Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-12-21
Discovery ofwonderTul Organic |
Rematns--Proof Of am Extinct |
Race Of Men and Animals.

ably prove that this part of the world was,
at one time, inhabited by race of human
beings who stood, in maturity. from ten to
twelve feet high aud by species of quad
rupeds at least twice as large as the Asistic
elephant. They were imbedded about eight
feet, in what might be termed close diluvial
deposit, and in what the coufguration of the
country indicates was once the eddy of q
river.
As ap evidence Of the former, we now
have before us the jaw-bone e--anato tomically
termed the interior maxiliary- of q biqed
which is almost double the size of an ordi.
nary jaw-bone. From point to point of the
copdyle-the upper projections, whore Juno.
ton Is made with the corresponding PARTS
above--this fossil measures fully FIVE inch.
es. 1t is in q perfect state of Preservation
80 perfect, that, had it been Of ordinary size,
one would have supposed that its owner had
not made his Tor her) exit from this 'vale
of tears" ever Is or 20 years ago. The en-
amel Of the teeth still remains bright
and uninjured by the action of fire,
water or air. Not tooth is lost. They
comprise six grinders or molars, 1.-THE usual
number), and 10 others--beinp l6 in all.
They have been much worn by the labor of
mastication; which fact proves that this
American Goliah did not cease to use them
until they had prepared for his stom ach the
food OF many years-perhaps not until the
other functions Of his physical organization
bad weakened from old age, when the utility
Of the teeth ceased, though decay had not
yet marked them by single perforation
The fact is also good conjectural argument,
that this being belonged to race similar in
their habits to the existing tribes of natives,
who, even in their old age, are notable for
the fine state of their teeth. The jaw-bone
is the only portion OF the remains we have
seen; but ribs, and other bones, were found
near the spot, which undoubtedly belonged
to the same individual, as they are all Of
proportionate size. 1t has been estimated
by members Of the medical fraternity here,
that the hight OF this biped could not have
been less than 10Y aud might have reached
II feetl
Why, we will be asked, do we suppose
these human bones to be the remains Of ar
extinct racs2 We answer, it is o conclusion
fairly arrived at by inductive reasoning. II
is true, among existing races, there are in
stances recorded of men reaching the hight
Of over eight feet, but the record is not posi-
tive OF any reaching over nine feet The
science of comparative anotomy" need
not be deeply studied to prove that these
fossils belonged to being more than l(
feet high. Ifthis being belonged to the ex
isting races, and was o sort of lusus natul oe
or one individual of tremendou proportions
among whole nations of the common stature
is it not somewhat surprising that his (oi
her) gigantic bones should be exhumed ia
the heart OF the continent, having distinctive
physical prominence among millions? Why
was not one Of the myriads of smaller frames
from which the vital spark had fed before
and after him, found instead? The eau
casian is put down as the talest OF the five
divisions Of the human family. There i.
not one OF this race, on record, that we are
aware of, who attained to hight of near
feet. Such an anomaly might happen; but
it II should many generations would mos
probably come and go without a para
lei. Judging from its size alon, we think
the chance Of this jav-hone having belonged
to one of the North American Indian race
is as one for to many millions against. Blu,
the concomitaDt circumstances of fOssi
having been found with il, which we know
IS not referable to any species now existing
IN America. strengthens the theory that in
this jaw-b0ne we have the evidence Of race
Of human b. ngs that has "g, ne fl ,erins
among the thIngs that were.
The proof Of an extinct race of quadru
peds, or OF species at least, that were
twice as large as any new eytant, is the dis
covery OF an enormous moar tooth, which
was found along with monster jaw bone =
Tho crown or top ofthis tooth measures,
the longer way, exactly six inches. and it is
four in width; the root, or the part invested
by or sunk below the gum, measures over
seven inches. The measurement from tor
to bottom THAT ia, in its natural position
is between eight and nine inches, being bui
little greater in depth than in length on top
Judging from our very limited knowledge
Of .peleontofogy. the animal which carried
this tooth " q rumnant and herbiver0us -
Gus transverses ridges, thickly enameled. =
, The enamel is bright. and, in many places
as we'll preserved as if on tho tooth OF lv
ing animal. These ridges are not deep anc
are rounding on the top, indicating adapta
bility to bruising in masticatiop rather thar
cutting, on the carniverous, or fesh-eatinl
order. The tooth is partially petrified, anc
indications Of having been long whil>
I buried. Upon exposure to the air frsgmen
orumbled of, and fu ly half oft isin state o
petrifaction. Had it not been for tn,
enamsl-the most indestructible ofsubstan
ces-and this petrifying process, 1t is doubt
ful that its form would have been SO long
preserved. ts
This molar may have belonged to the
mastodon species, or an enormous type ot
the elephant. But we are told that tooth
of similar outlines, but three tunes as
large, has been found in Deer Lodge county
in this Territory. Gentlemen in this place
have seen it. This would seem to indicate
IN extinct quadrupedal race large, than
remains have yet been found of in Europe
or other parts Of North America The
great mastOdon skelton in tho Phladelphis
Museum is Is feet long and i feet high
but think of a tooth foot and half long
and foot wide, on the top!
! The carcass Of an elephant was found, il
the present century, in the frozen mud and
sand Of Siberia, preserved in its entirety. =
( Its skin was covered with hair or fur, but
all else indicated bona fde elephant. Iu
III the carcass of rhinoceros, alse, was
found in the same regions. The ice shores
OF the Polar Ocean. in northeastern Asia,
abound, it is said, with tho bones of these
animals, now only know in the tropics.
What mighty oonvulsion Of nature caused
their extinction, and how far did its inHu.
euce extendG Did not the great uphoaving
brei ik asurdr land connection that once
existed between the hemispheresf Oue
Arctic explorer reports having found fossil
tropical plants, species of the palm, buried
beneath the perennial SHOWS Of Kamsc oh at.
ka:: This as we'll as the Siberian fossils,