Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-14
MANNED BY A S|M|An GREW.
Trained Gorillas Save a Vessel Fr1m
the Tempesfs Fury.

JACK TARS THAT DON'T GRUMBLE
CAPTAIN OF THE BRITISH SHIP
NYANZA TELLS OF A MOST RE-
MARKABLE INCIDENT HE AND
HIS CREW WITNESSED IN THE
RED SEATTLE MERCHANT
MARINE OF THE FUTURE.
Philadelphia, March 13.-Prof. Car
nier, whose startling theories regard
ing the possibility of gorillas being
trained for useful occupations caused
SO much comment last year in sclen-
tific circles, would doubtless be much
pleased could he have the pleasure
of a talk with Captain Mclaughlin,
of the British steamer Nyanza, which
arrived from Sourabaya yesterday
Captain Mclaughlin brings an account
of a violent storm in the Red sea,
during which he observed a dhow
saved from destruction by her crew,
nearly all of which were gorillas.
The Nyanza left Sourabaya, Java, on
January 4 for the Delaware break
water. Her course was through the
Indian ocean, Straits of Babel-mandeb
and the Red sea. When on the lat
ter inhospitable sheet Of water the
incident occurred which has been the
source of unbounded wonder to Cap
tain Mclaughlin and his crew.
A RATHER QUEER CREW.
''We were we'll up the straits said
Che former yesterday, when the ba-
rometer fell rapidly and there was
Dvery idication of the approach of one
If those tempests so dreaded in that
vicinity. Between and 6 o'clock in
the evening of February there was
only one sail in sight, an Egyptian
Nhow with lateen sails, on the same
plan as the generality of craft in those
waters. She was of large size and was
apparently endeavoring to make port
at Colino ahead of the brewing storm.
Soon we were within one-half mile
of her. To my surprise I saw but three
E1en on deck. and no other sign Of life
anywhere. The hurricane was almost
upon us and | called the mates atten-
ton to the dhow, implying that she
was in very dangerous position.
" He had better get some of his rags
sn,' he replied, and in short order, too,
If he wants to stay af1oat.'
Scarcely had the words left his
mouth when a most remarkable ex-
hibitiCn took place on the decks of the
uhow. One of her men raised the fore
bitch cover, and in the twinkling of
an eye eight big gorillas swarmed out
into the daylight. In an instant they
had assembled the rigging, each to his
appointed station, and in less time than
It takes to tell it the odd-looking yes
sci was stripped of every sail and snug
~ hove to awaiting the oncoming cy-
clone.
''The tempest broke over the Nyanza
and her strange consOrt. The latter
disappeared into the foam and mist and
was lost to sight for nearly forty min
utes. When the sun reappeared she
was seen riding TRANQUILITY only mile
Or so off and apparently uninjured.
Captain Mclaughlin, scarcely be-
lieveing the evidence of his senses, re-
solved to further investigate the crew
of the Egyptian vessel. Luckily he had
an interpreter on board and sought an
Interview with her captain. 1t only
served to verify the facts as related.
Several photographs were taken by
Mate Walker, but all attempts to solve
the mystery attending the methods pur-
sued in training the odd crew failed.
Imagine a crew of docilo chimpan-
ices or gorillas," said Captain Nc
Laughlan. 81 don't know which they
were, but each more powerful than a
couple Of men. No need of donkey
engines to help hoist sails, double top
sail yards or other labor-saving de-
vices. One of these fellows on the tail
end of brace or sheet would make a
'buckoo' mate with a Delaying pin
laugh with glee, while there would be
no charges of murder as a result of
officers and crew."
Captain Mclaughlin thinks that the
Inauguration of monkey crews would
re-organize things af1oat. The cost Of
sailing vessels would be reduced to a
minimum, Jack the Grumbler' would
disappear from the forecastle and it
would require only two or three human
officers to run a ship. Naturally the
'shands'' would be as we'll taken
care Of as possible, also, for as prop
erty they would cost money, and on the
same principle that man takes care
of his horses the owners would keep a
strict account of them.
ADMIRAL SCHLEY'S EXPERIENCE.
The idea of employing big monkeys
as sailors is not without precedent
Even Admiral Schley has had an eX-
perience with them, which furnishes
one of his most interesting stories
According to the New York Marine
Journal it was when he was executive
officer of the Benicia, in the East In
dies, in 1868, that he had a highly in
telligent ourang-outang as a member
of his crew. 1t was educated by the
boatswains mate and picked up a re-
markable degree of culture, audacity
and the finer trimmings of humanity
among the men. 1t learned its ham
mock number, slept in it regularly and
picked it out of the bunch unerringly
every evening. Its services in short
ening sail or other work aloft, the ad-
miral says, were worth those of any
five men in the crew.
While Captain Mclaughlin realizes
his experience is not without prece-
dent, he thinks that the wonderfully
able manner in which the dhow was
handled makes most remarkable
story. The NyanZa has a big cargo Of
17,416 baskets of sugar. She has also
eleven Philippine Islanders among her