Going Ape

The hauntings of Hans Nagel... Based on a true story with some added fiction

Going Ape                    By Sami Khalil

The haunting of zookeeper Hans Nagel

May I portray an abhorrence spawning the gamut of horror? Though by no means certain, this may cause a great deal of concern. Thus, gleaning insights from the proclivity of violence, I must clear the name of famed zookeeper Hans Nagel. For when the unknown comes to terms with facts, it speaks of deduced sinister character. 

A fixture at the zoo in Bayou city, loved by all who knew him, he wowed the young and old in his marvelous abilities to tame a menagerie of wild beasts. It goes without saying he was a daredevil, with his showmanship featured in local newspapers. Hailing from Germany (born 1892-died 1941) of Dutch ancestry, he was hired as the first director of the Houston zoo in 1925, after it was moved to Hermann Park to house a bigger selection of wild animals.

Even with his extensive expertise due to the fact he was a trainee at Hagen Beck Animal Company, he still had wounds from different attacks by them, ending up in the hospital many times. With heavy German accent, boisterous behavior, he was known for not fitting in the mold, add that with many altercations with the encroaching policemen.

One in particular was a corrupt one, a biased scoundrel, whose ties with the mafia exacted bribes from many people like Hans Nagel. With straitlaced manners, Hans finally got fed up with him, told him that it was his duty to police the zoo and not the city’s.

“We will see whose business it was policing the park.” Jack, the policeman, sped away in his car after saying that. Now this same policeman had studied on Darwin, the agility of apes and their strength. Although docile at a young age, he found out chimps become ferocious in adulthood with brute strength. Some even estimated it has the strength of several grown men.

It was a sun-drenched day at the zoo, heat beating down at the animals, Hans in “his labor of love” was tending to them. The zoo had been gentrified recently, and due to Jack’s knowledge where keys are kept, he camouflaged himself as a tourist, went behind the scenes, got the key for the apes' cage, then unlocked it letting them out.

Suddenly, dread overtook all calmness, for the chimps went on a killing spree before the police was called in to shoot every one of them. The scene was staged by Jack, for the public went into a boiling rage after blaming the zookeeper for negligence, asking for the death penalty. The chief sent Jack to arrest him, and by Han’s refusal, the policeman exacted revenge, shooting him six times then claiming it was all in self-defense. The city acquitted Jack and he went about his usual business.

No semblance of normality ever returned to the zoo, for Hans became a footnote ghost afterwards. Louder than whispers, his voice was heard from beyond the dark thoroughfares. He commanded the animals at will, sending the chimps at night to Jack’s house. Poor soul, he could not escape the jaws of death. A missive was sent to the police chief with a key in it. It had Jack’s fingerprints all over.  

  

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

It's a fascinating story. Some truly believe the Houston Zoo is still haunted by Hans. He was its first zookeeper and lion tamer. As you say, he was killed at the zoo under strange circumstances in 1941. I know I would not want to be at the zoo on Halloween! You have a great way of telling chilling haunted stories. You should be sitting around a campfire with flashlights, Sami! :) Lydi**

[Sami Khalil]

Hahaha... Thank you so much dear poet and friend for this amazing review and wonderful visit. You always put a smile on faces. A very interesting man indeed who captured my imagination. Gracie Millee...

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! that painting is so vivid!!!! my brother in law paints in that style as well ... almost a too real presentation .. but that fierce look amid the pastel flowers is captivating .. and i haven't even read your piece yet ;))))))))))) had to read up on Hans first tho.......ok! what a bazaar story ...love the ghosty element that persists at the Houston Zoo ..Hans was quite the multi faceted personality wasn't he?!
well.... the story i read was not the same account ... yours is much more extensive .. the dispute and the outcome are central and the same however ... thanks for broadening my horizons with this story sir ... and that zoo is most assuredly on my to visit list ... Norma and I have stayed in many haunted hotels just to get the feel of the afterlife ;-O
E.

[Sami Khalil]

Hahaha...Thank you so much great poet and friend for this marvelous review and lovely visit. I hope you can write some stories about you and Norma for it will be interesting. God bless...

[Einstein Noodle]

my life with her inspires a lot of my poems ..tho she isn't given direct credit for them ...she is not much into poetry and a very private person ...and you are welcome! you always have treats at the door when i stop by :)

[Sami Khalil]

All good and understandable. Same here.

[.]

A fascinating story, Sami!

I did google the name of Hans Nagel before reading this as it was completely unknown to me. It seems he was the original adventurous animal tamer, one who is much copied nowadays. His story is quite stunning. A mixture of entertainer, conservationist and an extreme rebel to boot. His methods, while suspect, seemed very effective. And it was his suspect methods that eventually resulted in his gruesome death at the hands of an officer of the law. Rather ironic!

Your story has brought his name into my consciousness and I do think i will read more about this fascinating man. Your short stories are always required reading for me and cover such a broad range of genres, always well written with excellent vocabulary and construction of the tale. And this one is no less fascinating than those I have read in the past. I appreciate writes that introduce me to people or places, incidents or moments in history that i was otherwise unaware of, and your story here has delivered that for me in spades.

Another wonderful piece of original story telling. Grounded in reality yet also infused with some deft touches of the macabre at its conclusion. Fine work!

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! I do owe you a lot for this marvelous review which is so stunning to say the least. Your intellect and astute mind are out of this world. I'm so humbled by your review by thankful for taking the time and effort.
You are so right. I like to bring unknown heroes back to life. Ones that made big difference in our lives or nation. Houston zoo is the second most visited zoo in the nation due to this man or the foundation he put in place. God bless you my friend.

[.]

Always Welcome, Sami.

[Sami Khalil]

:).........................

[Sami Khalil]

"Although docile at a young age, he found out chimps become ferocious in adulthood with brute strength. Some even estimated it has the strength of several grown men."

Sami Khalil

[Sami Khalil]

"A fixture at the zoo in Bayou city, loved by all who knew him, he wowed the young and old in his marvelous abilities to tame a menagerie of wild beasts."

Sami Khalil