Pavian railroad worker
Pavian railroad worker
James Wyde, a security guard and signalman on the Cape Town State Railway, nicknamed the Jumper, was known for jumping between wagons, but was allegedly hit by a train in 1880 and lost both legs. Looking for ways to keep his job, Wyde purchased a baboon bear from the local market who he thought was clever. Soon, the baboon, whom Wyde named Jack, learned many skills: bringing water to the owner, cleaning the room, pushing the wheelchair, and later moving arrows to change the movement of trains and driving a railway semaphore. At first, Jack carried out these actions on Wides command and under his supervision, but after a while he was able to carry them out completely on his own.
In 1881, the railroad administration opened an official investigation after passengers reported that a monkey was driving a railway semaphore at the Uitenhach station near Port Elizabeth. A special commission tested Jacks competence in the performance of his duties and the baboon was officially recruited, where he never made a mistake in 9 years. Jack died of tuberculosis in 1890.
Previously in Old Photos: The Girl and the Crocodiles, Eugene Jeep, and World War II.
James Wyde, a security guard and signalman on the Cape Town State Railway, nicknamed the Jumper, was known for jumping between wagons, but was allegedly hit by a train in 1880 and lost both legs. Looking for ways to keep his job, Wyde purchased a baboon bear from the local market who he thought was clever. Soon, the baboon, whom Wyde named Jack, learned many skills: bringing water to the owner, cleaning the room, pushing the wheelchair, and later moving arrows to change the movement of trains and driving a railway semaphore. At first, Jack carried out these actions on Wides command and under his supervision, but after a while he was able to carry them out completely on his own.
In 1881, the railroad administration opened an official investigation after passengers reported that a monkey was driving a railway semaphore at the Uitenhach station near Port Elizabeth. A special commission tested Jacks competence in the performance of his duties and the baboon was officially recruited, where he never made a mistake in 9 years. Jack died of tuberculosis in 1890.
Previously in Old Photos: The Girl and the Crocodiles, Eugene Jeep, and World War II.
Adult
Animal
Architecture
Building
Machine
Male
Mammal
Man
Monkey
Nature
Outdoors
Person
Shelter
Wheel
Wildlife
Wood
Contributed by OldPik on January 6, 2025
Image
You must be logged in to comment on the photos.
Log in
Log in
No comment yet, be the first to comment...