Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-04-26
A REMARKABLE ADDICTION.

Gl0son, lately re.urneu IRON Inc East lhuieS,
and bringing with him some new facts as to the
tribes of Ourang-O utangs inhabiting the deserts
of that part Of the world. He says: "My state
ment of the extraordinary peculiarties Of these
apparently sem-human beings, has led to the
expression of so much curiosity to know more of
them by some, and skepticism as to the fact of
their existence on the part of others, that have
deemed it due to myself and to public curiosity,
to give some additional facts along with all the
corroborative evidence that has fallen under my
observation. W
awhile at Mintok, Palembang and Batavia,
heard many remarkable stories ofthe agility, au-
dacity, anG especially he superhuman strength
ofthe Ourang-Outang. will trespass upon your
attention, by'relating one of the most extraordi-
nary, at the same time one of the best attested,
which heard while at Batavia. Lieut.. Shoch,
of the Dutch East.lndia army, was on march
with small detachment Troops and coolies on
the southeastern coast of Borneo he had en-
camped, on one occasion, during the MONDAY
heat,on the banks of one of the small tributaries
of the Bangarmassin. The Lieut. had with him
his domestic establishment, which included his
daughter-a playful and interesting little girl of
the age Of thirteen.
"One day, while wandering in the jungle be-
yond the prescribed limits Of the camp, and hav-
ing from the oppressive heat loosened her gar
ments and thrown them off almost to nudity,
the beaaty of her person excited the notice of
an ourang- outang, who sprang upon her and car
ried her off. Her piercing screams rang thro'
the forest to the ears of her doing protectors,
and reused every man in the camp. The swift,
barefooted coolies were foremost in pursuit;
and now.the cry rings in the agonzed fathers
ears that his daughter is devoured by binatang
hat hos a1 tar
off. He rushes, half phrenzied, with the whole
company to the thicket from whence the screams
proceeded and there, among the topmost limbs
of an enormous banyan, the father bebolds his
daughter, naked, bleeding and struggling in the
grasp Of a powerful ourang- outang, who held
her tightly, yet easily, with one arm, while he
sprang lightly from limb to limb, as if he was
wholly unincumbered. 1t was vain to think of
shooting the monster, so agile was he.
The Dyak coolies, knowing the habits of
the ourang- outapg, and knowing that he will al
ways plunge into the nearest stream when hard
pressed, began a system of operations to drive
him to the water; they set up great shout,
throwing missiles of all kinds, and agitating the
underbrush, while some proceeded to ascend the
tree. BY the redoubled exertons Of the whole
company, the monster was gradually driven to-
ward the water, yet still holding tightly to the
poor girl. At last the monster and his victim
were seen on an outstretching limb, overhang-
ing the stream; the coolies, who are among the
eXpertest swimmers in the world, Immediately
lined the banks; the soldiers continued the out
cries and throwing of missiles. He clasped his
prize more tightly, took survey Of the water
and of his upward gazing enemies, and then leap
ed into the flood below.
He had hardly touched the water ere fifty
resoute swimmers plunged in, in pursuit; as he
rises a dozen human arms are reached out to-
wards him; he is grasped; others lay hold upon
the insensible; the ourang- outang used both
arms to defend, and after decorating the bodies
of some Of the coolies with his powerful nerv-
Gus claws, finally succeeded in diving beyond the
reach Of his pursuers, and in escaping down the
stream, while the bleeding, insensible Ledah was
restored to the arms of her father and nurses, in
whose hands she was ultimately restored to con-
seriousness, health and strength once more
This savage version of the classic story of Pluto
and Proserpne is well authenticated, and the
girl, now grown-up woman, is living at Ambo-
nya, in the Mouccas.'