Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-25
THE WILD MAN OF AFRICA.


A.
KOw Mr.. Hezekiah Thompson Acted
Well His Part.
The astonishing sight of two stalwart
Reserve policemen marching down Chest
nut street on either side OF a huge and
terrible-lOoking object, half man. half
monkey-a creature with long matted
locks and beard Of inky blackness, his
skin the color of coal, his lower limbs
covered with long hair, and a heavy
chain clanking from his waist and jing-
ling after him on the pavement, says the
Philadelphia Record of Jan. Is, startled
the stream of humanity that was flowing
up and down that thoroughfare about )
O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
The officers were Reserves Gillingham
and Myers, their strange prisoner was
''Hi-ki-ki, the Wild Man of the African
Jungles," and the destination of the trio
was the Central Police Station.
In ordinary, everyday commonplace
life. . Hi-ki-ki, the Wild Man of the At
rican Jungles," IS known as Mr.. Hezekiah
Thompson, andwhen he is not employed
in his celebrated impersOnatiOn of the At
rican Wild Man he follows the profession
Of a ships cook, being equally skilled and
accomplished in either calling.
Three weeks ago Mr.. Thompson arrived
in New York on the American clipper
ship Abner 5. WadsWOrth after a long
voyage from the PHILIPPINE Islands. He
was paid off and, after the usual fashion
of seafaring men just come ashore. man
aged to get rid Of his money in a very
short time. Then he worked his way to
this city on one of the Clyde's steamers.
and started out to find work. Mr.. ThOmp-
son Is a very peculiar-loOking specimen
OF the ETHIOPIAN race, his head being
shaped like an elongated cOcoanut, his
skin of extraordinary blackness, and his
teeth very large and as white as milk.
StrOlling slowly up Eighth street, ging-
ling his last two quarters in his pocket
and wondering what he would do when
they were gone, Mr.. Thompson was given
a delightful surprise by being suddenly
addressed by a man with a British east of
countenance who asked himjf ne wanted
job.
;.WelI, boss, l was looken round.
Whatll L hab 20 dO?"
Nothing at all except sit still or lie
down all day in nice soft bed of straw
was the reply.
Gust my weakness, boss. I'll take the
place; whatli you paY?'
Give dollars a week and your board"
That settles it, show me the bed and
III lie down right straight away" eX-
claimed the happy negro, and he blessed
this lucky star for this unexpected stroke
of fortune.
The man with the British cast Of coun-
tenance who was no other than English
Jack" the old and well-knOwn circus
man. who has drifted all over the world
with various equestrian enterprises. led
the way to the basement Of No. $50 North
Eighth street. Here he unfOlded his
scheme to the wondering Mr. Thompson.
Hits has heasy has falling hof log,
this 'ere Job HIM going to set YOU to.
Hall you've got to do his to take hOf your
buds Slip hon this ere wig and beard,
and these 'ere bufalO-skin trousers,
whichll fit you like the label hon bot
tie Of gum, hand then III chain you to
the floor Of this ere cage hand you can SIT
hon the straw hand let hon your wild
man WHENEVER hanyOne comes hup to
look hat you close.'
Mr.. Thompson at once acquie5ced, and
i'm "a short time he was the WildeSt-I00klug
wild man ever seen in Philadelphia.
English jack then placed large
pIacard outside on the pavement upon
which was pictured in all the colors OF
the rainbow the great attraction within;
and another sign informed the passers-by
that the establishment was the "Nickle
Museum, admission only cents" The
proprietor then took up his position on
the pavement and by the wonderful force
Of his OratOry, Imagination and lung pow
err drew patrons by the score from the
crowds that passed his door. Inside an
other man eXpatiated on the 80 I'D Man
and his ways, and told the audiences how
he had to be fed on raw meat, and how,
on more than one occasion, he had seized
spectators and bit large chunks OF flesh
from their arms. This latter little pecu-
liarity Of the Wild Man had the effect Of
keeping the gaping crowd at a respecta-
Die distance, and every now and tuen ne
would add to the interest OF the exhibit
ton by emitting the most fearful yeIls
and grimacing in a way that would have
made a real gorilla wild with envy.
The enterprise was prOsperlng In
manner most satisfactory to both Eng
lish Jack' and Mr. Thompson, when an
anonymous letter called the attention OF
Drs. Lewis and Morton, of the State Luna
CIV Board to the Wild Mans condition.
Dr.. Morton at once visited the place, and
paid his cents, and listened to the hair
raising recital Of the manners and Gus
toms of the attraction behind the bars.
After considering the matter DR.. Nor
ton decided that the man was probably
Weak-minded to allow himself to be made
such an exhibition OF, and ordered his ar
rest. This was accomplished without
aDv trouble whatever, as Mr.. Thompson
was so scared when the policemen arrived
that he quite forgot his terrifying tricks
and cannibalistic tendencies.
At the Central Station he fixed himself
as comfortably as possible in cell, wig,
buffalo skin trousers, blanket and all and
his clanking chains were hung up on
hook outside. When asked how he liked
the Job he laughed and said:
''Deed it was fun, sab, to see them boys
iump v hen hOllored out and made faces
at 'em." Then his face fell and he asked
anxiously what the police would do with
HIM. deed. sab, didn't know it would
gitme in no such fix, deed, didn't, sah."
His fears were easily subdued, how
ever, and after whistling for an hour or 50
softest corner of his cell and went to
sleep. He will be held until it is def
niteiy settled whether he IS or is not in