BABOON LOOSE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19009, 9 May 1924, Page 4

BABOON LOOSE.

CITY BOARDERS CHASED. SHORT-LIVED SENSATION. CAPTURED ON ROOF. SYDNEY, May 2. The antics of an escaped baboon at q city residental chambers on Wedne created a short-lived sensation. Ha*' « frightened several men and wome ( ,. eventually submitted quietly te rest” by his owner. The animal made his appearan- - * the People’s Palace, crowded visitors for the Easter season, after the guests had finished fast. Most of the housemaids were gaged cleaning the rooms when fearsome-looking stranger appears. -•* the back fire escape, having esc- v.- 1 from captivity a few doors down SV’ Street. He was dragging his ch • ; behind him, and it was the rattle 1 the links that attracted attention •’ the visitor. Having climbed through a on the first floor he paused at one the doors and rattled his chain in ominous manner. Two girls in the room screamed and ran out of another door, and the baboon, more in fright than anger, it is thought, followed them in loping leaps. A man appeared in the passage, andy recognising the same enemy which naJ kept him in captivity, the baboon gave up the chase and clambered through a window to the fire escape. The man followed, and, emboldened by the chastened appearance of the fugitive, approached too close, and was bitten on the hand. The babo<>o mounted three floors with wonderful rapidity, and scared a number of persons standing on a landing. One girl threw him an apple to stop his onward progress, but he refused iq play Adam to her Eve, and allowed the tempting bait to pass untouched He rushed up tho fire escape to the roof, and threw' a scare into some painters working there,, while some of the guests promenading in tho sunlight, scampered for safety. T’ie baboon centred his attention or one ma’n and chased him round and round the roof. Unable to catch him or, perhaps, tiring of the unwonte< exercise, he came to rest on a scat and soon had the roof to himself. There his master found him, in un disputed possession, and after adminis tering certain admonitory remark! (unprintable), he took the chastened animal back to his home.