The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-07
GRABBED BY GORILLA.
An American Travellers Thrilling Expert
ence on the East Coast of Africa.

(From the Cincinnati Enquirer
A Cincinnatian who has lately returned
from a tour Of south and east Africa told
a reporter of a thrilling encounter he had
with gorilla while In that far-off coun-
try. Said he:
I" The evening train had arrived at
Lorenzo Marques, Delagoa bay, ON sched-
ule time. But what night it was; the
rain came down as if the very heavens
were falling, the wind blew terrific
gale, and the darkness which oyerspread
the whole scene was such as l had never
witnessed before. 1t was, however, fit
ting night to the experience which fol-
lowed. Stepping from what the Neither
lands Railway Company term first GLASS
carriage, l accosted a heavy-set individ-
ual on the platform. Can you tell me, sir,
which is the best hotel of this p lace2' I
asked.
We'll, stranger he remarked, that
is hardly fair question to ask me, as (
own both the hotels in this place.
II 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 perma-
mont quarters were to be at the Central,
both of these being owned by Jim Car
penter, the person | met at the station.
After dinner an employee of the hotel
asked me II was ready to go to the Cen
trial. Ireplied in the affirmative. He
went to the door, and above the din of
wind and rain could be heard his voice
yelling Sixpenoe?'
"My belief was that this individual
was singing out to some of the natives
that a sixpence job was waiting for any
of them who would take me to the Cen
trail Hotel, but it proved to be the peculiar
name of an East African negro. Six
pence came with zap, boas. Ii
seemed as he came that a section of that
black night was moving bodily toward
me- The instruction was to keep close to
'Sixpence.'
''The route was through large gar
den. We had hardly entered the garden
Enclosure when a terrific scream was
heard, and at the same time I was struck
on the head. In an instant had my re-
volver out and tired at my unknown assail-
ant. My enemy grappled with me- but
before losing my hold of the revolver /
managed to fire two more shots. But it
was an uneven fight. [ received another
blow on the head, rendering me uncon-
w AO4l ISSdlHCu COASClOuSuesb
which was three days later, l learned
that my firing of the revolver had attract
ed the attention OF an American who was
known at DelagOa Bay as Texas William.
He told me that he ran out of his house
with his gun and lantern, and had hard
| ly gone 200 yards when he came across a
huge gorilla CARRYING me on his back.
The gorilla scowled at him, but he was
determined to try to rescue me from that
brute, After taking a careful aim hn
managed to shoot the animal without
hitting me, and killed him. Then he
brought me to the hotel, where l after
ward was informed that big gorilla had
been sent to Jim Carpenter about three
days previous. He had been tied to a
tree in the garden, but somehow must
have broken his chain, and was waiting
for the first conner. 1t was Carpenter
intention to send the gorilla to the Man
chester (England) Geological Garden as
present
This Was my first VISIT in December,
1894, to the sleepy, dirty and-sickly towr
of Delaeoa Bay, on the east coast OF
| Africa.''