Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-04-20
Number 81.

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An ADDICTION IsDEEDi-We copy a
passage from a paper read before the
American Geographical Society BY Cap
tain Gibson. lately returned from the
East Indies, and bringing with him
some new facts as to the tribes Of 0u-
rang-Outangs inRabiting the deserts of
that part of the world. He saws:
my statement of the extraoydipary
peculiarities of these 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 partof
others, that / have deemed it due to
myself and to the public curiosity to
give some additional facts along with
all the corroboratiYe evidence that has
fallen under my observation. 49,
"While at Mintock, Palembang, and
Batavia, / heard many remarkable sto-
ries of the agility. audacity, and especi-
ally of the superhuman strength Of the
oursng-outang. l viii tresspass upon
your attention by relating one of the
most extraordinary, at the same time
one Of the best attested which heard
while at Batavia: Lieut.. Shock, 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 ae-
casion, 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-a play
full and interesting little girl of the age
of thirteen.
One day, while wandering in the jun
gle beyond the prescribed limits of the
camp, and having, from the oppressive
heat, looseued 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. piercing screams
rang through the forest to the ears of
her dozen projectors, and reused every
man in the camp. The swift, bare foot
ed coolies were foremost in pursuit; and
now the cry rings in the agonized faith
er's ears that his daughter is devoured
by binatang-again, that an ourang-
outang has carried her off.
He rushes, half phrenzied, with the
whole company to the thicket from
whence the creams proceeded, and
there, among the topmost limbs of an
enormous banyan, the father beholds
his daughter, naked bleeding, and strug-
Cling in the grasp of powerful ourang-
outang, who held her ghtly, yet easily,
with one arms while he sprang lightly
from limb to limb, as if wholly unen-
numbered. 1t 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 the nearest
stream when hard pressed, began sys-
TEN Of operations to drive him to the
water; they set up great shout, ,throw-
ing missiles of all kinds, and agitating
the underbrush, while some proceeded
to ascend the tree. By the redoubled
exertions of the whole company the
monster was gradually driven towards
the water, yet still holding tightly to the
poor girl.
At last, the monster and his victim
were seen on an outstretched limb over
hanging the stream; the coolies. who
are among the expertests, swimmers in
the world, Immediately lined the banks;
the soldiers continued the outcries and
throwing of missiles. He clasped his
prize more tightly, took survey Of the
water and of his upward gazing enemies,
and then leaped into the flood below
He had hardly touched the water ere
fifty resolute swimmers plunged in pur-
suit; as he rises dozen arms are reach
ed 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 power
full nervous claws, finally succeeded in
diving beyond the reach Of his pursuers
and in escaping down the stream, while
the bleeding insensible Ledah was re-
stored to the arms Of her father and
nurses, in whose hands she was Ultimate
ly restored to conciousness, health, and
strength once more. This savage ver-
sion Of the classic story of Pluto Pro-
serpine is well authenticated, and the
girl, now grown-up woman, is at Am
honra IN tba Molucoc