Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-10-11
1aiat&llanepns.
ARRIVAL OF A LIVE GORILLA
FROM AFRICA.


TlaNsw York lost of September 18th,
SAYS: For the first time there is a live
gorilla IN New York-a gorilla like those of
which Du Chaillu has told US so many won
derful stories in Equatorial Africa, and
"Ashango Land
At late hour, yesterday afternoon there
was an extraordinary excitement in the
ueighborhood of Barnum's Museum The
gorilla had arrived, and his roars attracted
a crowd of spectators.
The animal was caught in the interior of
Africaj aud was put safely on board the sail
ing ship Harding, and conveyed to this port.
The box in which it was Gagged during the
voyage was made Of teak wood plank-the
toughest material that could be found in
Africa. A huge cart-chain, fastened to the
neck Of the gorilla, passed through this box
and was nailed fast to the outside.
Prom the iarring the gorilla received yes
terday during its transportation from the
ship to the Museum, it became exasperaled,
and growlod furiously during the trip. Af-
ter the box had been taken into the Mu-
scum, Mr. Charles Brothwell, tho Museum
carpenter, loosened the chain from the out
side of the box, and, by direction of Pro
fessor Dawson. attached to it a rope, by
which the animal was to be led from the box
to the cage, by running the rope through
the bottom of the cage and then fastening
the chain to beam of the building beneath
the cage.
The rope was attached, when the gorilla
began pulling in his chain. Professor Davi-
son and Mr.. BrothWell both grasped the
chain, and several men behind grasped the
rope, but their united efforts we're unequal
to the task The animal, with apparent
ease, pulled into his box both chain and
rope, and untyiDg the rope from the chain,
dropped it from a hole in the cage.
Mr.. Brothwell then got the largest cage
scraper in the building huge wrought
iron bar, an inch and three quarters thick,
to which is attached small spade-for the
purpose of bringing out the end OF she chain.
This scraper had been used successfully in
several contests with the lions of the estab-
lishment, which had yainly tried to make
an impression upon it with their jaws.
Mr.. Brothwell and Professor Dawson
each took scraper, and from opposite ends
of the cage endeayored to foil the gorilla,
and grasp the end of the chain. Finally
the gorilla seized the bar which Mr.. Broth
we'll held Another man, who is noted for
bis muscular strength, came to the rescue,
but the animal proved their superior, and
bent the heavy piece of iron double, so that
the ends touched.
During this effort, however the chain was
secured and the box put to the cage, the
animal entrapped, and his chain secured to
the beams underneath.
During all this excitement, the gorilla
growled furiously, the sound resembling the
excited roar Of a lion.
All the beasts in the building became ex-
cited, and the place Iesounled 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 A large barricade was erected
and the doorway blocked up.
The gorilla is now safely in the lion cage
and ca med down. An immense chain, With