Baboon Escapes, Runs Amok in Venice

March 31, 1931: About 10 a.m., a dark gray baboon, 4 feet tall, weighing about 100 pounds, broke the lock on its cage at the monkey farm near the end of the Venice Pier. “Maddened by the taste of human blood, its sharp teeth slashing a way through a terrified crowd of pleasure seekers ... a giant baboon attacked two women, a man and a boy ... singling them out of the crowd and cornering them before leaping at them to inflict ugly wounds with teeth and claws,” The Times reported. “For several minutes the infuriated animal, vicious member of the ape family, created a reign of terror on the pier and in the central part of the city as it leaped from victim to victim -- suddenly reverting to its jungle instincts to kill.” The article detailed how the baboon went straight for Mrs. Irene De Molina of Hollywood, following her into the Venice ballroom when she rushed to escape. The baboon clawed and bit her and attacked three others -- including a 10-year-old boy -- before Venice police Sgt. John W. Brunty fired three shots into its chest, right paw and throat. By then, the baboon had made its way to the main business street, Windward Avenue, The Times reported. Brunty said of the drama: “I guess I was lucky to stop that baboon before he stopped me.” The victims’ injuries were not life-threatening.