The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-10-03


Arrival of Live Gorilla From frtca
For the FIRST time there is . live gorilla i,
New York-a gorilla like those of which Dr.
Chsillu has told so many wonderful stories il
Equatorial Africa" and 'Ashaugo Land. !"
At . late hour yesterday afternoon there
was an extraordinary excitement in the neigh
borhood oil Barnum's Museum. The gorillt
had arrived, and his roars attracted . crowd
OF spectators.
The animal was caught in the interior o.
ing ship Harding and conveyed to this port
The box in which it Was Gagged during the voy
age was made Of teak wood plank tho ,ougnes
material that could be found in Africa. a
huge cart chain fastened to the neck Of the
gorilla. passed through this box, and wa,
nailed fast to the outside.
From ihe jarring the gorilla received yes
terdsy during it's transportation from the
ship to the Museum it became exasperated
and growled furiously during the trip. After
the box had been taken into the museum,
Mr.. Charles Brothwel, the museum carpen>
/, r, loosened the chain from the outside ofthe
box. and BY direction of Professor Dawson
attached to it . rope by which the animal was
10 be led from the box to the cage, BY run
ming the rope through the bottom Of the cage
and then fastening the chain to beam ol
the building beneath the cage.
The rope was attached, when the gorils
began pulling 10 his chain. Professor Davi.
son and Mr Brothwell both grasped the chain,
and several men oehind 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 unity
ing the rope from the chain dropped it from
hole in the cage.
MIR. Brothwell then got the largest cage
scraper in the building huge wrought iron
bar an inch and three quarters thick, to which
is attached a small spade-for the purpose ol
bringing ou 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 claws.
Mr. Brothwe and Professor Dawson each
took scraper, and from opposite ends OF the
cage endeayored to toll the gorilla. and grasp
the end OF the chain. Finally the gorilla
seized the bar which Mr.. Brethwell held An.
other man, who is noted ior his muscular
strength, came to the rescue, but the animal
proved their superior, and bent the heavy
piece OF iron double, so thatthe ends toucsed.
During this effort, however. the chain was
secured and the box put to the cage. the ami
NAL entrapped, and his chain secured to the
beams underneath. During all this excite
men, the gorilla growled fnrlously. the sound
resembling. thsf excited roar of lion. AL
the beasts in the building became excited,
and the place resounded with ebeir cries
Women tainted and children cried, but the
crowd would not leave the room until the
manager ordered them to he put out by force
A large barricade was erected and the door
way, blocked up. The gorilla is now safely
in the lions cage, and calmed down. An i'm.
mense chain. with resistant force of six
thousand pounds, is attached to the animal.
For FIVE years past Mr.. Barnum has been
endeavoring to secure an animal OF this spec
les, and ordered his agent in Africa to secure
one without regard to cost MIR. b. f. Clay.
ton, Mr. Barnum's agent, few nonths since
wrote that he could secure one for $1,000,
but that the British government we're making
every exertion to secure it for the Zoologi-
cal garden, in London. Mr. Rarnum sent word
that he must have this one if it cost much
greater sum. Accordingly, the gorilla was
brought to America, and Is now sale at the
museum.
When standing upright 1t is about FIVE and
q halt feetin height, and is about the color oi
Aii eiepuaul. lis iacc is more tHe appearance
of human being than Of a monkey, with an
eye exactly like that Of human being. Its
hand is as delicate AS that of a woman s,
And it would not seem possible that there il
in it such muscular power. This morning il
exhibited an intense hatred of Mr. Brothwell
who was yesterday instrumental in its cap.
ture.
Professor DAWSON fee6s the animal upon
vegetables. but allows nothing of acid to b
placed in the cage. lfthe gorilla becomes
irritable it is soon quieted by placing few
cloves in is cage.