The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-06-24
Mitchell's MastOdOn.

Professor Marsh, of New Haven. few
days ago, completed negotiations for the
purchase of the bones of the ceiebrat-
ed mastodon, found near Otisville,
N. Y, in 1872, upon the farm of MIR.
Mitchell, who, while engaged in digging
swamp muck to fertiliZe his land, I'M
earthed what he supposed to be very large
and singuiarly shaped roots. SO curious
did these roots appear that he desired to
preserve them, and brought them to his
home for that purpose. But Mrs. Mitch
ell, who is practical and neat housekeep-
er. objected to lumber up even her garnet
with such rubbish, and he, 10th TO destroy
them, carried them to his barn. Soon at
ter he found other roots exactly resem-
bling the first, ard the idea gradually
dawned upon him that they were not
what they seemed, but bones, and prOba-
bly, the remains of some gigantic antedi-
luvian animal. Possessing an inquiring
turn of mind, he purchased books upon
anatomy, and after studying then dill
gently, became convinced that his sup
position was correct, and that the sup
posed roots of a mammoth tree were the
bones of some extinct mammals OF ele-
phantine proportions.
Continuing his excavations, smaller YER
tebr9 and ribs were found, and finally all
the bones of mammoth or mastOdOn.
Before this consummatiOn was arrived at.
however, considerable time elapsed, and
the discovery was not only known
throughout the village, but among scien-
titic circles. Several eminent students of
natural history wrote Mf Mitchell how TO
best preserve the fossils from decay or
breakage. cautioned him not to allow them
to dry TOO rapidly, and not to permit the
ignorant and MOI bidly curious TO punch
them with sticks or TO handle them. All
these instructions were as carefully obey
ed as possible, although the visitors who
came to view the curiosity were
so great that presently farmer Mitchell
found that his entire time was consumed
in showing them the bones and watching
them 70 prevent their breakage and injury.
Notwithstanding his vigilance, they were
poked with sticks, and before they were
dry holes were thus worn through their
thinner and softer parts. The interview
ers and visitors increased to such an extent,
that he could scarcely eat or sleep in
peace, and was finally obliged to charge
an admission fee of Is cents, which had the
effect of lessening them.
The discoverer, believing he had found
an Aladdin treasure, at first placed very
high estimate upon the bones. and while
there was considerable strife among
Eastern colleges for their possession, none
were in circumstances which would war
rant the heavy expenditure he demanded.
The panic In the fall of 1873 and the 'hard
tines following, induced economy, even
in mastodOns, and the owner began to re-
aliZe that his bones were ceasing to be
such curiosity. Such, however, was not
the fact, and as soon as it became known
that he was willing to take such price as
was within the pale of reason and posi-
bility, Connecticut, New York, and New
Jersey each sent purchasers to negotiate
for their possession. They were finally
sold to Professor Marsh. of New Haven, a
few days since, who was the highest bid
der of the three representatives from the
above named States.
Previous to their shipment thew were
placed on exhibition at the village church,
science thereby doing service for religion.
The show was part of fair for the Sun
day-schOol, and the price of admission to
see the fossils was reduced to 10 cents.
Despite the utmost efforts TO keep the
matter quiet, large concOurse of citizens
and small boys attended the removal OF the
boxes to the railway depot. there to be re-
packed under the Professors eye. The
New FORK Tribune says: mo first born
in its swaddling clothes was ever more
tenderly handled by its mother. Straw
beds in sacks were laid in the boxes, one
for each side, top. bottom and end. The
Professors solicitude about the softness
of those beds exceeded that of the Brook
Ign plaintiff. Great bats of cotton were
tied around the teeth with firm tender
ness. and whole day and all the sacking
in the village were consumed in the ope-
ratioI."
The weight OF the fossils was LOO
pounds, and when mounted the mastodon
will stand u feet in height and IL in
length. Its size and the character of the
teeth indicate full maturity if not extreme
age. Learned professors, Judging from
its teeth, believe it may have been one
hundred years of age at the time of its
DEATH. Out of hundred mastodons
who remains are discovered, il is safe to
say that not more than one is in good
condition. AS a rule they have careless
~ left their bones 10 strata not fitted to
preserve them. Frequently the remains
crumble az & touch. The perfect condi-
iou Of the pnastodor Of Olsyiue Is remark.
able. ~.-.-... ---.-
The best Of American nastodons now
mounted were found by DR.. Koch in Mis-
souri,, and called by han ''the Missouri
Leviathau." Its skeleton is now in the
British Museum. Next in value to that
specimen are the Warren mastodon now
in Boston, on which DIR. Warren wrote a
memoir, and the Cohoes mastodon now in
the State Geological Cabinet at Albany.
Two less known but almost equally COM
plete specimens from Indiana were de-
stroyed in Chieago's great fire. 4 smaller
mastodon, discovered in 1874 in Warren
County, n. j., formed part of the late
Prof. Wyman's collection at Cambridge,
and now goes to the Boston Society of
Natural History. The Otisville mastodon
is at least the sixth that has been found in
the swamps of Orange County.