Peter Jackson – The Fighting Kangaroo

THE FIGHTING KANGAROO ARRIVES – By the steamship Sultan, which arrived this morning from Fremantle, W.A., the celebrated fighting Kangaroo, “Peter Jackson,” was a passenger. As a sparrer “Peter” is a departure from the rule, as applied to his race. The average Kangaroo fights with his hind feet, and does it in a way that would put many “champions” to the blush. In the. Bush when he meets an antagonist, he places his paws gently – almost lovingly – upon the shoulders of his antagonist, and then quietly proceeds to extricate his interior architecture with a sudden and energetic movement of his hind feet. From this very effective method of self defence, “Peter” has been pretty effectively weaned, but, for all that, he cannot entirely disabuse himself of the French idea that feet as well as fists were made by nature to serve as weapons. Whenever “Peter” appears in public he never ‘loses his head,’ or becomes at all disconcerted by the noises made by the crowd… This far his trainers have been unable to induce him to wear boxing gloves on his hind feet, and, as he has never allowed anyone to cut his claws, he is at times a little dangerous. Another noticeable fact is that when hard pushed in a hot rally, “Peter” balances himself on the end of his tail… In height “Peter” stands nearly 6 feet and weighs nearly 160 pounds. The kangaroo will appear in public here in a few days, the time and place to be duly announced by advertisement. [The Straits Times, June 8, 1896, as republished in Straits Maritime Journal, June 13, 1896, 6]

“We in Singapore are promised a visit from Peter Jackson, the only living fighting kangaroo, since Jack, the one that was shown in London, is dead. Peter is starring in Western Australia now, having even successful exhibitions at Sydney and Melbourne. The kangaroo is aid to be a magnificent specimen, and perfectly trained; he will probably be up here at the beginning of June.” [The Singapore Free Press, May 19, 1896, 3]

In Singapore appeared in Large hall, next Adelphi Hotel, Saturday June 13, 1896 (until further notice).

By October, 1896 Peter Jackson was in Bombay, India according to an article in the Singapore Free Press [October 6, 1896, 5].

THE SENSATION OF THE AGE – THE FIGHTING KANGAROO “PETER JACKSON” – Messrs. Dean and Middleton announce with much gratification the safe arrival from Australia, and the first appearance of perhaps the most remarkable and interesting specimen of the animal kingdom extent. That quaint and curious animal: THE KANGAROO, has hitherto been considered incapable of being in any way trained to positive acts of intelligence, although his sagacity has always been undoubted. Altogether hundreds of the animals have been experimented upon, and the removal of the almost insuperable difficulty, which has been so triumphantly overcome, must be credited to Peter’s preternatural sagacity. His performance will be a revelation and take the East by storm. Peter and his trainer, in the most laughable and amusing exhibition ever placed before the public. For the entertainment provided by the Boxing kangaroo, “Peter Jackson,” the services of the band of Sta. Cecilia have been retained. Peter’s first public show is on Saturday night, in the large hall next the Adelphi Hotel, and each evening he will give two exhibitions, at 9.15 and at 10.15 p.m. Admission 50 cents. Reserved Seats one Dollar. [Mid-Day Herald, June 13, 1896, 2]