The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-10-27
The Mastodons of New York.

The Masfodons of New York.
statement In this paper, copied from the
Albany Register Of the goth, and purpo sting
to come from an authentic source, TO the eff
feet that the bobss-of O -t,tnstodon had been
discovered in spot near Poughkeepsic, and
that Prof. MORSE, the inventor Of the elec-
trio telegraph, was engaged in the work Of
their reconstruction, needs some correction
to ogree with the lacts on which the story
was founded. The truth Of the matter is
this
Some two weeks ago some laborers, in
digging, three miles east Of Peughkeepsie ,ac-
cidentally d!sinterred large bone, which
was decidedto be one Of the verteb.n Of a
large mastodon. A scientific gentleman who
was present at the discovery desired ts con-
tlnue the examinations in order to obtain the
complete skeleton but was prevented in con.
sequence Of the rapid filling up of the trench
with water, the ground in that neighborhood
being very marshy. An expenditure of four
hundred dollars would be necessary to drain
the land sufficiently to allow Of further oper-
ations. When that sum shall be raised,
Prof. Morse has volunteered his valuable as
sistance in disintering and putting together
the remains Of the poughkeepsie mega;heri-
um, if any such creature should turn up.-
That the prosecution of the excavation will
reward the explorer for his expense and trou-
ble is more than possible.
The region alorg the banks Of the Hudson,
above the highland, appears to have been a
favorite locality fer these gigantic quadru-
peds. Indeed, it was here that the first evi-
dences of the existence of their remains on
this continent were procured. Goldman, the
late American naturalist, Informs US that as
carly as 1912 letter from DR.. Mather to DR..
Woodward was published in the Phlosophi-
cal Transactions, announcing that some
teeth and bones Of monstrous size had been
discovered atAlbany; and in 1901 eighty nine
years afterwards, the first skeleton known in
modern times OF this wonde derful animal was
disentombed on the shores Of the Hudson
about eighty mileO below.
Rembrandt Peale has written a minute &C
count of the sxertons OF his father and him.
self in transaction interesting to the scen-
ttic world. A German farmer in 1893, liv.
ing in the vicinity Of Newburgh, while dig.
ging mari pit came upon number of bones
which, on account of their remarkable size he
preserved in his garrett or granary where they
were sometimes visited by the curious. For.
tunately, Mr.. Z. w. Peale was able to buy
these fragments, which went good way to.
wards constituting an entire skeleton. Fol-
three months the father ami son, th nu-
| IN onD
| patiently pursued their excavations over al
area Of many square miles. Sometimes two
hundred laborers were employed simutane.
ousiy. The narrative of the excitemente
and the dlscouragements incident to their
tolls is of deep interest, but too detailed t
extended quotation. When their success wa:
finally crowned by the long-sought and long
deferred discovery fthe enormous under-jaw
"the unconsc' c'ous woods" says Rembrandt
Peale, "echoed with repeated huzzahs, viii ch
could not have been more animated i every
tree had participated in the joy. Gracious
God, what jaw! How many animals have
been crushed by it!'' was the exclamation ol
all. A fresh supply of grog went round, land
the hearty fellows, covered with mud, contin-
ued the search with increasing vigor." Thus
termin ated this strange and laborious cam
paign of three months. sour venerable re-
lies" says the narrator, "were carefully pack.
ed up in distinct cases, and, loading two wa.
gonS with them, we bade adieu to the val
eys, and stupendous mountains of Shawan.
gunk." From the bones thus obtained, TIVE
skeletons, nearly perfect, were framed, the
summit OF the head and the end OF the tail
in each case being the only deficiencies.
I There is, therefore, reason to suppose tina
a similar result might attend further export
ments of the same kind in the neighborhood
of Poughkeepsie. All ths, is wanting, ,proba
bly,, is subscription for the small amount
which we have mentioned to add another tC
the scant collection now existing of thes,
memorials of an age anterior to the period
of au .hentic history. But if there be not sci
entfic enthusiasm and enterprise enough It
accomplish the undertaking we may presume
it will prove an inviting speculation to tn
showman.-N. Y Ev. Post.