Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-12-05
A British Columbia Gorilla.

above this village, writes Yale. Brit
ish Columbia, correspondent of The
British COlOniSt, are bluffs of rock
which have heretofore been unsur-
mountable, but on Monday morning
last were successfully scaled by Mr..
Ondemonk's employees on the regular
train from Lytton, assisted by Mr.. Cos
terton, the British Columbia Express
company's messenger, and n number
of gentlemen from Lytton and points
east of that place, who, after consider
able trouble and perilous climbing,
succeeded in capturing creature
which may truthfully be called half
man and half beast. 'Jacko, as the
creature has been called by its captur-
ers, is something OF the gorilla type,
standing about 4 feot inches in
height, and weighing 127 pounds. He
has long, black, strong hair, and re-
sembles a human being, with one ex-
ception, his entire body, excepting his
hands Cor paws) and feet are covered
with glossy hair about one inch long.
His forearm is much stronger than q
man S forearm, and he possesses extra
ordinary strength, as he will take hold
of stick and break it by wrenchinG
or twisting it, which no man living
could break in the same way. Since
his capture he is very reticent, only
occasionally uttering a noise which is
half bark and half growl. He is, how
ever, becoming daily more attached
to his keeper.
His favoritc food so far is berries,
and he drinks fresh milk with evident
relish. BY advice of DR.. Harrington
raw meats have been withheld from
JackO, as the doctor thinks it would
have tendency to make him savage.
The mode of capture was as follows:
Ned Austin, the engineer, on coming
in sight of the bluff at the eastern end
of the No. 4 tunnel, saw what he sup
posed to be IA man lying asleep in close
proximity to the track, and as quick as
thought he blew the signal to apply
the brakes. The brakes were instantly
applied, and in a few seconds the train
was brought to standstill. At this
moment the supposed man sprang up,
and, uttering a sharp, quick bark, be-
gan to climb the steep bluff Con-
ductor r. j. Craig and Express Mes
senger CostertOn, followed by baggage
men and brakemen, jumped from the
train, and, knowing they were some
twenty minutes ahead of time, imme-
diatly gave chase. After five minutes
of perilous climbing, the then supposed
demented Indian was corraled on
projecting shell of rock, where he could
neither ascend nor descend. The
query now was how TO capture 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 small
piece of loose rock he let it fall, and il
had the desired effect of rendering poor
Jacko incapable of resistance for time,
at least. The bell-rope was then
brought up, and Jacko was lowered
to terra tirma. After firmly binding
him and placing him in the baggage
car, "off brakes was sounded, and
the train started for Yale. At the
station large crowd who had heard
of the capture by telephone from Spuz-
zum Flat were assembled, each one
anxious to have the first look at the
but they were dsap-
pointed, as Jacko 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.. Austin? From bruises
about the head and body. and apparent
soreness since its capture, it is sup
posed that Jacko ventured too near
he bluff, slipped, fell, and lay where
,ound until the sound of the rushing
rain aroused him. Mr.. Thomas White
md Mr.. CONN, G.. f., as well as Mr..
Major, who kept IA small store, about
lalf mile west of the tunnel during
he past two XearS haNn mnntionnd