The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-05-11
NO. 81.
An Abduction Indeed.

made Of monkey-skins (as they are,) it is
not irrelevant to the epoch" to know of
what the monkey tribe is capable. We
think it worth while, therefore to copy a
passage from the paper read before the
American Geographical Society, by Cap
tain Gibson, lately returned from the East
Indias, bringing with him some new facts
as to the tribes of Ourangoutangs inhab-
iting the deserts of that part of the world.
He says
"My statement of the extraordinary pc
culiarities of these apparently semi-human
beings, has led to the expression of 30
much curiosity to know more of them by
some, and Of skepticRm as to the fact of
| their existence on the part of others, that
| have deemed it due to myself and to
give some additional facts, along with all
the corroberative evidence that has fallen
under my observation.
While a! Mintock, Palembang and Ba-
tayia | heard many remarkable stories Of
the agility, audacity, and especially ofthe
superhuman strength, of the Ourangou-
tang. will trespass upon your attention
by relating one of the most extraordinary,
at the same time one Of the best attested
which / heard at Batavia Lieutenant
Shoch of the Ouch East India Army was
on a march, with small detachment of
troops and coolies on the southeastern
coast of Borneo: he had encampcd on one
occasion, during the noon day heat, on
the banks of one of the small tributaries
Of the Bangarmissin. The lietenant had
with him his domestic establishment
which included his daughter, playful
and interesting little girl of the age of
thirteen One day when wandering in
the jungle beyond the prescribed limits Of
the camp, and having, from the oppress-
i've heat, lossened her garments and
thrown them off almost to nudity, the
beauty of her person excited the notice of
the OuraDgoutang, who sprang upon her
and carried her 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 cool
les were foremost in pursuit; and now the
cry rings in the agonized fathers ears
that his daughter is devoured By a bin
atang-again that an Ourangoutang has
carried her of:-he rushes, half frenzied,
with the whole company to the thicket,
from whence the screams proceeded. and
there, among the topmost limbs of an E.
normous banyan, the father beholds his
daughter, naked, bleeding and struggling
in the grasp of a powerful Ourangoutaug
who held her tightly yet easily with one
arm, while he sprang lightly from limb to
limb, as if wholly uneucumbered. 1t was
in vain to think of shooting the monster,
so agile was be. The Dyak coolies, know
ing the habits of the OurangoutaDg, and
knowing that he will always plunge into
the nearest stream when hard pressed, be-
gan a system of operations to drive him
to the water; they set up great shout,
throwing missiles of all kinds and agita-
{ ting the underbrush, while some proceeded
ascend the tree. By the redoubled exer-
tions 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 was
! seen on an outstretching limb, oyerhang
ing the stream; the coolies, who are a
mong 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 reso-
lutte swimmers plunged in pursuit-as he
rises, dozen human arms are reached out
toward him, he is grasped, others lay
hold upon the insensible girl, the Ourang-
tang used both arms to defend, and after
lacerating the bodies of some of the cool
les with his powerful nervous claws, final
ly succeeded in diving beyond the reach
of his pursuers, and in escaping down the
stream, while the bleeding iusensible Lee
dab was restored to the arms of her father
and nurse, in whose hands she was ult
mately restored to consciousness, strength
and health once more. This savage YER
sion of the classic story of Pluto and
Prosepine is well authenticated, and the
girl, now grown up woman is living at
Amboyan in the Moluccas'