The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-27
The Bones of a Mastodon Unearthed
by some Chicago Scwer-Builders.

The Bones of a MastOdon Unearthed
by some Chicago Scwer-Builders.
IChicsgo Times.l
A gang OF city laborers were digging q
sewer in the Fourteenth Ward short dis
lance west of Wicker Park on yesterday,
when, at depth OF about eighteen feet,
their tools struck against some hard, un-
yieldingsustauce. Plying their implements
with greater violence, they finally detached
some fragments, which, upon after eXami-
nation, proved to be the petrifed remains
OF some animal. A person OF intelligence
happened TO be near, and perceiving the
possible scientific importance OF the dis
covery, stopped further destruction Of the
relics. Such Of them as were exbumed
were afterwards taken 10 the mayors office,
where they now are. The city government
Is OF the opinion that the money appropri-
ated by the Council for the excavation
OF sewers cannot be legally used for
the exhuming OF palezoic relics, and
so that part OF the animal which does not
lie directly in the line OF the proposed pub
lie improvement must wait for private en-
terprlse before 1t can see the light. Many
are anxious, moreover, to assume the labor
Of digging up the beast II they may possess
il. The fragments that have been dug up
are q section OF tusk similar TO that OF an
elephant, about three feet long, and six
inches in diameter at its largest part, tooth,
and rib. The remains are in very per-
feet state OF petrifactiOn, showing distinctly
in the case OF the tooth the marks OF the
wear OF maslication, and the line OF de-
markation between the shell and the Dith OF
the tusk Is distinctly visible. The tusk has
a cOnical hole extending longitudinally from
al. oh D., In
grew. In fact, for this distance it was hol-
low, like cows horn. The tooth is about
seven inches from fore to aft, with about
beam, and extended into the jaw about six
inches. Its weight is about six pounds.
Its crown is indented with numerous cavi-
ties, and it has one root in perfect preserva-
ton, the two others being broken of.
A mental photograph was taken of these
remains by Times reporter, and conveyed
to DR.. Edmund Andrews, who is an ac-
knowledged expert in the geological struc-
ture OF this region. From the description
given, and a comparison with numer-
Gus plates OF the teeth and jaws OF
different extinct animals, the Doctor pro-
nounced this strange thing a mastodon-
an animal which, with the mammoth,
was similar in shape TO the modern ele-
phant. The difference between the mastO-
don and the mammoth appears TO be mainly
in the structure OF the teeth, those OF the
former being the less regular.
DR.. Andrews related u very interesting
geological history In connection with the
life of this animal. Ages ago the waters OF
Lake Michigan were fifty or sixty feet
higher than now, and dashed their waves
upon the pebbly beach at Oak Park, Jetler-
son, and Winnetka. From this height they
subsidized 10 their present level, and the
marshy plains became covered with luxu-
RANT growth OF trees and other vegetation,
and strange animals, OF which our masto-
don was one, rOamed through the forests.
Ii requires a somewhat agile effort OF the
Imagination to conceive how far back that
was. 1t was before the Indian lover wOed
his dusky maid; so long ago that the build
inc of the tower OF Babel and the erection
OF the pyramid OF Cheops, in compare
son with il, seemed to antedate but by few
weeks the twenty-iirst trennial cOnclaye OF
Knights Templar. Lakes and Islands have
appeared, and whole species OF animals
have arisen, flourished, and become extinct
since then. 1t is possible that this monster
NAV have dreamed Of these future events
which are now shrouded in the impenetra-
ble depths of forgotten past. However,
il is not in the range OF possibility that his
most delirious fantasies should have been
so ambitious as to have forecast the honor
i'm store for him, that his bones, having been
preserved throughout all these ages, should
repose at last upon the table in the private
office-the Sdnctum Sdpct0ram-of the
80 best mayor Chicago ever had"
Well, the maslOdon died, and was gather
ed unto his fathers. AS TO the manner OF
his death history is silent. He may have
been mired in the swamps OF that quater-
nary period, or he may have been drowned
in the waters OF the lake. At any rate, his
remains found their resting place ttheir final
resting-place, as he may have perhaps fond
ly imagined) a block or two west OF Wicker
Park A sudden inundatiOn by the waters
Of Lake Michigan followed, the submerging
reaching as far west as Austin. The liDe OF
this beach had its conjunction with the
present shore at what Is now Crosse Point.
With the beast were buried many like him,
and other species, and also trees. These, by
the strange chemistry OF nature, were con-
yerted to stone, still preserving their form
and structure. Many OF these remains, espe.
clally of vegetable life, have been found in
digging the foundations OF Chicago. Not Q
few OF our cellars are flOored with them,
and the foundation OF the Third Presbyte'
rian church is laid In them. After the lapse
of centuries the lake again retreated and
assumed its present contour, leaving de-
posit OF loan and gravel over the strata Ia
which these relies are found.
DR.. Andrews contemplates making
study of the further remains Of the masto
don as they shall be eXhamed, and will also
mak9 further investigations in the vicinity
to see II he can uDearth anything else tha
can be made TO contribute to scientific lore
1t is proposed TO mount this creature anc
place the skeleton in the rooms OF the chi
cago Historical Society.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, August 25.-Chicago sci
entists are taking great interest in the nam
moth bones found in excavating for th'
sewer at Wicker's Park. DR.. Il. Andrews
OF the Academy OF Scientists, had obtained
permission from Mayor Harrison to make
further excavations, TO search for the re
mainder OF the skeleton. The Academy hat
two mastodon skeletons destroyed In TIT
great fire, and has never since been able u
obtain one. DR.. Andrews thinks there j
little doubt that these bones belong to
mastodon OF enormous size. The tusk wa
about seven feet ia length Further searcl
Is TO be made to-day by DR.. Andrews AM
members OF the Historical Society. III TN
entire skeleton Is not found It Is propose'
TO M least get enough 10 haye correct ide
Of the proportions OF the animal and restor
the remainder by art In the mounting.
The joirt debate between Messrs. Ian
- n na