The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1873-08-07


eut of the New York World who writes
from Moscow. It involves the adventu res
Of Russian named Cheriton, who escaped
from the mines of Sill eris, after having ser1.
ed four Of a term of twenty years, for smug'
Cling. After his escape Cheriton lived for
time with tribe of Lungousas; but as
they threatened to return him TO captivity
he escaped from them and wandered into
the wilderness of the Altai mountains. -
Here winter overlook him and he suffered
terribly from the cold; but he killed some
fur-bearing animals, feasted on their flesh
and clothed himself with their skins sewing
them together With sinews. Here he OBJ
served large numbers Of beasts OF various
kinds moving 10 the same direction, as II
migrating, aud following their lead he came
to psse 10 the mounta ne, looking down
from which be saw below beautiful valley,
shut In on all sides by lofty mountain RAM
ges. The depth Of the valley was 50 great
that be thought It must be even below the
sea level. In the centre beautiful lake.
Descending into the valley, he slept for the
fret night on bed OF soft moss free from
snow, and the next day be found thetair 90
mild that bis fur garments were oppressive.
Surrounding the lake, but some distance
above II. was a level plateau we'll wooded,
crossed by numerous streams. Game was
abundant, and 40 tame were the creatures,
both OF strange and familiar species, that
the fugitive was sure that they had never
seen human being 10 their valley. One
night ne was terrified by various uncouth
moi. ca and huge aud monstrous shapes
The next day he sought for place OF safe
ty, and while exploring q cave he found
mammoth, alive and 10 vigo rous heAlth.-
The discovery OF this beast, heretofore supp
posed to be extinct, Is described as follows:
lie entered With some precautions, for the
rocky pavement was worn as II by use, and
within be: heard . slow, measured move
men,, as OF 40 animal gently Illuminating,
ami heavily breathing, With great, calm in
spirations aud expirations like the sigh oil
a smith's bellows. One ,urn, then another,
he heard . heavy, startling snort, aud there
10 the half light OF the cave, standing full
before hin, alive, chewing the cud, aud
waving Its proboscis to aud fro with slow,
gentle, majestic motion, be saw mammoth.
Cberiton describes the mammoth as being Q
very imposing g-looking animal, covered with
raA ;ah Nroun v,onI nd lou0 hIuoL al.
During bis stay In the valley he was close
to five OF them, nll Of which were nearly ol
. size, being about twelve feet high, eight
cen feet long, with tusks projsc ting aboul
four feet, aud being eight to ten feet, count.
log the curve. The skin, which was bars
on the upper surface Of the ears, on the
knees and ruup, was Of = mouse color, and
seemed very tnlck. The animal was noe.
turnal in its habits, frsqueu!ing canes or
forest depths by day, and feeding at nigh
sad early morning. Cheriton thinks there
might be some fifteen or twenty of these
monsters 10 tie valley altogether, but tina,
all these are aged, aud that very few are
born nowadays. At any rate be eaw none
that had the least appearance of being
young. They we're very peacsable animals
torpid and sluggish as old oxen, never dis.
turbing Cheriton, nor indeed taking much
notice OF him.
This fortunate explorer found also other
animals not known 10 exist elsewhere, o
som Of which these things are told:
In the course OF bis explorations he en-
countered many snimsls indigenous to th
valley, which he things are not known l.
exist elsewhere, except In the shape OF iossi
remains. Amsng these was a species q
horse, u wild aud bssutitui creature, ths
went In droves aud ran with lightning-like
speed. These horses were small, pure whit
in color, with long black name aud TAIL
They were covered, however, rather will
fleece than hair, and in running looked a
much like lambs as horses The lake was
full OF 6sh OF many species, but was inhabit
cd by moCster of which Cheriton was 10
constant dread, q sort of saurophidian
which be described as being thirty feet lon
and armed with scales aud horrible fangs
This moustsr-he never saw but the on e.
was master OF the lake, and lived by devour
ing the animals which came by night 10 il
| brink TO drink Cberitou gives praphi