The Rampage of Mike the Monkey
A mischievous, dog-faced primate causes havoc in a Seattle lodging house, eventually earning himself a dungeon cell at the station.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A dog-faced monkey that had escaped from its quarters on Terrace street yesterday morning caused a great commotion in the Kennebec lodging house, corner of Yesler avenue and South Sixth street, by getting into the landlady's bed while she was out of the room. Her fright at finding a big, ugly, red-faced monkey waving his hand at her can only be imagined. Several of the lodgers tried to capture Mike, that is the animal's name, but he would not allow it. Finally, they gave up in despair and sent for a policeman. Jailer Stepler arrived, viewed the situation, and determined on a plan of action. He decoyed the monkey into a bag and thus having rendered him helpless, tied a rope around his neck. Mike took kindly to his new friend and walked to the police station quietly. Patsy Carroll, a trusty, aroused his anger by hitting him with a broom, but later in the day Mike evened up things by hitting Carroll in the eye. Then Mike went over to a market. At first he grabbed for a box of strawberries, but compromised on two peaches and some nuts. When Jailer Noble came on duty he retired Mike to a dungeon cell pending final arrangements by Stepler as to the disposal of the mischievous fellow. Stepler found the owner of the monkey in a restaurant on Commercial street and bought him outright.
“Her fright at finding a big, ugly, red-faced monkey waving his hand at her can only be imagined.”
Today, Terrace Street and Yesler Way are at the heart of historic Pioneer Square, though the lodging houses have long since given way to luxury apartments and offices. The chaotic, 'only-in-Seattle' nature of this report serves as a reminder that the city's downtown has always been a place where wild encounters—whether with animals or the eccentric characters of the era—are part of the urban fabric.
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