St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-11
DO GORILLAS TALK
A Bold Naturalist Will Attempt
to Settle the Question.

iStence of language among monkeys
are attracting the attention of scientists?
And 1t Is only fair to the indefatigable
Investigator to say that he has really
made some progress towards demon
strating the truth Of his somewhat start
ling theory, says the Philadelphia
Times. In the geological department of
the Smithsonian institution, at Wash
ington. he separated two monkeys that
were mates, and having caught in a
photograph the ''Words" spoken by the
female after the separation, he took the
instrument to distant place, where the
male was Gagged, and having put 1t in
operation. he saw, beyond any reason
able doubt, that the animal recognized
and answered the calls as they were re-
produced.
But he has gone still further than
that. Having noticed that all the
monkeys in the geological gardens that
sound for ''milk," or water" OF
thirst" he could not tell which, he
finally made an experiment with a
monkey that was sitting quietly In far
corner of his cage. Approaching the
front of the cage. the professor repeated
the ''wOrd" several times. when the
monkey rose, took up pan that was OH
the floor of the cage and brought it to
the grating, repeating the word" over
and over.
From this the professor concluded
that the word he had used is the spoken
sign of monkeys for thirst. or something
to satisfy 1t, and his conclusion seems
quite reasonable.
something that we want you to read
about this enthusiastic and industrious
naturalist. He is fitting himself out for
all expedition into the WildS of Africa,
for the sole purpose of talking" with
the gOrillas that live in these forests,
and the following most interesting &C.
count of how he will prosecute his re-
searches was sent to the New York Sun
by correspondent in Washington. 1t
is more entertaining than story:
Prof. Gamers contemplated eXpedi-
ton to gorillaland Is exciting profound
scientific interest in Washington. His
learned friends here are assisting him
in the preparation of the most remarka-
BILE equipment ever carried by an eX-
plorer. Among other things it will in
clude Photographs. telephones, photo
graphic apparatus and an electric
telegraph. There will be a big cage
eight feet cube, which the traveller him
self intends TO occupy; also small cage
to hold gorilla in case one is captured
alive.
The expedition will enter the mouth
of the GabOOn river. just under the
equator, on the west coast of Africa,
and, having secured an escort of natives,
will proceed up the stream for distance
of 112 miles. At that point the first
series of cataracts and rapids is
reached. and there the party
In
ward into the tropical forests
of the gorilla country. A locality that
is particularly infested by these giant
apes will be sought. and there, in the
midst of the bowling equatorial wilder
ness, the professor will set up his cage.
Hewill occupy it alone, at night as well
as in the daytime, being merely con-
nected by telephone wire with the rest
of the party, who will be located at
distance of half mile or more.
The cage will be constructed in New
York. 1t is to be made of aluminium,
for the sake of lightness, and will be
be carried very easily. All of its Joints
will lock automatically when it is set
up. The floor will be of rubber. Strong
steel chains will fasten it to the ground,
lest any gOrillaS should take a notion to
walk away with it.
Every possibility of attack. however,
is sufficiently provided against in other
ways. A powerful electric battery will
be SO arranged that by the touch of a
button the entire cage, save only the
rubber floor, will be instantaneously
charged with electricity. Ii Prof. Gar
her sees any hostile and dangerous
creature approaching he will merely
have to press the button and the electric
fluid will do the rest. The fierce gorilla
surprising such case-upon graspIng
the bars will receive shock of 500
volts. This is enough to kill man, who
is able to survive more powerful
stroke Of such lightning than any other
animal.
Recourse would not be had to such
means OF defense unless it were abso-
lutely necessary, because the professors
object is to cultivate friendly relations
with the gorillas, and not to injure
them.
AT a short distance from tha cage on
all sides will be extended copper wires,
arranged in such manner that they
can be drawn taut at about two fe et
from the ground at moments notice,
though ordinarily they simply lie slack
in the grass. Suppose that whole
troupe OF fierce animals, enraged by
the presence Of the cage and its Occu-
pant, should make rush to destroy the
one and capture the other. Then the
bold scientist would touch a button, the
wire barriers would spring taut ali
around him, and the foes, upon touch
ing them, would be knocked down by a
tremendous shock of electricity.
Some curiosity has been expressed as
to the means by which Prof. Garner will
attract the gorllas to his cage In order
fO ipiarviQyV than He docs not opt;o;
pate any difficulty about that. In the
first place, these animals are so aggres-
sively disposed that they may approach
him of their own accord for that reason.
Again, their curiosity is likely to draw
them. But reliance is had for the pur-
pose upon certain devices. Effigies re-
sembling human beings or gorillas, or
both, Will be constructed and placed in
natural attitudes near the cage, to serve
as decOys.
Every one knows how fond all
monkeys are of looking at themselves
in the glass. and this weakness of theirs
is. to be taken advantage of. Large
mirrors, to be taken along with the out
fit, will be set up outside the cage, and
any gorillaS that catch sight of them
selves in these looking glasses will pre-
sumably be induced to stay and make
remarks concerning their own personal
appearance. Besides all this, the pro-
fessor hopes to excite the interest of the
beasts by learning the meanings of their
varied howls and responding to them
himself as seductively as possible.
Fruit. too, upon which gorillas depend
chiefly for their diet, will be scattered
about for bait.
L Having induced the gorillas to come
near the cage, when they will doubtless
have plenty of observations to make in
their own language, the next thing s,l-
+ uisite is to record what they say. TINS
will be done by means OF photograph
that Mr.. Edison is now making for the
purpose. 1t will be different from any
other photograph ever seen. For one
thing it will have two cylinders which
will be worked simultaneously by an
electric motor, one cylinder receiving
and recording sounds. while the other
grinds out remarks.
The objecto this is readily explained.