, 1872-12-30
OBITUARY..
Harnum,s Gorilln--A Touching Trib.
ute to Ills Mesnory-From One Who
Knew Him we'll.

E8arnuTl,'s Gorilln-A Touching Trib.
Atc to His l1esnory-Erom One Who
Knew Him we'll.
Front tbs st. Louis Democrat.
It is seldom that We are called upon to note
more painful fact than that which wo now
record, and which is nothing moro nor less than
tho ru1nored death Of Barnum's gorilla, who is
supposed to have perished in the uames Of the
Museum recently consumed Tao news OF his
untimely and frightfu end will cause feeling
of heartfelt agouy to thrill the bosoms OF his
many friends throughout the country, who Wit
messed his playful antics in his cage wherever
Barnum went on his last summers tour, or en-
loved his society at boer-galoon when the L.
bors Of tho day aud evenings exhibitions were
ended.
The deceased gorilla WAS 8 young man Of OK
emptary habits, and BY his versatile industry
supported aged fstler and mother in Jersey
City, who can hardly bear their present loss.
His original name was Briggs, and he was Of
Yankee, not Celtic, origin. IS has been errone-
ously stated. Mr.. rarnun became acquainted
with young Briggs many years ago, and keen OBJ
server of human nature that he is he soon saw
that the boy possessed talents which would if
Barnum first employed Briggs mermaid,
but his nervous sanguineous temperament un-
fitted him for wearing q wig and d goldfish skin,
and he WAS shortly otter promoted to tho pesl-
tion Of wild man. In this he achieved no sue
cess, aud it WAS not until Barnum put
his great travelling show On tho road in
1870, md gavc Briggs tho position OF gorilla
that he developed those eccentricities that
have made him famous. For two years no
better specimen OF the gorilla tribe has been
seen on this continent Though natural and
convivial in his tastes, he has sat in his cage an
! object of wonder and admiration to thousands,
| and submitted to being stirred up With a long
| pole for the benefit OF country clergymsn, who
| stood by explaining to thoir youthful Sabbath
| school scholars how fearfu1ly and wonderfully
| re ere made. No murmur OF discomfort ever
| escaped his lips, except at Terre Hauto, Ind,
| last July, when he was heard to remark TINT he'd
abe id if he could stand it much longer
| wearing hair oyercoat in not weather on a
| salary OF 80 week." His salary was at once
! elevated to S12.50 week, and Aa was allowed
| ice in his den thereafter, and no better-bohavcd
| specimen Of his tribe WAS ever placed on e1hi'
| bition.
Mr.. Ba1nu1n, wo are Informed, with character
istic energy has telegraphed to Africa for othe,
| specimens of rare wild beasts, to supply the
places of those destroyed by the late contagra
| tion. Ho may procure elephants. lions, tigers
and cocketoos, but ho can never fill the place o.
Gorilla Briggs. Not even Dr.. Livingstone, Will
all of his experience i'll African iunglos, can cap
ture 80 fine o specimen, ono who coula caper 81
| ni1nbly around his Roven by nine cage, and danct
to tho lsacivious tlcklings Of his Keepers clu
with euc1. patience. Gorilla, adiouI uru nla
the hairy four-leggcd Phoenix who arises from
your ashes possess your noble qualities of mint
and heart, and give entire satisfaction to n de
luled public for the usual price Of half dollar.