| “ | Sit faustum omen et felix. | ” |
–Montague Pierpoint, prior to the Fortuna's final voyage | ||
Captain Montague Beresford Pierpoint was an English-born Canadian ship's captain, insurance fraudster, con artist, and murderer of the 19th century.
Biography[]
Early Life and Career[]
Pierpoint was born to an English country clergyman, and was educated at a respectable grammar school. He eventually found himself working in the grain shipment business as the captain of a ship on Lake Superior. (PROSE: The Foundering of the "Fortuna")
Aylmer's Pike[]
Subsequent to this, Pierpoint took up work in Aylmer's Pike, Colorado. While he initially sought to prospect for silver, his bearing and a reputation for trustworthiness led to his becoming the unofficial banker for the community. However, after two years as manager of the Aylmer's Pike Bank, would-be bank robbers Hiram Coffin and Pete Morris discovered that Pierpoint had made off with the money himself. Though they roused the entire community of miners to give chase, they failed to predict the escape route he would take, taking the Pacific Railway to San Francisco, and then onward to New York via the Isthmus Railway. (PROSE: The Foundering of the "Fortuna")
Sarnia[]
Pierpoint subsequently returned to the grain shipment business and took up residence in Sarnia, Ontario. He immediately ingratiated himself with the city's high society, and set about covertly operating a massive insurance fraud scheme. Pierpoint offloaded the material at various hiding points before destroying his ships. He collected both the profits of the sales of grain and lumber as well as the insurance from his wrecked ships. While the companies were aware that something was amiss, they could not prove it, and he continued his business. (PROSE: The Foundering of the "Fortuna")
The sinking of the Fortuna[]
Pierpoint's final shipment was of Milwaukee grain bound for the Erie Canal. While in Milwaukee Harbour, he was finally tracked down by Coffin and Morris. Pierpoint recognised them immediately however, and through a combination of appeals their greed and intimidation forced them to accompany him in his scheme rather than attempt to murder him. After offloading the grain onto Manitoulin Island, Pierpoint trapped both men in the ship as it sank. (PROSE: The Foundering of the "Fortuna")
Later Life[]
Pierpoint never captained another vessel after the Fortuna. Some years after its sinking, an excessive dry season lowered the waters of Lake Huron to a great degree. In a weakened state due to a protracted illness, the paranoid Pierpoint arranged for a pleasure cruise alongside his wife and brother-in-law of Lake Superior. On the way, their yacht passed close to Manitoulin. After being informed the wreck of the Fortuna was now above the waterline, Pierpoint took an immediate turn for the worse. He died some ours later in a delirious state, in the company of his wife. (PROSE: The Foundering of the "Fortuna")
Legacy[]
Pierpoint's funeral was held in Sarnia and was attended by many, befitting his social status. Subsequent to the funeral, Pierpoint's brother-in-law took the yacht to explore the wreck and find out what had unnerved the late captain. There he discovered the corpses of Coffin and Morris. While he attempted to keep the secret of the sunken ship, others eventually began to explore the wreck, and the entire story was at last pieced together. Pierpoint's criminal exploits then passed into local legend. (PROSE: The Foundering of the "Fortuna")
Weapons and Abilities[]
Assets[]
- Wealth: Pierpoint's fraudulent schemes led to his being among the wealthy in Sarnian society. (PROSE: The Foundering of the "Fortuna")
Notes[]
Behind the Scenes[]
- Captain Pierpoint was created by Canadian author Grant Allen.[1]
Appearances[]
- The Foundering of the "Fortuna" (first and final appearance)
References[]
- ↑ The Project Gutenberg eBook of Strange Stories, by Grant Allen - Project Gutenberg - Retrieved 18 December 2022