The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-07-14
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, JULY Il, 1909.
AN ERROR CORRECTED.

@AA' hSiNRfN SoNNES i Eli.
About three years ago, a communica ton
appeared in this paper respecting the re-
mains of Mammoth, which were said to
have been found in the County of Wythe,
IN TINS state. Amongst other things it was
stated, that the contents of the stomach
itself had been found to consist of vegetable
remains, such as half mastcated pieces of
cane, twigs, leaves, SSc.-from which it was
at once concluded, that this extraordinary
monster had been an her6iporous animal
Inc circumstance was made known to Bish-
op Madison OF this state--And by degrees,
through him, to the whole philosophc world
The reputation of that gentleman conspired
with the interest of the subject to excite the
curiosity Of the world, and extend the c,rcu
iatIon OF the discovery. 1t was published i'm
the Hn'Rnttafes Grafhice of Mr.. Girardin
lin the Physical Journal of Dr. Barton
tor 1sO5-among the dissertations of the
celebrated Culver III Paris-and in the 18th
Vol. OF Nicbolson's Philosophical Journal of
London. To those, who had taken any in
terest in the subject, this discovery was Pc
cu!iarly curious and interesting. 1t seemed
to set at rest for ever the great question "a
Don't the her6fOorouS nature of the Nam
moth. 30 much seemed to be cut off for
ever from the fields of conjecture and dis
putatioh' TO be hung up among the Trophies
\ - >''SN''S' III t'tes Ciill vi Il ruin.
Subsequent facts, however, began to cast
some doubts over this subject. The imposing
gloss OF first appearances began to wear a.
way before deliberate and careful observa
tion. an intelligent gentleman had visited
the Salt Lick, from which these buried bones
were said to have been "cast forth.'' Some
OF the bones OF the Mammoth were there
such as those of the tail, of the thigh, feet
and grinders. But it is somewhat curious,
mat there were no tusks of Ivory, such as
might have been expected, if the Mammoth
were really of the Eienhautine Species
oof'e on the ruins OF vegetable matter were
also deposited with these exuvis-such as
the stalks of the Cane, leaves, Sc &c. But
it was equally true, that these vegetable re-
mains we're not confined to the spot only.
where the stomach of the Mammoth NAV be
supposed To have falien-but that they were
all around the bones, above them and below
them. There seemed to be little doubt, too,
that these strata of earth and vegetable re-
mans might have been formed BY alluvion
only-and that there were similar appear.
ances OF soil IN the vicinity of the Lick. and
In the county u Wythe, wherever equally
favorable scites had occurred for their form
alton.
In the midst cfthose doubts, which we be-
sap TO entertain on the subject, commuui-
vi Wv 'htui VI INC NtamInOtn was
put INTO our hands. This piece laid con-
siderable stress on the discovery in Wythe
what was our duty? Being acquainted
with the author of the communication, we
assumed the responsibility of waving the
publication of that part of it, which relates
to this discovery, until we could hear from
Mr.. Madison. The following liberal commu-
Dication from that gentleman will fully ex
Piain ms present. IMPRESSIONS ON this subject
DEAR SIR,
10 correct an error, as soon as disco
vered, is duty, in the discharge of which.
shall always rejoice.--I thank you, there
fore, for the opportunity. which you have so
kindly offered, of rectifying the mistake into
winch was led, respecting the Mammoth
OF Wythe county. have now, no doubt, that
the worthy gentleman, who related to ME,
tne circumstances, which appeared to esta-
biish the fact, that the MAMMOTH belonged
too the class of herbivorous animals. was
himself imposed upon by Elusive indications.
Ills accuracy & good sense were well known
to me- reposed in him that confidence.
which he justly merits & could, at the time
"nen announced the supposed fact, enter
tain no doubt of its reality. Later and more
extended observations, at the place where
the Bones were found have proved. however.
that the question OF the general classificaii-
on OF this extraordinary animal, still remains
unsatisted. We must search Tor other data.
since truth withdraws from us those we had
too eagerly, seized.
believe, indeed, that we have one, de-
rived from the habitude of the animal,
which may be considered as decisive. His
relics are rarely found remote from those sal,
hicks, or saline springs, which are FREQUENT in
the Western Country generally, they are
to ad at those very places sometimes in rich
low grounds, or deep valies, near the largest
streams OF water; never, so far as I know.
upon high hills or mountains. In the county
OF Botetourt, where there is one of those licks.
have seen, and still have in my possession,
some OF the bones of that animal, which were
dug up, within the vicinity OF the lick, at the
depth OF IL or 90 feet from the surface of the
| earth. In no other part of that county have
similar bones been discovered. This is the
case III Wythe; at the salt works in Wash
iDgton cosnty; aud SO far as my information