Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1894-04-13
AN HOUR WITH An APE
A HUGE ONE LOOSE IN TuE
EMPRESS OFFICE.
The Beast Escapes From Its,
Cage And Gives ENpressnuI :,
And showmeu Trouble ln d, e.
ting Z: Lock Up.

Comparatively a few months ago, SO
say those who know, there roamcd The
wildS of the heart of Africa an ape,
which, for the purpose of distinguish,
ment, may be called Tom, aud which
though Young had every arp arancc OF
developing into an exceedingly robust
manhood. 1t is scarcely probable that
Tom was seen and Communed with bv
Prof. X. l.. GaluCr. who spent several
months in gorllaand and wh1 recently
came back from his trip load-d to the
neck with mon&ey lore and declaring
that this species OF animal had distinct
language, OF winch the Professor had
mastered six words. Yet Tom was there.
But bye and bye The animal hunter
came along seeking attractions for the
countless mcuagcrle>, 4)os, parks and
gardens the world over that must be
kept supplied, and Tom was gathered
in. Across the water nc came and
landed at New York There there soon
came an order for ap ape Tom, voung
and ugly, was picked for the bargain,
and was scot to the express Office there
in a cage, marked "Col. G. w. Halls
Shows, Asheyl!lc, \ c."
Tom made the trip all right, but he
was little short on food, for nobody
cared to monkey with an ape en route
Wednesday afternoon the unusual pack
age arrived Agent Hankcnship OF the
Southern Express Office telephoned to
Col. Hall news OF the apes arrival, and
the Colonel and five brawny showmen
came uptown alter the beast. As soon
rs they saw ii the concluded it needed
water. Some straightout Swannanoa
was brought, and the apes new keeper
opened the door of the cage in order to
place the water inside. As he did this his
apeshlp made 4 spring, cleared the door
and was loose III the express office
| p to this time there had been perhaps
90 men III the office looking at the ape.
In less than 20 seconds halt the crowd
had melted through the door. 1t was
Ilfc magic the way they disappeared.
Tom, freed from his cage. shook himself
and Strengthened mp rhcu Mr. Blank.
cnship and the showrcn could see that
the ape WAS a splendid specimen. He
weighed maybe lGOpounjs stood about
five tlct i'll his dirty bare feet aud had
powerful, siuewy arms that reached
nearly to the lDor There was an ugly
Scowl on hts face and a buzz-saw CXprcS.
Sion here and there and all over h,m,
When Tom leased the express office
Mr., B!ankeuship was sitting at his dcsh
al the front window. Tom went to I'll,
front door, and Mr. Blankcnsbip, ready
to resign i! necessary moved away
from his seat. lie had scarcely started
when the ape made a spriug from til,
floor to the desk, striking ard breaking
an eltc,ric light globe aud shade and
leaving the imprint Of his dirty hand,
OIL the plate glass window. Then began
a chase that WAS 6i necessity laborinus
and palnsta ing. To have forced atight
would have resulted j., a bloody en-
counter, as it would undoubtedly have
lrequired he combined strength OF any
| five men to subduc the ape. Thcu it
would no doubt have been shot, 50 The
| work OF getting him back to the cage
went on cautiously. Tom was coa&cd
all at Il respectful distance.
While all this was gOin, on those in
| the Office saw as hnc du exhibition OF
jumping as was ever given. In running
from the pursuers Tom would clear a lit
tie matter of / . or Il feet from the tloot
to the counter top. with as much ease as
ii it had been two feet, and would then
noun: the counter railing and stay there
until he got ready to move.
After this thing had gone on tor ueaI
an hour and a halt Toms pursuers be
came exasperatcd and pressed him hard
Then il was the beast showed the mean
ness in him He Sprang over desks and
counters, took peuholders in his moutI
and crushed them into bits and scattered
papers in iudcscribable confusion, ust
once he emitted a howl that had tn,
genuine bloud.curdling l'm-n-th, luugl,
sound about it, Chen one of the sho Hnler
bit on the idea OF giving Tom bananas
This is what Prot. Garner would have
known the ape was calling for all tn,
time. When they were brought in on,
was given the gorilla and he proceedc,
to peel it with as delicate touch ~
would man who has praclced rothu.
else for a lifetime. Bye and bye, bN din
of earnest coaXing and lavish use o
bananas Tom re'entercd his cage and th
door was locked. Then a breath of relic
went up from every man engaged in th
gorilla hunt. The beast was taken t,
the train and Ilaccd among the othc
animals IN the incnagcric.
Mr., Blankenship says he has no partc
ular objection to handling Gagged goriIlas
but proposes next time to see that tn
cage door is closed. Had the oliic
door been open the rcsul. OF the animal
roaming through the streets might hav
been extremely serious.
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