English Extracts.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 504, 29 August 1867, Page 1

English Extracts.

Escape of Gorillas. —(>n Friday and Saturday in last week, Slanders’ Grand National Star Menagerie had been exhibiting at Helper, Derbyshire, and on the conclusion of the feeding of the animals' on Saturday night the whole of the dens! were properly fastened, and a night watchman, as usual, left in charge. Mr Manders, who travels with the menagerie! himself, retired to rest about two o’clock on Sunday morning; having previously made a personal inspection of the caravan, finding everything apparently safe and secure. The watchman was sitting smoking a pips at the side of a large coke fire in the centre of the enclosure, about halfpast five o’clock, when ha suddenly felt himself pinioned from behind. He tried in vain to free himself, and ho shouted lustily for help, Mr. Handers, hearing the outcry of the watchman, and the fmious barking of two large mastiff dogs, opened a side window of the carriage in which he lives, and was startled to see the watc.nnau in the grip of one of the large gorillas ho had recently added to the menagerie. Mr Manders, calling to the iVdtcuman to keep himself perfectly quiet and still, hastily dressed himself, and arming himself with a large sledge hammer, went to the rescue. Immediately the 1 gorilla noticed the approach of Mr Manners it released the watchman, who was considerably more frightened than hurt, aud it at once sprang up one of the polos, and on the tilts of the menagerie. Mr! Manders immediately made an inspection' of the caravan m which the three gorillas had been left perfectly safe the previous evening, and was horror-struck to find that the animals had torn up the flooring of the caravan, and bad aU three made

their ssnapo. It -wax then discovered that the trio were seated comfortably on the top ridge of the canvas roof, evidently holding high council as to their future proceedings. Mr Matadors immediately despatched a messenger to the various lodgings of the keepers, grooms, &c ., attached to the menagerie. A lorn* ledder ~-z rr. J --J I -veu, om; uiic <jl IUO iecpcrS, with a heavy riding whin j-j -5-i.„ J *“b ■ *“Rj mwiuuou ™ uu-a roof ot the menagerie, but from the threatening attitude assumed by the gorillas on noticing his approach, Mr Manders ordered the man to descend again. A gun loaded with blank cartridge was then fired at the animals, and this had the effect of dislodging them from their elevated position. The gorillas sprang from the ridge with a horrid yell, ran along the roofs of the caravans, and jumping from off" the elephant wagons, immediately proceeded at a rapid swing trot along the Derby road. The news that something peculiar had occurred at the menagerie having spread like wildfire through Belper, a large por tion of the inhabitants had gathered round the caravans. As soon as the three gorillas were noticed seated on the top ridge of the menagerie, the excitement was intense. As soon as the gun was fired, and the gorillas made their downward movement, a panic seized the bystanders, and away went the mob in all directions. Mr Manders, mounting his pony, at once proceeded at a gallop along the Derby road, instructing some of the keepers to follow on horseback immediately. Mr Manders, after a sharp I spin of about a mile or two, came up with the hindmost of the gorillas, who were proceeding rlopg the road in Indian file. Riding alongside the animal, which displayed its molars in a threatening manner, Mr Manders administered a crushing blow with a large bar of iron gas tubing across its loins, earning it to drop instantly Having some coils of rope attached to his saddle bow, Mr Manders dismounted, and with the assistance of one of the keepers, who had arrived on the scene of action, gorilla No. 1 was effectually secured, and placed in an adjoining stable for safety, while the chase was resumed. The capture of the second gorilla was very easily accomplished, ho being stunned by a large stone thiown at his head by one of the keepers. It now only remained to secure the third animal, which was discovered in the branches of a large oak growing by tho wayside. His gorillaship appeared wonderfully to appreciate his new quarters, springing from branch to branch with marvellous celerity for so large an animal. Means of various kinds were adopted to capture him, but fur a length of time with no success. Stones were thrown in profusion, several guns were fired, and at length tliree or lour of the keepers, well armed, ascended the tree, with strict orders to shoot tne gurilla in case of any determined resistance oil its part, ihe gorilla, finding itsed hardly pressed, sprang from the tree on 10 the highway again, nnd was imme diately followed by Air Alan lers and his attendant horsemen. The chase was now exciting, and tho spires of the Derby ehuiches came in view. The morning was now advancing, and Air Alanders! learing if tho gorilla got into the streets ol Derby some serious accident might take place, called to tho keepers, who had load d firearms, to shoot tho animal. Several shots were fired at him, none taking efieet, then in an instant the gorilla turned round and faced his pursuers One ot the keepers having a long rope with a slip noose at one end, contrived to get behind the animal, aud skilfully throwing the lasso, the gorilla was secured altera terrible struggle. It is a matter of congratulation (hue all these stiri'inff scenes were enacted without the slightest' injury to any person, and we may now aud that a new flooring of a more substantial character having been laid down in the caravan, tho three runaways wore consigned to their old quarters, and the caravans left Belper in the course of the even-i ing.—Manchester “Alliance News.”

