The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-02-09
THE GORILLA.

vi all The members OF the monkey lam
lily the gorilla is by far the most inter
esting, and this great interest taken in
him can be safely attributed to the
meager information we have in regard to
his person and habits. Gorilla hunting
is most dangerous and difficult under
taking, and but few Europeans cal boast
of having killed one of these monsters,
I'll. Won Koppenfels killed his first gorilla
male of enormous size. in December,
1874, and since that time has spent the
greater part of his time in hunting, and
at the same time studying the habits and
peculiarities of these animals. The fol-
lowing extract from letter by Mr.. Kop-
penfels will no doubt be interesting to
our readers:
Tae gorillas, who had absented them
selves from this neighborhood, returned
to the Elvina Comi in small troops, and
.soosl was notified that large family
wcf0 .0an.,-e --~-o---
Immediately went in search of them, and
after wandering about for considerable
time near the only plantation on this
side of the Eliva Ga lake, was about to
go to the negro village, when | suddenly
heard banana tree being broken at the
end of fenced orchard, and [ was sure
that gorilla was busy there. Although
it was too dark for me to discern objects
sufficiently to be able to fire at them, ]
stopped and managed to get close to the
inclosure, but before I could get close
enough for sure shot one of the ami
mails gave the danger signal and came
toward me screeching fearfully, whereat
the others clambered over the fence of
about the height of man with great
agility.
Although the gorilla approached in
sudden starts I advanced looking square
ly at him. I had already poised my
double barreled rife through the bushes
when the gorilla, with evident signs Of
great fright, turned and fled, screeching
fearfully. In the moment he appeared
at the top of the fence to jump down on
the outside, I fired, and the animal fell
back into the plantation, roaring infer
nally. 1t lay there for some time and
then turned to the side, and I could have
dispatched it with second bullet. The
heavy ball fred at so short distance
must have wounded the animal to such
an extent that it could not possibly
escape. Upon hearing the shot and the
roaring of the animal, my companions
appeared.
The wounded animal raised itself
slowly without uttering sound, and
crept into the adjoining casseve bushes.
1 retreated noiselessly, and instructed
my companions to remain quiet SO as
not to disturb the animal. In the mean
time night had overtaken us, and we
returned to the neighboring settlement,
and before creeping into my mosquito
net I gave orders to awaken me early the
next morning. I could not sleep for a
| long time. 1t was broad daylight when
one of the servants called me. While
dressing myself I heard a shot in the
neighborhood of the plantation, and
another Immediately after it. 1 rushed
in that direction and heard a few more
shots.
| The negroes attacked the gorilla at
early dawn and fairly bombarded him.
| As the numerous wounds caused the
flesh to rot very rapidly, and the bids
cannot be prepared very well, the rash
ness of my negroes displeased me very
much, and did not hesitate to let then
understand this. As / measured the
body 1 found the skin loosened at those
places not covered with hair, and upor
ripping the skin found water and all
collected, a sign that decomposition had
already set in. / never noticed anything
OF the kind before, and in future I vii
kill the wounded animals immediately
by second bail.
AN old lady writes us: '1 am 65 year,
old and was feeble and nervous all til.