Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-04-29
THE APES MUTINIED.
ON A VOYAGE FROM AFRICA THEY
CAPTURED THE SHIP.

|
tain Into tho Rigging-IThe Erosptioa
Was Fatal TO Their Plans. " They HAJ
Ahy--A Useful Bunch OF Hsnnanas.
Il have had some strange crews In
my experience, said old Captain Ben
son, but the funniest kind Of a ships
company that l ever sailed with was
one of big African apes, and it happen
cd in this way: y E Efa.-' -.
1t was during that period Of IT,.
lifetime of the great Snowman p. I.
Barnum, when he had his museum on
lower Broadway in New York city,
that my vessel was chartered by him to
go out to Africa and to bring back a
cargo Of wild animals that his agents !
IN that country had collected. We had
three big and two baby elephants In the
hold, also rhinooeros and giraffe,
while in wooden houses ON deck we car
ried several zebras, number of ante
lope and deer, also ten huge apes as
large as men and looking In the face
exactly like the cartoons Of the Emer-
aid Isle natives found In the humorous
papers. The apes were very intelligence,
and were capable OF being taught many...
amusing tricks ..
ION our voyage home had occasion g
number Of times to advise the officers''
and men against teasing these creatures
telling them that they were known t. II
possess good memory and were re-
vengeful and would surely make IL a
point to get even with their tormehtors /
at tho first opportunity, but as the
heavy wooden bars divided them from
the hairy faces that scowled at their
funmaking they felt safe enough to ;
give no heed to my warnings. The
mates and sailors took good care, how
ever, to pass at u safe distance from the :.
cage in going about their work, for on
two or three occasions the alert oocf
pants had been known to suddenly
thrust forth q long muscular arm aud
grip the unwary seaman in such saw
age way as to- elicit a howl of pain ON
Jack part, could go among them
without the slightest fear and several
times entered their cage for tho purpose.
OF caring for siokly little baby ape /.
that had been born just after leaving.
Africa, and for which the ocean voyaRe.I.
subsequently proved too heroic, as 81
died before we ropohed New York.
"One morning the Drew we're -.
aloft ON tho yards furling sail, for IL !.
was blowing strong and tho ship had
been Obliged to reduce her spread of
canvas. 1 had taken tho wheel, and tho
two mates were going from mast to
mast helping tho work along by haul
ing upon tho gear AZ It was required
nha "a had faI IL. 1
fore, and 1t must have been that lad
carelessly fastened tho bar that secured p
the cage door, for while / was looking
aloft heard startled yell from my
two officers and the next moment they
were climbing up the rigging like mon
keys themselves, while the crowd of
apes came leaping aft In pursuit Of
them.
Then the funniest scene that l ever
witnessed was presented. Six Of the
apes took stations at tho foot Of tho
shrouds, 30 that each mast was guarded
on both Sides and the other four mount
cd the shrouds with all the agility Of
sailors and sought to reach the men.
Tho apes followed tho men as they
mounted higher and higher 10 escape;
then, when the latter could climb no
farther, they would grasp stay that
led to some place OF temporary safety
and slide down 1t, sometimes going
from one spar to another In this way
For nearly an hour this impromptu OK.
hibition continued, and during all this
time the sentries ON deck hoped akoRt -
In excitement, uttering gutturar
which have no doubt were erie,
couragement and advice to their
alOft
Z" At last the big monkeys gave
chase and came down on deck, WHO.
they Joined the others, and all sat on
their launches. gazing up at the crew
occasionally showing their rows o
wicked looking teeth. as much us
say: 'All right, my fine fellowa
stay where you are II you know
good for your health
II had been thinking out 4
recover possession Of my ship, al
put It In execution. Apes are very lU.u
OF bananas, and In my room ! had
fine bunch that had been green when
placed on board, but which had ripened
perfectly since that time. It gave me
VI hoAhs 9pHsui W phEB Win
them, but considered that II the
scheme worked the sacrifice would not
be great one. 50 dashed the wheel %
keep the ship steady, then brought che
fruit from below, carried IL forward In 4
full view OF the apes and placed II With \
In their cage. standing beside thd do [
and carelessly eating q banana that's
had broken from the bunch
The apes crowded inside and fell to
work on those bananas as though IL was
AN eating match, with prize for the
one that consumed the greatest number
In given time. slammed the door to
and fastened 1t upon my mutineers, and
you may be assured that for the re-
mainder Of that voyage tho security Of
that gate was careful ylooked after. -
Harper's Round Table