The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-11
THE MASTODON.
Very Latest Intelligence from the Wheaton
Bone-yard-The Head of the Monster still


Bone-yard-The Head of the Monster still
Under Ground.
From the Chicago Tribune, Dec. Q.
Things have not changed much at the Wheaton
bone-yard since Saturday. The hole is there
still, and is little larger than before. On
Saturday morning, at o'clock, twelve men went
to work to pump and bale out the water, and so
great was the quantity in the hole that it took
them until noon to empty it so that they could
90 to work with their shovels. During the day
two pieces of ribs and number OF vertebre
bones were found south OF the place where the
principal bones lay. Night put stop to their
fabors so they rested on their oars, or rather on
their shovels until the following morning, which
was Sunday. Although it was the Sabbath, they
went vigorously to work, and worked hard all
day. II was in vain. No mastodon greeted their
eyes not even a single bone of the ancient
brute. Some persons ascribe the failure to the
violation of the Sabbath, and think it was
merited.
ing and probng-irons were used to search for
the head in the place where the head ought to
be. These iron search-warrants were inserted
all over the soil supposed to cover the head, and
finally their progress towards China i'm
peded by some hard substance. The diggerS
were delighted, and anticipated the appearance
of the long-lost skull with feverish anxiety.
They dug with vengeance, and at last came to
it-not to the head, but to the stump OF tree.
Some of the diggers at once jumped to the con-
clusion that the animal had wooden head.
There were no grounds for sucn an assermoni ~
capacity of the ancient settler, and had no toun-
dation but in the excited brain of the gentleman
who originated the brilliant idea.
There was gainsaying the fact that there
was timber there. Mr.. Jayne was not in the
lumber business however and being greatly
discouraged and somewhat disguised because
the head did not come to time as expected, he
told the boys to go home, and he followed suit.
He has remained there more or less ever since,
cogitating upon the uncertainty OF coming
across mastodon heads when wanted. He ought
TO put the case in the hands of the Chicago de-
tectives so that the defaulting head may be
brought to light.
1t would be very interesting TO speculate on
the whereabouts of that head. What became OF
it? where is 1t? and how did 1t come there
Was it divorced from the body some time before
the animals death? Perhaps so, and perhaps
there was a hill there at the time, and perhaps
it rolled half mile away from the place where
the body dropped and took up its abode. Pos
sibly il Is under the timber Possibly two ol
three trees fell upon the animal, Knocked i
down and covered 1t where 1t fell. Mr. Jayne
should 90 deeper than the timber. He does no
know what is down there, nor anybody else. l
is worth finding out
There seems to be q large quantity OF lumbe
under the soil. Some persons, who profess I
be competent judges of lumber, pronounced /
TO be maple, while Others possessing an equa
amount OF knowledge and experience, insiste
that it was cedar 1t may be- and 1T may no
be. The wood is wet and soft, and useless TO
any purpose except to place beside the bones 1
IA museum as an extra attraction
That brings us back to the bones themselves
They still reside temporarily at Wheaton, in
hall over store, where the curious and th
scieAtiGc, and anybody else who wishes t
squander a quarter of dollar can gaze upo
their curious shapes and speculate upon th
remoteness of their antiquity There is a do
lars worth in the sight, TO say nothing OF u
privilege of indulging in the assoclatlons whle
force themselves upon the mind when In I'll
presence of these imperial remains.
Their valueis still a matter of dispute, an
the good folks of Wheaton and the surroundln
country differ widely in their estimates. Son
would not accept them as Gift, while othe
place their price as high as SlS0,000 only. NJ
Jayne says that if he is offered that amount
will part with his old neighbors, and might pc
sibly throw in his farm by way of boot. !
avows his determination to get the head, II
takes him all winter aud the forepart of sprln
lie Tonga for that head Saul longed for Z
head of David, or the Philistines for that
aanson. 1t is to be hoped that he will get Il.