The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-02-12
B.ARNTM'S GORILLA.
4 TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO HIS MEM
DRY.

It is seldom that we are called
upon to note q more painful fact
than that which we now record,
and which is nothing more or less
than the rumored death of Bar
NUNS gorilla, who is supposed to
have perished in the flames of .he
museum recently consumed. The
news of his untimcly and frightful
end will cause . feeling Of heart
felt agony to thrill the bosoms of
his many friends throughout the
country, who witnessed his play
ful antics in his cage wherever
Barnum went on his last summers
tour. or enjoyed his society at
beer saloon when the labors Of the
day and evenings exhibitions were
ended.
The deceased gorilla was
young man Of exemplary habits,
and by his versatile industry sup
ported an aged father and mother
in Jersey City, who can hardly
bear their present loss. His origi.
nal name was Briggs, and ne was
Of Yankee, not Celtic origin, as
has been erronously stated. Mr..
Barnum became acquainted with
young Briggs many years ago,
and keen observer of human ma
ture as he is, he soon saw that the
boy possessed talents which would,
if rightly applied, bring him into
public notice. Mr.. Barnum first
employed Briggs as a mermaid,
but his nervous sanguineous tenn
permanent untitled him for wearing
a wig and Goldfish skin, and be was
shortly after promoted to the
position Of wild man. In this he
achieved no success, and it was
not until Barnum put his great
travelling show on the road in
1872, and gave Briggs the position
of gorilla, that he developed those
excentricities that have made him
famous. For two years no better
specimen of the gorilla tribe has
been seen on this continent.
Though naturally convivial and
social in his tastes, be has sat in
his cage an object of wonder and
admiration to thousands, and SUBJ
mitted to being stirred up with a
long pole for the benefit of coun-
try clergymen, who stood by ex-
planning to their youthful Sab
bath-school scholars how fearfully
and wonderfully we are made. No
murmur of discomfort ever cscap-
ed his lips, except at Terre Haute,
Ind, last July, when he was heard
to remark he'd "be id if be
could stand it much longer wear
ing hair overcoat in hot weather
on salary Of $40 a week." His
salary was at once elevated to
$3.50 a week, and he was allowed
ice in his den thereafter, and no
better behaved specimen Of his
tribe was ever placed on exhibi-
ton. =
Mr.. Barnum, we are informed,
with characteristic energy, has
telegraphed to Africa for other
specimens of rare wild beasts, to
supply the place Of those Destroy
ed by the late confagration. He
may procure elephants, lions, IT,
gers and cockatoos, but he can
never fill the place Of Gorilla
Briggs. Not even DR.. Living.
stone, with all his experience in
African jungles, can capture SC
fine u specimen, one who could
caper so nimbly around his seven
by nine cage, and dance to the
lascivious ticklings of his keepers
club with such patience. Gorilla
adieu j and may theI hairy, four
legged Phoenix who arises from
your ashes possess your noble
qualities of mind and heart, AM
give entire satisfaction to . de
luded public for the usual price o
half dollar.-St Louis Democrat
A little girl, daughter Of a clergyman
being left one day to "tend door" ant
obeying q summons of the bell, found
gentleman on the step who wished t.
see her father. "Fathcr isn't in, sait