Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-04-25

K S1ulo duu W0S lSt 10 years OlQ. i was
not very big nor exceptionally streng,
but Just about the right size ani suffi-
ciently strong to make q fairly even
match for sJacko," IN Indian ape, in
y the terrible fight we had,.. some eight
I years ago, one moonlight night in the
middle Of the Bay OF Bengal.
s sJacko, q fine specimen of the larger
species. of brown.haired Indian ape,
had been presented to our skipper in
Calcutta by friend OF his. Our ship
was the Queen of Ensland,a fine full
rigged steel vessel of 2070 tons, then
sailing between Liverpool and Cal
cntta.
When standing upon his hind feet
the apes height must have been about
Y 3 feet 6 inches. Not sery tall, yoa
!, might say; but anyone who knows the
+ extraordinary strength of these crea-
lures and their wonderful agility will
I know that he WAS quite tall enough to
bels formidable creature for 16-year-
old boy to encounter single-handed.
z Somehow Jacko, who was docile
enough with any OF the other men,
seemed 90 have taken an especial dis
3 like to me, and I could never pass him
without being treated to a vicious
scoo-ch, and a succession OF. wild
leaps. any OF which would have lifted
him right upon me but for the sudden
tautening of his chain, which, tugging
at, his neck, invariably finished up"
his leap in disgracsful way, as it
twisted him; suddenly round and
brought him spraEling ignominiously
on the deck. He wass during the fine
weather, usually tethered to ring
bolt at the fore end of the No. 8 hatch.
Between this hatch and the main tif,-
rail was goodly space of open deck,
where was no other obstruction but
Z the main deck capstan "a high ''patent
purchase" affair, with a double top
which stood amidships.
On the night of my set-to with.
Il Jacko We were somewhere about the
middle Of the. Bay OF Bengal. a light,
monsoon Just contrived TO belly out
each sail and heel onr ship over about:
FIVE degrees or so a fine. clear night
; itwas, with a bright full moon above;
and mill-pond ripple on the sea
around.
The watch on deck had coiled them.
selyes-as is the general custom in
) fine weather-along the deck to the
dee side of the house, where, handy
FOR any call, they snored in their sleep.
The only hands aboard with their
eyes open were the lookout man, away
I for'ard in the eyes of the ship on the
fo'c's'le head; the second mate, upon
Z the weather side of the poop, and mJ-
self, on the lee side. At about five
bells u0.30 p. my the second sent me.
foT'ard to examine the side lights and
report upon them. He then went aft,
where, leaning over the taffrail, he
gave himself up sailor fashion to his
wakeful dreams.
went for'ard, passing Jacko, who
was asleep. I then mounted the fo'c's'le
i head, yarned awhile with the lookout,
examined the side lights, and finding
them burning satisfactorily, proceeded
( ieisurely aft, along the weather side.
Arriving at the main fferail I turned
to go to leeward, and utterly forge'ful
of the presence of Jacko, walked
sleepily, past the capstan.. The ape
awoke, perceived me, gave his usual
s vicious '.coo-ch" and sprang into the
mir towards me. Accus! omed to these
!, impotent leaps, / stood motionless,
hands in pockets, awaiting the usual
absurd ending of the performance.
This time, however. the chain
snapped close to his neck, and almost
!. before I was aware Of the fact, the
I brute's form, dark and shadow-like.
! came flying through the air, and he
was upon me.
He aIghted fairly upon my shcul-
ders; staggered to leeward under the
sudden weight and fell into the soup
pers, at the same time warding off
with my arm his ugly fs.ce from mine.
Brute-like, he seized that part. of my
! body nearest his Jaws and bit, fercely,
deep into my left shoulder; then,
springing suddenly from me, he leaped
into the main rigging, swarmed aloft,
and stopped, a dozen ratlins high, to
grin and .'coo-ch" at me. During the
whole time Of the extraordinary strug-
gle which followed I made no sound
with my lips-why, 1 do not know.
And yet 1 was nightly scared Of the
ape. fancy it was the suddenness
Of the attack, which gave me no time
even to think of calling for help and
awakening my shipmates.
Jumping to my feet excitedly, 1
stood upon the deck, with fists doubled
mp and in boxing attitude, awaiting
Jacko's next spring. Except for the
apes low chuckling coo-ch, !" we,
made no sound. I was barefooted, so
that even my footballs were noiseless.
Had I run, Jacko in all probability
would have lett me alone, but see ng
me standing somewhat defantly in his
accustomed place, he accepted my at
titude as challenge.
He came stealthily and cautiously
down the rigging to the top-gallant
rail, watched me awhile from there,
and then swarmed the royal back
stay TO o height OF abont 10 feet
never taking his eyes off me all the
time. Here he stopped and com.
menced to shake. the backstay violent
sly. But apparently seeing the use
lsssness OF wasting his strength in
this way, he presently stopped, then
leaped into the air, and ! saw his
shapeless body, extended arms and
doubled up legs outlined in the moon
light as he decsnded towards me.
Stepping aside to avoid him, I hit
him as he fell somewhere about the
Sschest with my clinched fist. The blow
Changed the course OF his fight, and
{ his body struck with thud against
the corner OF the hatch. Thinking I
now had him at my mercy,I sprang
upon him and seized him By the slack