Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-09-14
Elephants Tusk Found in Brattie-
boro--Communica from Prof.
Hager.

Eaitoy Rdlqaa Herold Please permit
me through your paper to acknowledge,
in behalf of the State, the receipt of
rare and valuable donation for the State
Cabinet from D. S, Pratt, Esq, of Brat
tleboro, Vt
1t consists Of the tusk Of an elephant
,or possibly a mastodonl which was
found buried about six feet deep in
peat swamp on the farm Of Mr.. Pratt,
one mile west of Brattleboro village,
The tusk was nearly four feet in length,
but unfortunately the workmen, who
supposed it TO be a piece of wood, in
trying to pry it out of their way broke
IL asunder nearly in the middle.
1t evidently had also been broken
when the elephant was living, for 1t
shows signs of an old fracture at the
smaller end which is three inches in
diameter and appears rounded as II
made so by the living animal.
Having lain for centuries in that wet
bed, which was originally pond, out
afterwards filled with vegetable matter,
the tusk was quite soft and pulpy when
first taken out, and in drying it inclined
to crack and crumbe, but I hope by
saturating it with glue and keeping it
thoroughly bound with twine till it
| dries l shall be able to preserve it in
/ good condition for the Cabinet
In the peat bed from which the tusk
was taken are numerous sticks and bill
let's of wood with the bark peeled of
and as clean and white as though they
had been buried but a few days, but
having been so long submerged they
have become soft, pulpy and very ten
der. On their ends are distinctly anc
Enthusiastically shown the tooth marks o
a beaver or some other aquatic rodent
that cut them off and dragged them into
the pond. as beavers do in unfrequenteC
ponds in the West at the present day
The tusk has also at both ends and at
other places on it, tooth marks Of the
same animal-probably made after II
had been long soaked and become soft.
Possibly beavers may have dragged
this tusk into the pond from the skele
ton of an elephant that died upon lane
near by, but it is more. probable tina
when attacked by some fatal disease
the elephant resorted to the pond TO
drink to ouench its feve1ish thirst, o
perhaps to cool itself by bathing in it
waters, and died near the spot wher
the tusk was found.
The remaining portions Of the skeleto
may have been wholly destroyed by tn
beavers, but it is more probable that tn
bOny portions, which are not as durabl
as the tusk, have completely crumhle
into dust. and perhaps the remainin
+usk and the teeth were removed b
beaverS or other agencies to places nc
as favorable for their preservation, an
thev too have h, leone disintegrated an
united with the mat rial that forms th'
immense bed Of peat.
This is the third elephants 'uSA Una
Vermont has produced. The frs wa
found at Mt Holly, and is now in tn
State Cabinet; the second was found a
Richmond, and is in the Universit
Cabinet at Burlington.
In this connection permit me to ar
r,ao1 IN all who are enrichi~
pear " al ~ ''' I'LL ~ .ug their farm
I y EHe .v,unzlng elements contained
} muck and peat beds, to be particular
watchful ard carefully preserve all
, go"ls or 8..nimal remains found in thel
n aud /. not satisfied beyond doubt VIII
q th.ev are to call Immediately upon sor
o one who will be likely to determine the
% true character and name. 1t is fro
W these records that men are to learn Il
=. unwritten history Of our globe.
w Acknowledging a great persona Oh
- CATION . Mr. Pratt ror MS genera
~ donation. l remain, very respectfully
i" ALERT D. HAGER,
Curator Of State Cabinet