The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-24
SHIP MANNED by MONKEYS.
Trained GOriIias Save Vessel
From the Tempest's Fury.

From the Tempest's Fury.
Prof GARNER, whose startling theo-
ries regarding the possibility of gorillas
being trained for useful occupations caus-
ed so much comment last year in scien-
tihc circles. would doubtless be much
pleased could he have the pleasure of
talk with Capt. McLauchlan, of the Brit
ish steamer Nyanza, which arrived from
Sourabaya yesterday. Capt McLauchlan
brings an account of violent storm in
the Red Sea, during which he observed
a dhow save from destruction by her
crew, nearly all of which were gorillas
The Nyanza left Sourabaya, Java, on
Fan. for the Delaware Breakwater. Her
course was through the Indian Ocean,
Straits of Babel-mandeb and the Red
Sea When on the latter inhospitable sheet
OF water the incident occurred which has
been the source Of unbounded wonder TO
Capt McLauchlan and his crew.
We were well up the straits" said the
former yesterday when the barometer
fell rapidly and there was every indica-
ton OF the approach of one of those tenn
pests so dreaded in that vicinity. Between
4 and O'Clock in the evening of Feb 3
/ there was only one sail in sight, an Egyp-
tan dhow with lateen sails, on the same
pan as the generality of craft in those
waters. she was of large size and was APP
parently endeavoring to make port at Co
limo ahead of the brewing storm.
Soon we were within one-half mile of
her' 10 my surprise, l saw but three men
on deck, and no other sign of life any
Where. The hurricane was almost upon
US, and called the mates attention to
the dhow, implying that she was in very
dangerous position
He had better get some Of his rags
4
If he wants 10 stay afloat.'
scarcely had the words left his mouth
when most remarkable exhibition took
place on the decks of the dhoW. One of
her men raised the forehatch cover. and
~ the twinkling of an eye eight big COR
Mas swarmed out into the daylight In
an instant they had assembled the rigging
each to his appointed station, and in less
time than 1t takes to tell il the odd-lookinr
vessel was stripped of every sail and
snugly hove-to awaiting the oncoming cy-
clone -
The tempest broke over the Nyanza
ana her strange consort. The latter dis
appeared into the foam and mist. and
was lost 70 sight for nearly forty min
utes. When the sun reappeared she was
seen riding TRANQUILITY only mile or so
Off, and apparently uninjured
Capt. McLauchlan, scarcely believing
ther investigate the crew of the Egyptian
vessel. Luckily, he had an interpreter on
board and sought an interview with her
captain IL only served to verify the facts
as related. Several photographs were TAX
en- by Mate Walker. but all attempts to
solve the mystery attending the methods
pursued in training the odd crew failed.
Imagine crew of docile chimpanzees
or gor!Aas," said Capt McLaughlln. II
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-savins
devices. One of those fellows on the tail
end of brace or sheet would make a
'bucko mate with a Delaying pin laugh
with giee, While there would be no charge
OF murder as a result of collisions which
might occur between officers and crew"
Capt. Mclaughlin thinks that the inau-
guration of monkey crews would reorgan-
lie things aiioat The cost of sailing ves-
sells would be reduced TO a minimum
Jack the grumbler" would disapDear
from the forecastle and it would require
only two or three human officers to run
a ship. Naturally The 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
lakes care of his horses the owners would
keep strict account of them.
The idea of employing big monkeys as
sailors Is not without precedent Even
Admiral Schley has had an experience with
them which furnishes one of his most in
terestng stories. According to the New
York Marine Journal ii was when he was
executive officer of the Benicia, in the
East Indies, in 1868, that he had a highly
intelligent ourang-outang as a member of
mis- crew. 1t was educated by the boat
swain's mate and picked up a remarkable
degree of culture. audacity and the finest
trimmings of humanity among the men.
II learned its hammock number, slept IN
II regularly and picked it out of the luncn
unerringly every evening Its services
in shortening sail or other work aloft the
admiral says, were worth those of any five
men in The crew.
While Capt. McLauchlan realizes his ex-
perlence is not without precedent, he thinks
that the wonderfully able manner in which
the dhow was handled makes a most re-
markable story. The Nyanza has a big
cargo of l74l6 baskets of sugar She has
also eleven Philippine islanders among her
crew as sailors. They were shipped in
the far East and are the largest number
which have ever entered this port in that
cap9city.