Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-04-21
That Famous Gorilla.

| That Famous 90fllla.
In the summer of 1857, I saw IL
several New York papers thrilling
account of an immense gorilla, which
had arrived from Africa in charge o
Barnum's agent, for theBarnum and
Van Amburgh Company. The ac
counts described the removal of tht
savage animal in strong iron cage
from the ship, and his transporta tior
up Broadway to the Museum. Hi
cries and roarings were said to have
into the menagerie, be was report
ed to have bent the heavy irons bars q
his cage, and in his rage to have seiz.
ed poker which wasthrust at him,
and to have twisted it as If it had
been bit of wire. Nothing so start
ingly sensational in the line of zoo.
logical description had appeared since
-tt1c-Lnrihunc,Sft famous report of the
burning of the American Museum
in 1865.
For several years I had been try.
ing to secure such an animal, and
several African travellers had
promised to do their best to procure
one for me; and I offered as high az
$20, 900 for the delivery in New York
of a full-grown, healthy gorilla
From the minute description now
given by the reporters, I was con-
WINGED that, at last, the long-sought
prize had been secured. was greatly
elated, and at once wrote from
Bridgeport to our manager, Mr..
Ferguson, advising him how to ex-
hibit the valuable animal, and par
ticularly how to preserve its precious
life as long as might be possible. /
have owned many ourang-outangs,
and all of them die ultimately of pull
monary disease; indeed it is difficult
tribe through the winter in our
climate, on account of their tendency
to consumption. therefore advised
Mr.. Ferguson to have a cage con-
strUcted thatno draught of air could
pass through it, and l. further in
structed him in methods of guarding
against the gorilla's taking cold.
A few days later I went to New
York expressly to see the gorilla,
and on visiting the Museum, I was
veXed beyond measure to find that
the animal was simply a huge ba-
booni He was chained down, so.
that he could not stand erect, nor
turn his back to visitors. His keep
er could easily irritate him, and when
the animal was excited he would
seize the iron bars with both hands, !,
aud, uttering horrid screams, would
shake the cage so fiercely that it
could be heard and felt in the adjoin
ing saloons. No doubt many Of the
visitors recalled Du ChailIu's ac-
counts of the genuine gorilla, and
were convinced that the Veritable an
imal was before them. But / had
been too long in the business to be
caught by such chaff, and approach
ing the keeper, / asked him why he
did not lengthen the chain, so that
the animal could stand up2
because, if do, he will show his
tall" the keeper confidentiallY whis-
pered in my ear.
The imposition was so silly and
transparent that L did not care
how soon it was exposed. AS usual,
looked at the funny side
of the matter, and immediately en-
closed ticket to my friend Mr.
Paul Du ChailIu, who was then stop
ping at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, at
the same time writing to the great
African traveller, that, much as he
had done, the Barnum and Van
Amburgh Company had done more
since he had only killed gorillas,
while we had secured a living oneI
and brought the monster safely from
Africa. to America. / informed him,
that all the gorillas hel
had seen and described were tailless,
while our far more remarkable spec
linen had tail full four feet long.
Mr.. Du Chaillu came into the Mu-
scum that afternoon, in great glee,
with my open letter in his hand.
"Ah, Mr.. Barnum," he excla1m-
ed, "this is the funniest letter / ever
received. OF course, you know your
gorilla is no gorilla at all, but only
a baboon. Twill not look at him, for
when people ask me about Bar
NUNS gorrilla,' I prefer to be able
TO say that I have not seen him. ;"
son the contrary" said ], "I par
5icularly disire that you should seel
the animal and expose it. The inn
position is too ridiculous"
"True ; but think your letter is |
more curious ther your animal"
"Then 1 give you full leave to
read the letter to all who ask you
about the gorilla.
"Thank you,n said Du Chaillu,
'and wish you would let me read
t in my lectures at the West, where
am soon going on tour"
1 consented that he should do so,
ind afterward heard that he was de-
lighting as well as enlighteningl
Manager Ferguson's management of
he great "gorilla" in the Barnum
md Van Amburgh Museum and
enagerie.-[ Barnum's Struggles
md Triumphs.