Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-06
DAILY EVENING STAR.
AN SEDUCTION INDEED.

AN SEDUCTION INDEED.
We copy passage from paper rea,
before the American Geographical Society
by Captain Gibson, lately returned from
the East Indies, and bringing with hin
some new facts as to the trib of ouranp
outangs inhabiting the deserts of tha
part OF the world. He says: .-.-
MY statement of the extraordinar,
peculiarites Of these apparently semi
human beings has led to the expression
of so much curiosity to know more O
them by some, and of skepticism as te
the fact of their existence on the part O
oilers, that [ have deemed it due to nv.
self and to public curiosity to give some
additional facts along with all the cor.
roborative evidence that has fallen under
lay observation. aea - c.,e5v 81 =
:. While at Mintok, Palembang, and
Batavia, L heard many remarkable sto-
rles OF the agility, audacity, and espe.
clally of the super-human strength, OF
the ourang-outang. will trespass upon
your attention by relating one of the
most extraordinary, at the same time
one of the best attested, which | heard
while at Batavia. Lieutenant Shoch. of
the Dutch East India army, was on a
march with a small detachment of troops
and coolies on the sor sheastern coast of
Borneo; he had encamped, on one occa-
sion, during the MONDAY heat on the
banks of one of the small tributaries of
the Bangarmassin. The Lieutenant had
with him his domestic establishment.
which included his daughter playful
and interesting little girl of the age of
thirteen. s = -.
One day, while wandering in the jun
gle beyond the prescribed limits of the
camp, and having, from the oppressive
heat, loosened her garments and thrown
them Oft almost to nudity, the beauty of
her person excited the notice of an on.
rang-outang, who sprang upon her and
carried Eer off. Her piercing screams
rang through the forest to the ears of her
doing protectors, and reused every man
in the camp. The swift, bare-footed COO
lies were foremost in pursuit; and aow
the cry rings in the agonized fathers ears
that his daughter is devoured by bina.
tang-again, that an ourang-outang has
carried her off. He rushes, half phren-
zled, with the whole company to the
thicket from whence the Screams proceed
ed, and there, among the topnost limbs
of an enormous banyan. the father beholds
his daughter, naked, bleeding, and strug-
Cling in the grasp of a powerful ourang.
oltang, who held her tightly, yet easily,
with one arm, while he sprang lightly
from limb to limb, as if wholly unen-
numbered. Ii was in vain to think of
shooting the monster, so agile was he.
The Dyak coolies, knowing the habits of
the ourang-outang, and knowing that he
will always plunge into henearest stream
when hard pressed began system of op-
erations to drive him to the water; they
set up a great shout, throwing missiles
of all kinds; and agitating the unGerbrush,
while some proceeded to ascend the tree.
By the redoubled exertiops 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
We're seen on an outstretching limb over
hanging 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 tightly, 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 dozen human arms are
reached out towards him: he is grasped:
others lay hold upon the insensible girl:
the ourang- g-outang used both arms to
defend, and, after lacerating the bodies
of some Of the coolies with his powerful
nervous claws, finally succeeded in di-
wing beyond the reach of his pursuers,
and in escaping down the stream, while
bleeding, insensible Ledah was restored
to the arms of .ler father and nurses, in
whose he nds she was ultimately restored
tocensciousness, health and strength once
more. This savage version of the classic
story of Pluto and Proserpine is we'll au.
thenticated, and the girl, now a grown
up VIC nan, is living at Ambonya, in the
Molucas."