In 1881, a Double Leg Amputee Railway Signalman Purchased a Baboon to Assist in Performing His Duties

There are numerous stories of famous human-animal collaborations worldwide. One of them is the tale of James "Jumpman" Wilde and Jack the Baboon from South Africa. This tale recently went viral on Reddit by u/MicV66, with a post having garnered 7k upvotes. 

The post featured a photo of this beloved pair. The caption described that a railway employee, James Wilde, purchased Jack in 1881 to help him in his duties. The former needed help because he was a double amputee. In a miraculous turn of events, Jack became the perfect assistant. The caption shared that the baboon could "push his wheelchair" and also "operate the railway signals under supervision." This state of affairs drew a lot of attention then and also led to an investigation. 

This pair was a hot topic during the later part of the 1800s, according to Chapala. The skyrocketing popularity made the railway station of Uitenhage, where they served, become renowned worldwide. Wilde supposedly loved to jump from one railway track to another. One day, while doing so, he slipped and fell under a moving train. This caused him to lose both legs below his knees. As he was no longer able to complete his duties as a signalman, the man was let go by the Cape Railway Government. 

Wilde did not give up and arranged for peg legs that would help him to move from one place to another. In order to further increase his mobility, the man also used a trolley featuring an intricate hand apparatus. It sort of functioned as a rudimentary wheelchair. His efforts bore fruit, and he was again employed at the railway station. 

The fateful meeting between Wilde and Jack happened one Saturday morning in Uitenhage's marketplace. Wilde's first glimpse of Jack was apparently the baboon leading an ox wagon into the market. The signalman was convinced that the animal could be a beneficial addition to his life. Wilde negotiated with Jack's owner and managed to purchase him. The baboon and signalman soon became an inseparable duo both in personal and professional life. 

Jack learned all the basics of signal work, according to The Expedition Project. His method of learning was imitation, as he copied actions like pulling the levers and changing signals multiple times. To the surprise of many, he soon became proficient in these important duties. Soon, he became an important part of the railway station management. His functions included warning the stationmaster when trains approached and changing signals to indicate safe or cautionary conditions. Oftentimes, the baboon also guided trains into different tracks. 

Everything was going well until one fine day, a woman complained to the railway company, stated Chapala. She was astounded to see a baboon being responsible for her and other passengers' safety. The authorities came and promptly fired both Wilde and Jack. The man, though, did not give up and showed full confidence in the baboon's capabilities. Wilde pleaded for a test, and the officials complied. Jack passed with flying colors in every challenge the authorities threw at him. The railway authorities were so impressed that they recognized him as a signalman. 

The pair's happiness lasted until 1890. That year, Jack contracted tuberculosis and died. Wilde was supposedly inconsolable as he lost both a partner and a friend. Jack's legacy survives in the form of his skull at the Albany Museum in Grahamstown, South Africa.

The comment section was impressed by the heartwarming story. u/DiamondDude51501 shared how Jack was simply amazing at his work and wrote, "Jack also had a flawless record as a signalman, where he made zero mistakes in his nine-year career before he passed away."