“Will you play, monsieur?”
756: Eleanore Dumont
Madame Mustache
Born: c.1829, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
Died: 8 September 1879, Bodie, California, United States of America
Also Spelled: Eleanor Dumont
Original Name: Simone Jules
Eleanore was one of the first known professional Blackjack players in United States history. She began by playing the precursor to Blackjack, Vingt-et-un (French for Twenty-one), before the game evolved to the high stakes card game known around the world today.
She was caught card sharping in San Francisco and was forced to leave the city at one point. After that, Eleanore opened her own gambling den in Nevada City, California. She later opened a place in Columbia, California before leaving the business world entirely and to buy a ranch in the countryside.
Eleanore was unfortunately tricked by a conman at this point who took her money, sold her ranch, and left her with all his outstanding debts. Legend says Eleanore went after him and shot him dead with a double-barreled shotgun but never faced charges for the crime.
For the next two decades, Eleanore crisscrossed the west following the money and the card tables.
In later life Eleanore re-entered the business world, opening brothels in Bannock, Montana and Tombstone, Arizona, while continuing to run card tables as well.
Later in life, once her renowned beauty began to fade, Eleanore unfortunately also acquired the nickname of Madame Mustache. The name came about after she grew a line of hair across her upper lip; a proper mustache for an improper lady.
Eleanore’s end came in Bodie, California. She committed suicide after losing most of her money; including borrowing $300 from a friend to run her gambling table for the night. After quickly losing the lot, Eleanore quietly walked out of town, drank a vile of red wine laced with morphine, and went to sleep. Her body was discovered the following morning.
Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked
Located In My Personal Library:
Haunted West: Legendary Tales From the Frontier (Magazine Published by Centennial Today, Fall 2020)
Love Lessons From the Old West: Wisdom From Wild Women by Chris Enss
Sources:
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-eleanoredumont/
https://medium.com/@hlemonroe/the-life-and-death-of-eleanor-dumont-d30b2a340b1