Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-06-30
+. An Abduction Indeed.

We copy passage from a paper
read before the American Geograph-
ical Society by Captain Gibson,
lately returned from the East In-
dies, and bringing with him some
new facts as to the tribes Of orang-
outangs inhablting the deserts Of
that part of the world. He says.
My statement of the extraordi-
nary peculiarlties of these apparent
ly semi-human beings has led to the
expression of so much curiosity to
know more of them by some, and
of skepiicism as to the fact of their
existing on the part Of others, that
have deemed it due to myself and
to public curiosity to give some adj
ditional facts along with all the cor
roboratiye evidence that has fallen
under my observation.
While al Mintok, Palembang.
and Batavia, heard many remark
able stories Of their agility, audaci-
ty. and especially of the super-hu-
man strength of the orang-outang
will trespass upon your attention
by relating one of the most extraor-
binary, al the same time one of the
best a,iested, which | heard while
at Batavia
Lieut. Shoch, of the Dutch
East India army, was on a march
with a small detachment of troops
and coolies on the southeastern
coast of Borneo; he had eucamped,
on one occasion during the MONDAY
heat, on the banks of one of the
small tributaries of the Bangarmas-
sin. The lieutenant had with him
his domestic establishment, which
included his daughter playful
and interesting little girl of the age
of thirteen years. One day, while
wandering in the jungle beyond the
prescribed limits of the camp, and
having, from oppressive heat, loos-
ened her garments and thrown them
off almost to nudity, the beauty OF
her person excited the notice of an
orang-outang, who sprang upon heI
and carried her off. Her piercing
screams rang though the forest tc
the ears of her doing protectors
and reused every man in the camp
The swift, bare-fooled coolies wert
foremost in pursuit and now the
cry rings in the agonized fathers earl
that his daughter is devoured by ;
bing-lang-again, that an orang
outang has carried her off,
+" He rushed, half frenzied, will
the whole company to the thicke
from whence the screams proceeded
and there, among the topmost limb
of an enormous banyan, the fathe
beheld his daughter, naked, bleed
ing, and struggling in the arms of
powerful orang-outang, who helC
her tightly, yet easily, with ont
arm, while he sprang lightly from
limb to limb, as if wholly unincum
bered. 1t was vain to think o
shooting the monster, so agile wa
he. The Dyak coolies, knowing
the habits of the orang-outang, ant
knowing that he will alwas plung'
into the nearest stream when har,
pressed, began a system of opera
tons to drive him into the water
They set up great shout, THROWN,
missiles of all kinds, aud agitatin.
the underbrush, while some procee
ded to ascend the tree. By the re
doubled exertions of the whole com
pany the monster was gradual,
driven towards the water, yet hold
ing tightly TO the poor girl. At las
the monster and his victim wer
seen on the outstretching limb over
hanging the stream. The coolies
who are among the expertest swim
mers in the world, Immediately lin
ed the banks. The soldiers contin
ued their outcries and throwing @
missiles. He clasped his prize NOR
tightly, took a survey of the waite
and of his u2ward-gazing enemies
and then leaped into the food be