BABOON AS SIGNALMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1920, Page 9

BABOON AS SIGNALMAN.

A FAITHFUL FRIEND. When the idea of the evolution of higher from lower forms of life occurred to Darwin he saw and noted that, if proved, it would change the whole philosophy of life and nature, including metaphysics.

Tlie baboon "Jack," who with, unfailing success worked the signals for nearly eight years on the Uitenhage line in South Africa, and performed other duties considered exclusively within tlie capacity of the genus homo, affords the strongest and.most direct evidence yet adduced in support of the Darwinian theory that 1 have read, says Mauriee I'. Johnson, writing in the Saturday Review.

James Kdwin Wide, a railway guard, being crippled by the loss of both legs below the knee, became a signalman about ISSO. One day he saw a halfgrown baboon for sale, and purchased him in order to lmve an amusing pet. "Jack" proved an apt pupil and an extraordinary faithful and affectionate friend- He learnt in a year or two to work the levers of the train signals. Anticipating his master after a short observation, he would hand the key of the signal box to the engine drivers, and afterwards replace it on its accustomed nail, the signal to do so being the sounding of the locomotive whistle four times. -His master, being a cripple, was wont to travel up and down on the railway by means of a trolley. This trolley Jsick would adjust on the rails and then push. When his master left, it, Jack would remove the trolley from the rails nnd replace it against the side of the platform. Jack came to know each one of the levers and the one hp was to pull at the appropriate moment. He stood 4ft liiy in height, and his strength was so great that he could pull the "distant'' signal three-quarters of a mile off with ease. On more than one occasion, ivhen his master had fallen and injured himself, Jack took over all his duties till he recovered. When Mr. Wide cultivated bis little patch of garden ground, hobbling about on his stumps, Jack would assist him by carrying away the rubbish. He worked the pump for irrigation. "He loved his master so dearly that—poor fellow—he worked himself almost to death and pumped sometimes till he fell exhausted. When his master was resting Jack would gently stroke his face or his hand, and with a touch as light as a woman's brush specks of dust off his clothes." When this baboon first began to work tlie signals on the Uitenhagc line "passengers raised a strong protest on the seore of risk of accident, but never once was Jack known to fail throughout a period of nearly eight years." He died at about the age of 11 years (nine of which were spent with Mr. Wide) from tuberculosis. Mr. Wide, who cannot even now refer to his memory without tears—though it is nearly 30 years since his demise —is still living. Emiri Pasha, the African explorer, is reported to nave seen a herd oi gorillas carrying torches. It seems nwre prol. • able that what he took for torches were burning sticks picked up frjm a lire It ft by natives. 7n countries where thsso creatures abound travellers tell us they will gather round the wood iirss left by them, chattering and warming themselves, but, though possessing a physical conformation equal to the task, in no case, has one ever displayed sufficient intelligence to keep them alight by throwing on more sticks: and some writers argue from this that had they just Riifiicient intelligence to do so the world would long ago have been destroyed by universal conflagration.