Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-19
EsOngo.


The Geological Society have suffered a
serious loss 10y the death, on Saturday
last, of the young gorilla purchased so
lately as the 10th OF October. The death
of this animal is much to be regretted,
as it was the first specimen Of its kind
acquired by the society, and so lar as
we are aware, only the third that has
been seen alive in this country. Ten
years ago a young gorilla, the pro-
perry of German society, was
shown for some time at the
Royal Aquarium, Westminster This
animal died shortly after its return
to Berlin from its visit to this country.
Mr.. Tegetmeier is our authority for the
third specimen, of which he says, IN the
columns of the Fjeld, that "the largest
living specimen ever seen lin this coun-
trv) lived for some seven years in Womb
wells travelling menagerie, without its
species being recognized during life, 1t
being regarded as a species OF chimpan-
zee. Fortunately, however. 1t was pho
tographed and was undoubtedly an un-
mistakable gorilla"
The gorilla at the Zoo was little
more than a baby, and certainly must
have been the cause of sad disappolnt-
ment to those-and they are many
whose ideas of the gorilla are
gathered from Du Chaillu's book
alone, as he showed no sign
of the terrible ferocity alleged by
that anthor TO be innate in his kind. in
fact a more timid little beast could not
be imagined; he would hardly allow his
keeper to touch him, not from teroclty
but simply from fear. This tlmldlty
was no doubt to a considerable extent
the result Of his treatment During
his voyage he was confined IN a
rough box so small that it would barely
allow him TO turn round, and We have
little doubt that he was regarded by all
on board the vessel as q dreadfully fero-
cious beast and treated accordingly. In
the same packing case he was forwarded
from Liverpool to London, and we leave
it 10 those who are acquainted with the
habits of the railway porter to imagine
what must have been his sufferin8s du-
ring this part of the journey. The result,
however. was that on his arrival at the
Gardens he was so cramped and weak
that he was unable to stand and too i'll
to eat. He was also suffering from cold
q not uncommon ailment at this season,
even among those accustomed to our Gil
mate. Under the fostering care OF that
most excellent OF animal nurses, Mr..
Bartlett. his cold was cured, his appetite
returned, and hopes were entertained
that he might, like "Sally," the we'll
known bald-headed chimpanzee, live and
thrive in the comfortable quarters pro-
vided for him. These appearances OF
restored health have, however, proved
illusive, as he was taken i'll in the middle
OF last week, and died on Saturday.
The death of this gorilla goes far to
prove that the problem OF keeping anthro-
poid apes in this country has not yet
been solved, as many, judging by
"Sally's" continued good health
during her four years sojOurn in
the Society's Gardens, have imagined
At the same time considerable allow
ance must be made for the unfortunate
condition in which the beast arrived, the
result of sufferings which must naturally
have impaired his constitution and rem
dered him more susceptible TO the
changes of our climate than il he had
arrived in sound health-changes which,
even in house the temperature Of which
is never allowed to descend below &C
degrees Fair, must be trying to any
animal born near the Equator
"Pongo," as he was named, was
quaint little beast with a grave face and
most stolid demeanor, of whom the word:
of one Andrew Battel, quoted by Du
Chaillu, that ne "carrieth his hand;
clasped on the nape of his necke wher
he goeth upon the ground" were GER
tainly true. This curious trick gave him
the appearance of suffering from chronic
headache, though we have every reason
to believe that, until he was seized by
the illness which terminated fatally, he
was in fairly good health.