The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-05-13
CREW OF MONKEYS.
TRAINED GORILLAS SAVED THE
BRITISH VESSEL. ~.
Tars That Didn't ,Csrowl-Captain Re-
'lates a Remarkable Incident He and
His Crew Witnessed In the Red Sea
Made Good Seamen.

frOI. GARNER, WHOSE StdrlluS AAeo-
ries regarding the possibility of goril-
las being trained for useful occupa-
tions caused so much comment last
year in scientific circles, would doubt
less be- much pleased could he have
the pleasure of a talk with Capt. Nc
Lauchlan of the British steamer N.Y.
ANA, which arrived recently in Phila-
delphia from Sourabaya. Capt. Nc
Lauchlan brings an account of a vio-
lent storm in the Red sea, during
which he observed dhow saved from
destruction by her crew, nearly all of
which were gorillas.
The Nyanza left Sourabaya, Java, on
Jan. 4 for the Delaware breakwater.
Her course was through the Indian
ocean, straits of Babel-mandeb and
the Red sea. When on the latter in
hospitable sheet of water the incident
occurred which has been the source of
unbounded wonder to Capt. McLauch-
Ian and his crew.
I'VE were we'll up the straits said
the former, when the barometer fell
rapidly and there was every indication
of the approach of one of those tenn
pests so dreaded in that vicinity. Be-
tween and 6 o'clock in the evening of
Feb..2 there was only one sail in sight,
an Egyptian dhow with lateen sails,
on the same plan as the generality of
craft in those waters. She was OF
Large size and was apparently endeav-
oring to make port at >Colino ahead of
the brewing storm.
sSoon we were within .one-half mile
of her. To my surprise saw but three
men on deck and no other sign of life
anywhere. The hurricane was almost
upon us and 1 called the mates atten-
tion to the dhow, implying that she
was in a very dangerous position.
"'He had better get some of his rags
in,' he replied, and in short order, too,
if he wants to stay afloat.'
Scarcely had the words left his
hibition took place on the deck of the
Elhow. One of her men raised the fore.
hatch cover, and in the twinkling Of an
eye eight big gorillas swarmed out into
the daylight. In an instant they had
.ascended the rigging, each to his ap-
pointed station, and in less time than
it takes to tell it the odd-looking YES
sci was stripped of every sail and snug
ly 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
minutes. When the sun reappearei
she was seen riding TRANQUILITY only a
mile Or so off and apparently unin-
jured.
Capt. McLauchlan, scarcely believ-
ing the evidences of his senses, resolved
to further Investigate the crew of the
Egyptian vessel. Luckily, he had an
Interpreter on board and sought an in
terview 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
pursued in training the odd crew
failed.
n"Imagine a crew of docile chimpan-
zees Or gorrillas," said Capt McLauch-
Ian. IT 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 topsail yards,
or other labor-saving devices. One of
those fellows on the tail end of brace
or sheet would make a 'bucko' mate
with Delaying pin laugh with glee,
while there would be no charges of
murder as result of collisions which
might occur between officers and
crew."
Capt. MeLauchlan thinks that the in
auguratfon of monkey crews would re-
organize things afloat. 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
'1'hands'' would be as well taken care
Of as possible, also, for as property
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. III.
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. Ac-
cording to the New York Marine Jour-
nal, it was when he was executive Off
Ger of the Benicia, in the East Indies.
In 1868, that he had highly intelli-
gent ourang-o -outang as member of his
crew. It was educated by the boat
sWain's mate and picked up remark
able degree OF culture. audacity and the
finer trimmings Of humanity among
the men, It learned its hammock
number, slept in 1t regularly and
picked It out Of the bunch unerringly