Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-01-08
The
Barnum's GOriIla-A Touching Tri-


Barnum's GOrilla-A Touching Tri-
butte.
1t is seldom that We are called upon
to note a mo painful fact than that
which we now record, and which is
nothing more nor less than the ru-
mored death of Barnum's gorilla, who
is supposed to have persisted in tine
flames of the museum recently con-
sumed. The news of his untimely
and frightful end will cause a feeling
of heartfelt agony tothrill the bOsOms
of his many friends throughout the
country, who witnessed his playful
antics in his cage wherever Barnum
/ went on his last tour, or enjoyed his
society at a beer saloon when the la
labors of the day and evenings eXhi-
billions were ended.
The deceased gorilla was a young
man of exemplary habits, and by his
versatile industry supported an aged
father and mother in Jersey City,
who can hardly bear their present
loss. His original name was Briggs
and he was of Yankee, not celtic ORR
gin, as has been enormously stated
Mr.. Barnum became acquainted with
young Briggs many years ago, and
keen observer of human nature that
he is, he soon saw that the boy pos
sessed talents which would, if rightly
applied, bring him into public notice.
Mr.. Barnum first employed Briggs as
a mermaid, but his nervous sanguin-
eous temperament untitled him for
wearing a wig and Goldfish skin, and
he 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 1870, and gave to
Briggs the position Of gorilla that he
developed those eecentricities that
no better specimen of the tribe has
made him famous. For two wears
been seen on this continent. Though
naturally convivial and social in his
tastes, he has sat in his cage an object
ofwonder or admiration Of thousands,
and submitted to being stirred up
with a long pole for the benefit of
country clergymen, who stood by ex.
planning to their youthful Sabbath
school scholars how fearfully End
wonderfully we are made. No MUIR
muir of discomfort ever escaped his
lips, except at Terre Haute, Indiana,
last July, when he was heard to re-
mark that he'd ''be id if he could
stand it much longer wearing a hair
overcoat in hot weather, on a salary
of SO per week" His salary was at
once elevated to $3.50 a week, and
he was allowed ice in his den thereaf-
ter, and no better behaved specimen
Of his tribe was eveF placed on exhi-
bition.
Mr.. Barnum, we are informed, with
characteristic energy. has telegraphed
to Africa for other specimens of rare
wild beasts, to supply the places of
those destroyed by the late confiagra-
ton. He may procure elephants, IL
ons, tigers and cOckatOOs, but he can
never fill the placeof Gorilla Briggs.
Not even DR.. Livingstone, with all
his experience in African jungles, can
capture so fines specimen, who could
so nimbly around his seyen by
nine cage, and dance to the lascivious
ticklings of his keepers club with
such patience. Gorilla, adieu! and
may the hairy f~our-legged Phoenix
who arises from your ashes possess
your noble qualities of mind and
heart, and give entire satisfaction to a
1eluded public for the usual price of
half a dollar.