Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1895 — A BABOON FLAGS TRAINS. [ARTICLE]

A BABOON FLAGS TRAINS.

His Master a Switchman Who Has Lost Both Legs. A baboon is in the service of the Cape Government Railway Department. Cape Colony, the principal British colony in South Africa, own the railroads within its borders, and therefore the baboon is one of the great army of officials in the British Empire. He is stationed at a point on the railroad between Port Elizabeth and Mitenhage. He assists, or perhaps it would be better to say, is' assisted by an old switchman, who has lost both legs. This man is his master, and the noble baboon is glad to be able to support him in bis misfortune. The baboon does all the work of a competent switchman and much more. No one who knows him believes that he will ever be found negligent in his responsible duties. The co-operation of himself and the man is a valuable assurance of safety. The routine part of the work has become so familiar to the baboon thgt he would be incapable of forgetting things where the man might do so through mental preoccupation. The baboon not only switches the trains, but he flags them He understands perfectly when told to exhibit a red, a white, or a green signal. He does many other things that will seem incredible to people who have never met members of his family under favorable conditions. It should be remembered that monkeys of the better class seldom visit this country. The few who do are quickly enfeebled in health by the climate and are then in no condition to exhibit their talents. This baboon belongs to the chacma family of South Africa, and consequently has a very high standing for intelligence among apes. The doings of his family, not always admirable, are recorded both in natural history and in novels aud they are very interesting reading. The switchman’s baboon pushes a little trolley from his master’s little hut to Port Elizabeth for the purpose of fetching tolls, provisions and other things. He cleans his master’s house, prepares his food, spreads the table for him, and waits on him and generally lightens the burden of his lonely life. It may well be thought that the baboon must have given striking proof of his ability before a government department consented to his occupying this position. The master was a very faithful and efficient workman, and lost his legs in an accident upon the road. In consideration of his good service and the fact that he met with a disaster on the railroad, he was allowed to take his old place when he got well. At first he struggled about and did his work on two wooden legs, but it was terribly wearing and he felt he could not stand it long. Then his pet baboon put a most beautiful and encouraging idea into his head. The animal was always at his side, and displayed the greatest willingness to help. Could he possibly be trained to do the work of the lost legs? The man set to work to train him, and was delighted at the quickness with which the baboon learned his duties. Shortly after the baboon assumed the active work of the switch station, the head of the railroad department came that very way on a little tour of inspection. He surprised the baboon on duty, aud was naturally surprised himself. He did not discharge him at once, as some would have done, but gave him a little attention. The result was that the baboon demonstrated his efficiency and secured himself in his position.