The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-07
A BRITISH COLUMBIA GORILLA.
Description of a Strange Creature Captured
Near Yale.
Britieh coInmbia Letter in BrItlah Colonist.

British Columbia Letter in British Colonist.
In the immediate vicinity of No tunnel, sit
uated some twenty miles above this village,
writes a Yale correspondent, are bluffs of rock
which have hitherto been unsurmountable, but
on Monday morning last successfully
scaled by Mr.. Ondemonks employees on the reg
ular train from Lytton, assisted by Mr.. Coster-
ton, the British Columbia Express Company's
messenger, and number of gentlemen from
Lytton and points east of that place, who, after
considerable trouble and perilous climbing.
ceeded in capturing creature which may truth
fully be called half man and half beast. Jacko,"
as the creature has been called by its capturers,
is something OF the gorilla type, standing about
four feet six inches in height and weighing 1877
pounds. He has long, black, strong hair, and
resembles a human being, with one exception,
his entire body, excepting his hands Tor
pawsl and feet are covered with glossy hair
about one inch long His forearm is much
longer than a mans forearm, and he possesses
extraordinary strength, AS he will take hold of a
stick and break 1t 10y wrenching or twisting it,
which no man living could break in the same
way. Since his capture he is very reticent, only
occasionally uttering noise which is half bark
and half growl. He is, however, becoming daily
more attached to his keeper
His favorite food far is berries, and he
drinks fresh milk with evident relish By advice
of DR.. Harrington raw meats have been with
held from Jacko, as the doctor thinks 1t would
have a tendency to make him savage, The mode
of capture was as follows: Ned Austin, the en-
eastern end of the No tunnel, what he
supposed to be man lying asleep in close prox-
unity to the track, and quick as thought he
blew the signal to apply the brakes. The brakes
were instantly applied, and in few
seconds the train was brought to a
standstll At this moment the supposed man
sprang up, and, uttering sharp, quick bark,
began to climb the steep bluff. Conductor r. J.
Craig and Express Messenger Costerton. followed,
by baggagemen and brakemen, jumped from the
train and, knowing that they were some twenty
minutes ahead of time, Immediately gave chase.
After five minutes of periious climbing the then
supposed demented Indian was corralled on pro
jecting shelf of rock, where he could neither
cendnor decend. The query now was how to cap
ture him alive, which was quickly decided by
Mr.. Craig, who crawled on his hands and knees
until he was about forty feet above the creature.
Taking a small piece of loose rock he let it fall,
and it had the desired effect of rendering poor
Jacko incapable of resistance for a time at least.
The bell-rope was then brought up and JACKIE
was now lowered to terra firma. After firmly
binding hinAand placing him In the baggage car,
''off brakes" was sounded, and the train started
for Yale. At the station a large crowd who had
heard of the capture by telephone from Spuz-
yum Flat were assembled, ach one anxious to
have the first look at the monStroSity, but they
were disappointed, as JACKIE had been taken off
at the machine shops, and placed in charge of
his present keeper.
The question naturally ARISES, how came the
creature where it was first seen by Mr.. Austinl
From bruises about its head and body, and ap
parent soreness since iJs capture, it is supposed
that Jacko ventured too near the bluff, slipped.
fell, and lay where found until the sound of the
rushing train aroused him. MIR. Thomas White
and Mr. Gouin, G. E., as well as Mr. Major, who
kept small store, about half mile west of the
tunnel during the past two years, have men
toned having seen curious creature at differ
ent points between camps thirteen and seven
teen, but no attention was paid to their remarks,
as people came to the conclusion that they had
either seen bear or a stray Indian dog. Who
can unravei the mystery that surrounds Jacket
Does he belong to species hitherto unknown
in this country, or is he really what the train
men first thought he was, a crazy Indian.