The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-07-03
TFrom the Detroit Free Press, 28d.l

pOpOtamnu us lm DetfOIt hAVeE"
Full Particulars 0f His Cap
ture. ERA kl
A very exciting as wei as novel af-
fair occurred about six gliles down the
river, on Monday afternoon, being no
less than veritable chase Of q hippopo.
tamns. 1t seems that In the transit of
of the circus now performing here from
Buffalo to this city, it became necessary |
on account Of their excessive weight, to
send the elephants and the hippotamus
on a propeller, and they we're according
ly shipped on board the S. D. Caldwell.
On Monday afternoon, as the steamer
was nearing this port. scene Of great
excitement occurred, which nearly result
ed in the escape of the huge behemoth,
or 'hippopotamus, belonging to G. @.
Quick, ESQ., aud at psesent forming one
ofsthe attractions Of fG. F. Bailey's quad.
ruple circus. The huge beast was ship
ped from Buffalo on board the steamer
s. D. Caldwell, and as it was impossi.
BILE to get his immense cage on board,
that was sent by land, while bis Behe.
mothship, accompanied by Ali, the
Egyptian, his captor and keeper, pro.
ceeded by water to Detroit. During
the voyageit was noticed that the an.
imal continually looked longiGgly toward
the water, as though he would have Civ.
en- one of his eye.teeth (no triae by the
way) for plunge into the depths of the
lake and ramble about its lnexplored
bottom. No one supposed, however,
that he would yield to his amphibious
tastes, and SO no extra watch was set
upon him.
AS the steamer neared the city, and
when about three miles below the Fort,
and as Ali and every body else were ga
zing landward, crash and then splash
were heard from the side of the bow to-.
ward the American shore. Every body
rushed to the spot The place where
the Hippopotamus had been confined
was empty. The truth became instant.
ly apparent The beast, no longer able
to resist the temptation, had burst his
bonds and plunged into the river, re.
solved on an aquatic excursion.
The owner, who was on board, look.
ed the picture of despair Forty thou
sand dollars, to say nothing Of a large
amount of prospective profits, had sud.
denly vamosed. As for Ali, the Egyp-
tian keeper, he was nearly frantic. He
tore his hair and prayed to his strange
gods. In few moments, however, the
monstrous head of the huge beast ap-
peared above the surface of the water.
A general shout arose, and Ali was with
difficulty prevented fromjumping over
board in pursuit of his companion and
beloved pet, while a boat was lowered,
into which he jumped and rowed toward
the beast, who swan about in an costa.
sy of delight. t
AS the Egyptian commenced calling
him by familiar names, and at the
sound of his voice the monster stopped,
looking around, and seemed to wait for
the boat to near him, but just as it ap-
preached within reaching distance the
} hippopotamus gave plunge, and once
more disappeared, leaving whirlpool
of seething water to mark the spot
where he had gone down. Nothing
was seen of him now for long time
and they were about giving him up fo
lost when he suddenly made his appear
ance about one hundred yards of, bu
nearer the shore than at first. Agai
the beast lodged him, and dived t.
the bottom of the river. All nov
made large circuit with his boat, il
hopes of taking him by surprise as h
came up to breathe, but, as if aware O
; his intentions, the hippopotamus rose
long distance of, and looked at his mas
ter cunningly, and with an expression
which seems to say, mo You don't"
: For third time Ali started in pur
u suit, with result, similar to that whic
y had attended his other efforts to RECAP
g ture his pet. When he vert down tn
9 third time Ali paused, evidently CON
n pletely nonplussed, and seemingly how
J. ever, he seized the oars, and rowed tc
n ward the steamer. Try de tog," b
s. shouted, as he came alongside; "gib m
D, de togl" A large, black mastiff, whic
u has been trained to sleep in the cage
d the hippopotamus, and for whom he hs
70 for long time evinced much affection
g had been keeping up continued how
g ing from the time his companion ha
D escaped, was now loosened, and he ii
,r ,I stantly plunged into the river, and swa
IL after Ali as he moved of. In about
81 minute the hippopotamus again stuc
d his huge head out of the water, and,
= seeing him, the dog gave wild bar
vs. and swan in his direction very rapid
= Ali accompanying him in the boat. 1
IS y last the dog reached the monster, al
u with series of barks, commenced swim
s, ming round the animal, and finally strut
lr out for the shore, the hippopotamus fO
" lowing.
The interest excited by this scene W
intense, which continued to increase u
10 til the dog and hippopotamus reach
n- the American shore. Ali was not loI
after, and the animal was no sooner
rs terra frma than the Egyptian, armt
an with a small rawhide, which he had t
On ken with him, jumped on the beach, a
he going to the animal, spoke few wOI
he in the Egyptian tongue, gave him 4
IF. smart cuts over his ponderous rump w
,e the rawhide and drove him, witht
. further difficulty, to place Of saf'
or where he was at once secured, and
ler proper means adopted to have b
,r- brought to this city, where he now