books Of travel and
adventure in the Southern Seas. He Was
preparing himself for his literary task,
but perhaps he did not conceive Of the
surprise he was preparing for the world.
One day, after trying IN vain several
possible patrons, he went 70 Dir. Heuniker
Hcat0n, whom he knew to be the friend
and helper Of many an unfortunate tTav-
eler. He represented himself as such,
told a Wondrous tale, and said his name
was Louis de ROugem0nt. His adyen-
lures were the most remarkable a man
ever lived 70 tell. He had just arrived IN
ENGLAND from rata, where ne had
been list III. blacks for thirtyt
years. and his 81. back 70 civilization
was some hins ..'Es. be told OF
pearl adVentUr.. ai.g salpWrecks galore:
Of how - hzo beer a great chief among
the b 81 ara II biz vain eEde4yOrz ~
lei . Tht NtiIE hen. OF the EEplOr-
ers H. ..gt who we're absolutely lost 70
human knowledge; o. the white women
he haz r.scIed who were doomed 10 the
most horrible slavery. and nluch more IN
the am order. Mr.. HeatGn was inter
ested. bat skepiicaL The "expioTer' sub
mitted his manuscript, which Was ready
FOR publication, but, az 1ir. HeatOn could
ind 10 proofs for HOuzemOnt's stories. BE-
returned H. Being OF ChariIz bic nature.
auI willing 70 help the man. h recon
nende,i the new Robinson CrusOe 70 the
editor OF the Wide World Magazine
Monsieur Louis dc ROlgeaout' had 10
complaint 10 make Of MS reception there
IL vas received WIKI open arms.
Strange 70 say, the uanuEcrip; which
had been sent % ME. Heztsn did not aD-
pear 10 print Il may have ben 100
short or too tame: but at any rate the
story grew until IL has flied numbers Il
the magazine. and s. stiH growing. II j.
needless 10 say that the terms agTeed