The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-11-02
Of a live Gorilla from
Africa.


CFro1 the Ne- York Evening Post, sePt sS)
For the first time there is 2 live gorilla in New
York-a gorilla like those Of which DG Chaillu
has told 50 many wonderful stories in - Equatorial
Africa " and :. Ashanso land"
At 4 late hour. yesterday afternoon, there was
an extraordinary excitement in the nei-hborhOcd
of Rrnum's Museum. The gorilla had arrived,
and his roars attracted 4 crowd of Spectators.
The animal was caught in the interior Of Africa,
and was put safely on board the shilling ship
RgnGiRg. and conveyed 70 this port. The box in
which it was Gagged during the voyage was made
of teak wool Vfank-the toughest material that
could be found in Africa. \ huge car5-chain.
fastened 10 the neck Of the gorilla, passed. through
this box, and was nailed fast 10 the outside.
From the Earring the gorilla received yesterday
during its transportation from the ship Il the
Museum it became eNaSpcratci, and growled
furiously during the trip. After the box had
been taken into the MuSeum, Mr., Charles Broth
well, the Museum carpenter. lcOScncd the chain
from the outside of the box, and, by direction of
Professor Dawson. attached to it a rope, by which
the animal was 10 Toe led from the box to the
cage, by running the rope through the bottom Of
the cage and then fastening the chain 10 n beam
of the building beneath the cage. The rope was
attached, when the gorilla began pulling in his
chain. Professor Dawson and Mr.. Brothwell
both Grasped the chain, and several men behind
grasped the rope, but their united efforts were
unequal 10 the task. The animal with apparent
ease pulled into his box both chain and rope. and
OlitN IL lnS TOtt lEull lNC CHAIN QrOlltI IL rom
a hole in the cage. Mr.. Brothwell then got the
largest cage scrapcr in the building-a huge
wrought iron bar an inch and three-ouarters
thick, to which is attached a small sTade-for
the purpose of bringing out the end of the chain.
This scraper had been used successfully in several
contests with the lions of the establishment, which
had vainly tried TO make an impression upon it
with their Jaws. Mr.. Brothwell md Professor
Dawson each took Il scraper, and from opposite
ends of the cage endeayored TO foil the gorilla,
and grasped the end of the cham. Finally the
gorilla seized the bar which Mr.. Brothwell held.
Another man, who Is noted for his muSclar
strength, came to the TeScue, but the animal
proved their superior, and bent the heavy piece
of iron double, 50 that the ends touched. During
this effort. however, the chain was secured and
the box put To the cage, the animal entrappcd,
and ms chain secured TO the beams underneath.
During all this excitement the gorilla grOwled
turiOusly, the sound resembling the excited roar
OF n lion. All the beasts in the building became
excited, and the place rcSounded with their cries.
Women tainted and children cried, but the crowd
would not leave the room until the manager
ordered them to be put out by force. y large
barricade was erected and the doorway blocked
up. The gorilla Is now safely in the lions cage
and Gained down. An immense chain, with n
resistant force of six thousand pounds, is attached
10 the animal. For five years past Mr.. Barnum
has been endeayoring to secure an animal of this
specie, and ordered his agent in Africa to secure
one without regard TO cost. Mr.. 3. f. Clayton,
MIR. Barnum's agent, n few months since wrote
that he could secure one for $1,000, but that the
British Government We're making every exeriion
to secure it for the Geological Garden in London.
Mr.. Barnum sent word that he must have this
one If it cost a much greater sum. Accordingly,
the gorilla was brought 10 America, and is now
safe at the Museum.
When standing upright it is about five and a
half feet in height, and is about the color of an
elephant. Its face has more the appearance of a
human being than of a monkey, with an eve ex-
actly like that Oft human being. Its hand is
as delicate as that of Il woman's, and il would
not seem possible that there is in il such muscu-
lar power. This morning it exhibited an intense
hatred of Mr.. Brothwell, who was yesterday in
strumental in its capture. Professor Dawson
feeds the animal upon vegetables, but allows
nothing of acid 10 be placed in the cage. If the
gorilla becomes irritable, it is soon quieteI by
placing a few cloves or nutmegs in It's cage.