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Today in Chicago History: Brookfield Zoo gorilla cradles small child who fell into her Tropic World habitat
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 16, according to the Tribune's archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Vintage Chicago Tribune Extra Edition: ELVIS IS DEAD!!!!!Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
1927: New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth became the first baseball player to hit a home run over the roof of a new double deck in right field at Comiskey Park. It was his 37th home run of the season. 'Such a blow started from Wrigley field would jeopardize the lives of golfers on the Lincoln park course, it was estimated,' Edward Burns wrote.
The Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 8-1.
1930: Bushman, a 40-pound, 2-year-old gorilla from Cameroon, arrived at Lincoln Park Zoo.
The Tribune reported he had been captured by J.L. Buck, an animal hunter from Camden, Massachusetts, who killed the young gorilla's mother in order to get to him. Lincoln Park Zoo purchased the primate for $3,500 (or almost $68,000 in today's dollars) — a practice that was common in those days. At the time, there was not much known about this species, their diet and their rearing. The Tribune reported the youngster feasted heartily on 'hot dogs, bananas, watermelon and chicken' when he first appeared at his new home. He was given the name Bushman by zookeeper Eddie Robinson.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Our favorite animals who became celebritiesDuring his lifetime, Bushman was seen by an estimated 100 million people. More than 100,000 of them came to the zoo on a June day in 1950, as rumors spread that he was dying. He was not, and later that year tasted a bit of freedom when he escaped from his cage — the door was left open — and wandered around the kitchen and some hallways for a few hours. A tiny garter snake frightened him back to his cage, but that only further endeared him.
His death was announced Jan. 1, 1951. Thousands rushed to the zoo, hoping it was, again, just a rumor. What they discovered was the ape's cage, empty but for a life-size black-draped portrait of Bushman. A brass band played taps. Many fans placed flowers by the cage.
Visitors to The Field Museum can still see Bushman, whose remains were preserved by taxidermists.
1965: United Airlines Flight 389 crashed into Lake Michigan near Highland Park. Witnesses saw a flash of light and heard a thunderous roar as the 727 was set to land at O'Hare International Airport. All 30 passengers aboard died.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: What our critics wrote about the first 'Top Gun,' 'Jurassic Park,' 'Toy Story' movies1989: 'Uncle Buck' starring John Candy, which was filmed in Chicago and the suburbs, was released in theaters. The Tribune gave it 3 out of 4 stars.
1996: Western lowland gorilla Binti-Jua — with her own baby clinging to her back — picked up, then cradled a 3-year-old boy who tumbled more than 15 feet into a pit at Brookfield Zoo's Tropic World exhibit.
Zoo officials said the 160-pound gorilla, who had received training on how to be a good mother, appeared to act out of maternal compassion for the human child.
'Another gorilla walked toward the boy, and she kind of turned around and walked away from the other gorillas and tried to be protective,' said a zoo visitor.
Keepers recovered the boy, who suffered a head injury during the fall. Newsweek named Binti-Jua its hero of the year in a poll.
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