The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-11-17

ANA I-sful bunch of Bsnsns-
IL have had some strange crews IN
nv experience said old Captain BEN
son. hut the funniest kind Of ships
company that | ever sailed with was
one u big African apes. and II happen
"a m this way
lit was during that period of the 4
lifetime Of the great Snowman +. I. \
Barnum. when he had his museum ON \
lower Broadway III New York city, I
t..ar my vessel was chartered by him TO I
20 out To Africa and 70 bring back "A
cargo If wild animals that his agents
ia that county, had collected We had
thre. biz aud two baby elephants IN the
hold, also rhinocerU~ and giraffe, /
while in wooden houses on deck We car
ried several zebras. number OF ante
lone and deer. also ten huge apes as
large a. men and looking in the face
exactly like the cartoons OF the Elmer
AID Isle natives found IN the humorous
papers. The apes were very Intelligent
ana were capable vi being taught many
amusing tricks.
ION our voyage home l had occasiCd
a number 81 times 10 advise the officers
and men against teasing these creatures,
telling them that they were known 70
possess "A good memory and were re-
yeureful and would surely make II
uoiut 10 get even with their tOrmentO-s
al the first opportunity, bat as the
heavy wooden bars divided them from
the hairy faces that scOwl,d at their
L. n
give no heed 20 my warnings The
mates and sailors took good care. how
. ever. ID pass al safe distance from the
cage in going about their work, for on
two or three occasions the alert occu-
pants had been known 20 suddenly
!. thrust forth long muscular arm and
, grip the unwary seaman III sucn saw
, aye way As To elicit howl Of pain ON
: Jacks part l could 70 among them
? without the slightest fear and several
time, entered their cage for the purpose
: OF caring for sickly little baby ape
that had been born just after leaving
Africa. and for which the ocean voyage
. subsequently proved too heroic, as 1t
: died before We reached New York.
lone morning the crew were all
alofr or the yards furling sail. for II
= was blowing strong aud the ship had
a been obliged 10 reduce her spread OF
: canvas | had taken the wheel. and the
; two mates were gong from mast %
e mast helping the work along by haul
& ing upon the gear a. II was required.
The apes had been fed short time be
!, fore. and it must have been that had
!, careles-ly fastened the tar that secured
the cage door. for while | was looking
aloft heard startled yell from my
TWO officers. aud the next moment they
were climbing up the rigging like mon
KEYS themselves while the crowd o.
apes came le.lpiug aft IN pursuit o
e. them.
Then the funniest scene that eve
witnessed was presented. six Of TIN
" apps took stations al the foot II tn
shrouds. 20 that each mast was guarde'
- on both sides. and the other four mount
"a the -hr0uds with all the agility o
sailors and sought 10 reach the men
The apes followed the men a the.
mounted higher and higher TO escape
then. when the latter could climb II
farther. they would grasp stay tina
led 10 SOME place of temporary safet
and slide down il, SOMETIMES goin
from one spar 20 another III this way
For nearly an hour this imprornptu e,
hiliti0n continued. and during all thl
time the sentrie- on deck hoped abor
in excitement, uttering cultural yelp
which | have no doubt were crl,s OF er
couragement and advice 10 their FRIEND
aloft.
"At last the big monkeys gave mp Il
chase and came down on deck, whel
they Joined the others, and all sat {
their launches. gazing up az the creN
occasionally showing their rows
n wicked looking teeth, a. much AZ
n sav. All right, my fine fellows. ~
.tay where you are If you know what
good tor your health
II had been thinking out plan
recover possession OF my snip, and nc
nut IL in execution. Apes are very fol
n n bananas. and in my room | bad
fine bunch that had been green VIII
n placed On board. but which had ripen
perfectly since that time. IL gave
something ul Il heart spasin To part WI
them, but | considered that II
scheme wUr ked the sacrifice would 1
Le "A great uile. sol dashed the wheel
We keep the ship steady, then brought
fruit from below. carried II forward
full view Of the apes and placed II vii
IN their cage. standing beside the q,
NJ aud carelcssly eating banana thai
had hrokcn from the bunch
The apes crowded inside and fell
III work On those bananas a. though II v
an eating match. with prize for
one that consumed the greatest NUM-
mo IN a given time. 1 slammed the door
and fastened 1t upon my mutineers, a
you may be assured that for the
md mainder Of that voyage tine security
md that gate wa carefully looked after. :
Harper's Round Table.
,aee Reflection
.Tha deaf and dumb wonder l. 2