Singulab Disease in Ireland, —The Chronicle, of the Bth June, had an interesting article upon a disease which has lately appeared in Ireland. We reprint the greater part of this article below For more than fourteen mouths a mysterious disease has been displaying a rapid and fatal activity in Ireland. The first case occurred as far back as the loth of March, 1866. An apprentice to a surgeon in Dublin had felt unwell, and remained; indoors during the day, taking his meals, however, as usual. He had a bad night, aud complained of headache in the morning ; and his master then remarked some spot* upon his chest. Dr. Stokes, an eminent Dublin physician, was immediately sent for, and saw the patient at II a.m. He found him perfectly collected, and in apparently ordinary strength; bat the left arm aud left breast were thickly covered with large purple patches of the deepest hue. Both medical men recognized that they wore in presence of a case which, if au attack of typhus fever, was certainly such as neither ol them had ever witnessed Oefore. \\ hen Dr. Stokes returned two hours later a great change had taken place, ihe patient was as self-possessed as before, but the left arm and breast were now completely black. At half-past one the young man was sitting up in bed, discussing his I case with Ins master; and, as he complained of great thirst, the latter went trom the bedside to the window to miz a cooling draught, but turning round almost immediately he saw to Ids horror, that collapse had sot in, and by 2 p.tn., within taenty-four hours of the first sign

of the appearance of any formidable symptoms, and within half-au-hour of being iu full possession of all his faculties and of a considerable amount of muscular strength, the patient was dead. A few other cases occurred during the spring and early euminer, all presenting the same general feaance ot cholera in August this srrango disease vanished. With the approach of spring, however, it reappeared. One of the earliest of the new cases was that of a healthy child about five years old. Hera the first symptom of illness was noticed at 8 a.m.; at 11 a.m. a small purple eruption appeared, generally diifused over the body ; at 1 p.m. the whole body wae covered with, large purple patepes; coma gradually supervened, and at 3 p.m. death. The last audible utterances of the child were complaints of cold. Another case occurred at the Portobollo Cavalry Barracks on the 17th of April. An officer had complained on the previous morning of feeling slightly unwell. He got feverish towards night, had little sleep, suilered from headache, and was occasionally incoherent. In the morning, about 9 o’clock, purple spots appeared, which spread rapidly both in size and number, until the whole body became covered with them. Collapse set in with the usual suddenness, and at 11 a.m. he was dead. Within twenty minutes after death the superficial purple hue had given place to a rose red. In the following week a boy about nine or ten yeare old was attacked in the same rapid way. When seen at 1 p.m. his body was all dotted with purpla specks ; the pulse was scarcely perceptibla at the wrist, but the action of the heart was perfect; he was in full possession of muscular strength and mental faculties, and felt so little ill that he complained bitterly of being kept in bed. At 7 p.m. ha was dead. In the beginning of April fha first provincial cases were noticed. They were connected with the troops who had been engaged in pursuit of the insurgents through the Galtea mountains. Two or three soldiers, a married woman, and a couple of children were attacked. The woman and one of the soldiers recovered; the others died. The fatal cases were remarkable for great suffering, which no skill seemed capable of relieving. Indeed tho children appear to have screamed themselves to death in the violence ot the pain, which no efforts could mitigate. In all chose cases there was indication of considerable inflammation of the brain and spinal column. A special interest attaches to the military cases, as throwing some light on the question of contagiousness. The mother of the children washed for soma of the soldiers of the flying column, among whom we have just mentioned the attacks of the disease occurred, and in this way tho disorder may, it is conceived hava been communicated. At this moment a woman is in the Meath Hospital in Dublin with her young child, both suffering from this malady ; and Dr. Stokes, who has them personal! «• in charge, has declared nis conviction that this is an unquestioaible case of contagion. It appears, then, that a strange and terribly fatal disease exists iu Ireland, and as yet chiefly in Dublin. The general features of the preliminary stage are bilious vomiting and sometimes purging, and usually headache of unparalleled intensity, with incohercncy, ■ Then comes the purple eruption, accompanied iu most cases by great debility, and followed by collapse and death. The duration of the illness is of a threefold variety. In the first, where the period is reckoned by hours, one case was fatal in four hour* (rora tac occurrence of the first symptoms; | but the average is eighteen hours. Tho i second variety includes from throe to six days from the first indications of indisposition to tho fatal issue. The third variety, in which alone any recoveries have taken place, embraces a period extending over many days, and even weeks.

The Gold Discoveeees of —lt was in a millrace belonging to John A. Sutter, a wealthy grazier, the owner 0} a principality of fifty square leagues ia California, and of thousands of cattle, that gold was first found, in 1813; und James \V. Marshall, the superintendent of the mill, an industrious and thriving American, was the discoverer. Mr Dunbar, iu a very readable little volume, entitled “ The Discovery of Gold in California,” tells the story of these two men, who according to all probability ougne now to ba wealthy beyond bounds, while in fact they were both rained and reduced to absolute want by their luck. Colonel Sutter i.,st his cattle by open robbery, was driveu from bis estate by squatters crazed with desire for gold ; was involved in expensive lawsuits to recover his lands ; and was finally and entirely ruined by an adverse decision in a case covering two thirds of his property, which he had sold with warrantry deeds. Marshall was a homelesi wanderer for years. Ho complains bitterly in a letter that ho could settle no« where in California, because every miner thought where Marshall put in a spade gold must be plentiful. A mark like that of Cain seemed to be upon him ; he nearly starved to death, and is at this day a poor fanner on a small piece of land. It is a curious history, aud a sad one, too. If republics were not ungrateful, California would long before this have granted to Sutter and Marshall at least a competence* ter their old ags. Mr Dunbar gives soma graphic sketches of the eager, wild rush for gold which followed the first discovery. Human natnre does not change. Help* relates in uis story of the Spanish

hi Anjerisf, th*t whoa Cartel was ppoa the Jfeiieaa shore, Mm tezuma sent gp sstute plenipotentiary to l?iu) to §sk Wh&t he wanted so far away from home. if Tell your m ister,’* said the cynical Spagiffru, ; tuts I have a disets* «*f the lis art Which gold only can cure." Tina disease became epidemic again, in 181 S, in America.