Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-09-28
#tistella,leous Readina.
QUEER APE FROM BORNEO.

He Walks Upright Like a Man and is Very
The Indrani, the vessel on which T.
Allen McQuary slowed away on his
passage from New Orleans to Yokaho'
ma, arrived at New York last week,
and among other things brought from
Borneo an ape that is unlike anything
of the kind that has previously been
seen in New York. The following
about the animal is from the New
York Sun of last Thursday:
A queer anthropoid from Borneo has
just come to town on the British
steamship Indraui, from Java. Capt.
Theophilus Trotter aud Chief Engineer
John Drew are the owners of the
man-like creature, which they bought
from Dutch woman of Passoeroean
Java.
1t came originally from Borneo three
months ago. The skipper and the en-
gineer decided 10 rechristen their new
sbipmate benjamin Binns," after the
ghostly hero OF q song once popular in
cabin and forecastle. The Dutch wo.
man had called Benz something
that only a real Dutchmau can pro-
nounce.
Captain Trotter appeared at the
Maritime Exchange yesterday, and
announced that he believed that Ben
jamin was the "missing link" A
crowd of folks, including several re-
porters, went over to the Indrani,
which is tied up in Atlantic Basin, to
see Benjamin. The anthropologicnl
expert in the group of visitors said
that Benjamin was fine specimen OF
gibbon, which the naturalists describe
as "the only anlhropoid ape that ha-
bitually walks in an upright position" "
Benjamin is somewhat less than three
feet tall, and is very thin. He looks
in the face like weazened Dutchmnn
of black complexion, and has semi
circular fringe of whiskers that caused
the chief engineer TO liken him to "Oom
Paul" He has no tail and he walks
just as the naturalists say he does.
His arms are very long and thin and
he uses them only in going up or down
stairs and in climbing. He is six or
seven years old, apparently, and has a
disposition as gentle as good baby.
He doesn't bite or scratch and seldom
cries.
The party that boarded the Indrani
to look at him found him asleep in the
chief engineers berth, lying almost
full length on his left side, with his
head on his arm. He didn't object to
an introduction to the visitors, shaking
hands with impartial vigor, as if he
had been running for Office in Borneo
all his life.
1t was observed that he had a broad
head, small, human like ears, about
half an inch of forehead and big, black
eyes, almost circular in shape. He
jumped from the berth at word from
Engineer Drew and landed on his feet.
Drew held him by light chain fns-
tened about his neck. He ran forward
along the deck, throwing back his
broad shoulders and walking so rap
idly that Drew was forced into run.
The ships cat Tillie and the dog Jack,
stout mongrel, came out to have u
frolic with Benjamin. He was willing
The engineer fastened Benjamin's
chain to Jacks collar. Benjamin
started aft, walking like little boy
with a new wheeled toy, and Jack
followed obeditntly. About amidships
Jacks attention was drawn by one OF
the visitors, and he stopped suddenly
Benjamin tumbled backward, but gol
up instantly, and permitted the dog to
do the towing awhile.
Jack is stronger than Benjamin, but
the cat, Tillie, is a weakling, conlpara'
lively. When Benjamin's chain was
made fast 10 her the gibbon staggered
along the deck with an air of supreme
confidence. Tillie occasionally held
back but she hadn't weight enough
to anchor, and whenever she attempt
ed to do so she was dragged forward
unceremoniously.
After his exhibition as a leader OF
animals, Bepjamin's collar was remov'
ed and he was permitted to take
charge of the ship. He ran forward
and climbed up on the bridge, much
as little boy might, using his hands
only on the rail. There he displayed
his arboreal instincts by climbing
stanchions and clambering up the
signal halliards. He showed dispo.
sition to stay aloft, and Engineer Drew
coaxed him down and let the visitors
see him drink Java coffee out of sau-
Ger while he stood upright.
Several animal dealers wanted to
buy Benjamin, but the price they Of
fered was not satisfactory to his own
ers. Gibbons are seldom seen here
abouts. Engineer Drew says Benja,
min was the only one of his kind in
Java.