The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12
GRABBED BY 4 GORILLA.
An American Travellers Thrilling Expe-
rionce on the En-t Con.t Of AfrIcn.


a Clncinnatian who has lately return
| ed from a tour OF South and East Africa
| told a reporter OF a thrilling encounter he
had with a gorilla while In that FAR OK
| country. Said he.
THE evening train had arrived at
Lorenzo Marques, Dclagoa Bay, on sche-
dule time. But what night IL was; the
rain came down ms II the very heavens
were falling. the wind blew terrific gale,
and the darkness which overspread the
whole scene was such as | had never
witnessed before. IL was, however. u
fitting night to the experience which fol-
lowed. Stepping from what the Neither
lands Railway Company term a first class
carriage. / accosted a heavy-set indivi-
dual on the platform. Tan you tell me,
sir. which is the best hotel of this place p
L asked.
g Well. stranger he remarked, that
Is hardly fair question TO ask me. as
own both the hotels in this place
Il turned over my grip TO him and fol-
lowed crowd OF Africans through that
tropical storm. Dinner was served at the
international Hotel. but my permanent
quarters were 70 De at the Central, both
OF these being owned by Jim Carpenter
the person ] met at the station. After
dinner an employee Of the hotel asked
me II / was ready 90 go to the Central.
] replied In the affirmative He went 10
the door, and above the din of wind and
rain could DE heard his voice yelling
'Sixponccr
My belief was that this individual was
singing out 10 some Of the natives that
sixpcnce job was waiting for any Of them
who would take me 10 the Central Hotel.
but u proved 90 be the peculiar name
OF an East African negro 'Sixpence' came
with zap. boas.' II seemed as he came
that a section of that black night was
moving bodily toward me- The instruc-
ton was 70 keep close TO 'Sixpeuce
The route was through n large gar
den. We had hardly entered the garden
Enclosure when a terrific scream was
heard. and at the same time / was struck
on tho head. I'm an instant / had my
revolver out, and fired az my unknown
assaiiant My enemy grappled with me-
but before losing my hold of the revolver
] managed 90 fire two more shots But
30 was an uneven fight. j received an
other blow on the head. rendering me
unconscious. When / rcFaincd con-
seriousness. which was three days later. I
learned that my firing of the revolver had
attracted tho attention of an American
who was known at DeiagOa Bay as
Texas Wilson, He told me that he ran
out Of his house with his gun and Ian
tern. and had hardly gone POO yards when
he came across a huge gorilla carrying
me on his back. The gorilla sc0wled az
him. but he was determined 10 try 20
rescue me from that brute. After taking
a careful aim he managed to shoot the
animal without hitting me and killed
him. Then Dee brought me 10 the hotel.
where / aftcrWard was Informed tina;
big gorilla had been sent Jim Carpenter
about three days previous. He had been
tied 20 tree i'm the garden. but some
how must have broken his chain and was
waiting for the first conner. II was Car
penters intention 10 send the gorilla 20
the Manchester England Geological
Garden as a present
"This was my first visit. in December.
1894. 10 the sleepy. dirty and sickly town
of Delagoa Bay. on the east coast Of
Africa. Cincinnati Enquirer.