Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-15
ERIE COUNTY's MAsTOUON.
Parts OF the Gigantic skeleton
Of Ono Of That Speoies Of Pre-
historic Mammals Unearthed
Near Girard, Pa.

Near Girard, Pa.
GIRARD, May 1.-THE tnding OF tho
bones Of what is believed 10 have bsea
q mastodon on Mr. Palmer's farm in this
county has produced q well-developed
sensation in this region. A huge tusk
was first unsarthed by Q plowman and
subsequently Hon. George II. Cutter,
Dr. ]. N. Taylor, and Rev. O. l., Ship.
man, with other citizens pursued the
search on the farm. They soon un-
esrthsd quite collection OF large bones,
which mp " the present embraces por.
tions Of two tusks, one of which land
the most perfect one--indicstes that it's
length must have bt@n from n to I'D tset,
aud about fve inches In diameter At the
largest part IL is in three pieces OF
the other tusk piece Of only about three
feet In length has been found. One
tooth WAS found weighing about 3!
pounds with q grinding surface Of "a by
fvs inches, and with enamel pretty
we'll preserved. The best preserved
bones are the vertebr~, Of which four of
the neck and two oi the lumbar or
dorsal region ara tolerably perfect.
Those Of the neck have broad, Hat bod.
les, with q large opening for apinsl
cord, and short spInous processes, whis
tl,oss OF the back nave large thick bod.
iss, AMI Ionsspines. Portions Of seyer.l
ribs were found. but they are too irap.
n,entary TO indicate their length. BIT
few OF the tex bones are secured; one.
which appears to answer to the foreles,
is perfect at the extremity forming tic
knee joint and Is very large and mas
siye. Their. Ia also In the collection q
shoulder blade in tolerable presct vatioD.
wids and would indicate that the head
Of the bone which articnlated with u
must have been at least eight inches in
diameter. A bone belonginH probably
10 the lower Jaw IL also very massive.
II is short aud thick, wedge shaped,
with a broad articulating surface at the
larys end. Its base IL eight inches,
length about the same, and In four inches
thick. There sers many other irsa.
meuts oi homes found. butt % ~ jsaaysd
q state ss g. admit ol no detailed &C.
count.
The soil in which tho above describe,i
bones were found has surface OF BLACK
muck, about Is inchcs.,leep, 0verlyinv .
strata IL cement, composed OF clay, sand
and iron ore eight inches thick, beneath
which was clear yellow aand and loan,
such m is usually found In be.ls Ol
quick sand There have been found IN
tho vicinity of Girard specimens oi
similar bones at various times. These
facts leave no doubt but that this o'
cality Was once . favorite haunt for
these monster mammals. The scientific
interest centres Ia the TACT that they
~ers animals requiring . warm eli
mate and the rank vegetation
OF tho topics. The specimens
OF the present discovery are perhaps too
lev 10 arriy. at q conclusion - To the
animals size, but they arc enough 10
indicate that they belonged to the eI'
tlnct mastoion. From other and more
perfect skeletons found IN this country
the sire Of the animal is estiusted To
have been IL fset long. ssclussse o.
tusks, and from ~ 10 10 feet high, Ths
age OF the bones OF the skeleton 70 esti-
mated at 5000 years 4 further search
will be made. with q visw ot securing
the remainder Of tbs skeleton, especially
the teeth, skull and leg bones. The
parts already found arc In possession oi
Mr.. Cutter and DR. Taylor.