The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-11
MUCH LIKE MIR. CROWLEY.

Wonderful Ways of Berlin Gorilla-What
He Ate and Dranlk-His Sad End.
New York Tribune.
The customary crowd was gazing at Mr. Crow
ley the cnlmpanzee In his quarters at Central
Park yesterday, when Superintendent Copklin
Joined the throng Mr. Crowley recognized his
face, and clamored childlike to get at him, and
when finally allowed to do so jumped into the
genial superintendent arms and nestled down
into them with little cry of gladness The on
lockers were astonshed and the reporter asked
If such human-lke little fellow had ever been
seen before in captivity
Il have never seen one" replied Mr.. Conkin,
and the interest manifested III him by visitors
surprises me. Scores OF people every Gay came
to inquire how he was doing when he was i'll, and
hundreds asked about him at the monkey house.
1t may be interesting to YOU" continued the
superintendent, ito hear about another monkey
just as wonderful as this one. Here is gentle
man who knows of one The reporter was in
troduced, and asked his new acquaintance to
tell all he knew.
MY story" said the gentleman, SIS about a
wonderful and distinguished gorilla, named Pom
go, who lived and died in Berlin At least. /
know he lived there, and 1 believe he died there
Pongo was born in Africa about the year 1873
and was captured when very young by Prus-
sian scientific expedition, and taken to Berlin. |
saw him when he was only three wears DID, and
wonderful young fellow he was. Pongo was
treated just as Crowley is, like baby, and grew
extremely human-like. He lived with his keeper
i'll a large cage, which was furnished with sofa,
chairs, table, trapeze and bed. All these things
he learned how to use correctly. PoncO slept on
mattress, lying down at about o'clock in the
evening, and always had his keeper wrap him up
in a blanket, and then sit by his side until he
went to sleep Sometimes, when he felt like
being petted, he would put his arms around his
keepers neck and lay his head on his broad
shoulders sleeping in that position all night. He
woke up about o'clock in the morning yawned,
and drank glass of milk, which he held in his
short, fat chubby fingers. About an hour laterhe
had a bath and contrary to most children's
ideas. liked it. He would roll about in the water
and clap his hands in delight Pongo ate every
thing anyone else ate. and was thorough Ger
man in his beer drinking. He had sausage,
meat, cheese, fruit, soup, vegetables, chicken,
etc, lie liked roast chicken and fruit better
than anything else. He drank tea, milk, water,
beer, and once in awhile coffee. Between meals
he took bread and butter After dinner he
always settled down for nap
Some OF the cunning things that this gorilla
did were laughable. He was fond of visitors,
and liked the little fellows of his own age With
these he would roll about the cage, play hide
and seek and tag, ard let them pull him about
in any way without losing his temper. Older
children he was rougher with. but when ladies
visited him he would jump in their laps and kiss
them, or would curl up in little ball and let
them pet him. He was fond of husgng, especi-
ally when he was sick. Then at other times he
used to make believe to smoke by holding a pipe
in mis- mouth, and wore clothes all the while,
putting them and off himself.
But when Pongo was put in the cage with
the other large monkeys he acted like a little
tyrant. He held his head high up in the air, and
wouldn't play with any of them except the big
chimpanzee, who was much like alttle man. He
looked like homely, awkward negro boy. He
was about three feet high and had q coat of soft
hair all over his body, slightly red on the head
His nose was we'll formed he had goodsized
eyes, and pleasant voice Muscles showed all
over. and his heavy form broad back bip arms
and legs, revealed his great strength Pongo
grew older and wiser in Berlin, and finally died
of pneumonia, which seems to be the disease
most fatal to monkeys in captivity. Mr.. Crowley,
| think is destined to live, and if he does, will
prove great attraction to this menagerie. By
the way, the changing of Mr.. Crowley's name to
Doty did not seem to do much good, did it! lie
is Mr. Crowley to everybody