Washington sentinel., 1854-04-05
An Abduction Indeed.

we copy passage from paper reau before
the American Geographical Society by Captain
Gibson, lately returned from the East Indies,
and bringing with him some new facts as to
the tribes of ourang-outangs inhabiting the
deserts of that part Of the world. He says
"My statement of the extraordinary peculiar
tiles ofthese apparently semi-human beings has
led to the expression of SO much curiosity to
know more of them by some, and of 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.
"While at Mintok, Palembang, and Batavia,
heard many remarkable stories of the agility,
audacity, and especially of the superhuman
strength, OF the ourang-outang. Twill trespass
upon your attention by relating one of the most
extraordinary at the same time one of he,best
attested, which / heard while at Batavia
Lieutenant Shoch, of the Dutch East India
army, was on march with small detachment
of troops and coolies on the southeastern coast
of Borneo. He had encamped, on one occasion,
during the MONDAY heat, on the banks Of one
of the small tributaries of the Bangarmassin.
The lieutenant had with him his domestic es.
tablishment, which included his daughter, a
playful and interesting little girl ofthe age Of
thirteen. One day, while wandering in the
jungle beyond the prescribed limits of the camp,
and having, from the oppressive heat, loosened
her garments and thrown them off almost to
nudity, the beauty Of her person excited the
notice Of an ourang-outang, who sprang upon
her and carried her off, Her piercing screams
rang through the forest to the ears Of her doz-
ing protectors, and reused every man in the
camp. ...
"The swift, bare-footed coolies were foremost
in pursuit; and now the cry rings in the ago
nized fathers ears that his daughter is devoured
by binatang-again, that an ngoutang
has carried her 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 beholds 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 wholly unincumbered. 1t
was in vain to think of shooting the monster,
SO agile was he. The Dyak coolies, knowing
the habits Of the ng-outang, and knowing
that he will always plunge into the nearest
stream when hard pressed, began 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 pro-
ceeded to ascend the tree. By the redoubled
exertions Of the whole company the monster
was gradually driven toward the water, yet still
holding tightly to the poor girl At last, the
monster and his victim were seen on an out.
stretching limb overhanging the stream. The
coolies, who are among the expertest swimmers
in the world, Immediately lined the banks
the soldiers continued the outcries and throw,
ing of missiles. He clasped his prize more
ii lightly, took survey Of the water and of his
upward gazing enemies, and then leaped into
the food below. He had hardly touched the
water ere fifty resolute swimmers plunged in
pursuit; as he rises a dozen human arms are
reached out towards him; he is grasped; others
lay hold upon the insensible girl. The ourang-
outang used both arms to defend, and, after
lacerating the bodies of some of the coolies
with his powerful nervous claws, finally sue
ceeded in diving beyond the reach of his pur-
suers, 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 conscious
ness, health, and strength once more This
savage version of the classic story of Pluto and
Proserpine is well authenticated, and the girl,
now a grown-up woman, is living at Amboyna,
in the Moluccas."