The Apes Came Back.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 13, 27 March 1912, Page 54

The Apes Came Back.

An entertaining story of how some captive monkeys escaped from their house, and how they enjoyed their liberty, conies from Tokyo. A few years ago. writes the municipal authorities at. Mino-M.aehi, in the province of Gifu, spent a good deal of money in laying out a publie park and adorning it . with a magnificent monkey house in which a large number of apes were installed for the amusement and education of the natives. On New Year’s Eve. during the absence of the night-watchman, who had gone to the celebrations, the monkeys dug a hole 'through the floor of their house and escaped. The “gaol-de-livery” was discovered in due course and a search instituted, but without success. On New Year's Day, however, when guests arrived at the District Commissioner’s office to pay their respects 'to that official, they found the building in the possession of a band of over one hundred monkeys, who, not content with destroying the records and books, had eaten up the fruit and sweetmeats which had been prepared for the Commissioner's friends. The local defences were duly manned, and a storming party succeeded in driving out the invaders, making prisoners of some, but the greater number got off to the woods.