Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-11
| WHOLE NO 9Sl
Adventures of an Orang-Outang.

IAUFeuluI6S Ol iu OTduS-OuIanS
We copy below passage from pape
read before the American Geological Soci
ETY. by Capt. Gibson, lately returned from
the East Indies, and bringing with hin
some new facts as to the tribes of orang
outangs inhabiting the deserts of that par
of the world. lie says:
My statement of the extraordinary pecu.
liarities 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 ex-
istence on the part CT othersj that | have
deemed it due to myself and the public Gu
riosity to give some additional facts along
with all the corroboruting evidence that has
fallen under MY observation.
While at Montock, Palambang, and Ba-
tavia, | heard many remarkable stories OF
the ag ility, audacity, and especially of the
superhuman strength of the orang-ouIang-
| will trespass upon your attention by re-
lating one of the most extraordinary, and
at the same time one of the best at;ested
which heard while at Batavia. Lieutenant
Shock, 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 encamped on
the occasion, 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 mis- daughter, playful and inter-
esting little girl OF the age of thirteen.
One day while wandering in the Jungle
beyond the prescribed limits of the camp,
an orang-outang sprang upon hen and car
red her off Her piercing screams rang
through the forest to the ears of her dozen
protectors, and reused every man in the
camp. The swift barefooted coolies were
foremost in pursuit; and now, the cry
rings in the agonized fathers ears that
his daughter is devoured by bingatung-
again, thnt an orang-outang has carred her
off,
He rushes, half frenzied, with the whole
company, 10 a thicket, from whence the
screams proceeded, and there, among the
iopmost limbs Of an enormous banyan, the
father beholds his daughter bleeding and
struggling in the grasp of powerful orang-
outong, 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 mon-
ster, SO agile was he. The Dyak coolies,
knowing the habits of the orangicutang,
and that he will always plunge into the
nearest stream when hard pressed, began
s. stem Of operations 10 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 exeriions of the
whole company the monster was driven
gradually toward the water, yet still hold
ing very tightly to the poor girl
At last the monster and his victim were
seen on an outstretched limb overhanging
the stream. The coolies, who are among
the most expert swimmers in the world,
Immediately lined the banks, and the SOL
dlers continued the outcries and throwing
of missiles. He clasped his prize more
tightly, took u survey of the water and OF
his upward gazing enemies, and then leaped
into the food be low. He had hardly touch
ed the water ere fifty resolute swimmers
plunged in in uursuit-as he rises dozen
arms are reached out toward him-he is
grasPed; others lay hold upon the insensible
girl. The orang-outang used both arms to
defend himself, and after lacerating the
bodies of some of the coolies with his pow
erful nervous claws, finally succeeded iE
diving beyond the reach of his pursuers AID
escaping down the streams while the ihsen-
sib!e Ledah was restored to the arms of her
father and nurses, in whose hands she was
ultimately restored to consciousness, health,
and strength once more. This savage ver-
sion of the classic story of Pluto and Pros
erpine is well authenticated, and the girl,
now grown up woman, is at Amboyna, in
the Moluccas.