The daily gazette., 1880-05-18
UneartAisg q Mastodom.


THE REMAINS OF A srUPENDoUs
QUADRUPED FOUND A SHORT DIS
TANcE FROM PITTsBURG-GREA1
EXCITEMENT AT GIRARD.
The scientific world received a new
impetus by the announcement that a
portion of the remains of huge masto-
don had been excavated In the vicinity
OF Girard, a small town in Erie county,
located near where the Pittsburg and
Lake Erie RAILROAD crosses the Lake
Shore road. A reporter of the Erie
Herald visited the place and found the
citizens greatly excited over the discev-
cry. Last week John Gales, the hired
man on the faim Of VIM. H. Palmer,
and which tract of land is situated one
mile east OF GiIard and one mile from
the Lake Shore road, me- an obstacle
whiie plowing up marsh for the first
Time, which he supposed to be a root.
Upon close examination The snag was
found to be ivory. Mr.. Palmer was in
formed OF the event, and the rumor was
quickly afoaL that large tusk, similar
to that of an elephants tusk, had been
found. Yesterday afternoon DR.. Il. N.
Taylor, Rev. DIR. Shipman, Hon. G. H.
Cutler and large number of citizens of
Girard borough, also Mr.. E. N. Meyers.
Of Syracuse, who happened to be stop
ping in the borough, started, fully equip
ped with shovel and pick for business,
and with the evident Intention of find
ing further traces OF the huge animal
whose presence had been indicated by
the tusk discovered. After digging over
territory of fifteen feet square and to
the depth of foot and half, the party
was well rewarded tor their labors by
discovering large lot of bones which
were raised and brought to the village.
The following is list of the remains:
Two tusks, each measuring about eight
feet in length up to the point of en-
trance to the socket, which is perhaps
two or three feet deep; the tusks ale
broken up considerable, having been de-
composed on account OF their proximity
to the surface of the earth. The tins
are pretty well preserved, however, and
the band OF enamel is fully an eighth OF
an inch in thickness, their thickness
was about six inches and the tusks must
have weighed 100 pounds or more.
When found they were lying close to-
gether.
Mr.. Cutler has them at his office and
will proceed at once to predare them by
bandage for exhibition. DR.. Taylor who
acted at the exbuming of tine body as
demonstrator, with Elder Shipman and
Lawyer Cutter as assistants, has num-
Der OF fragments which are the second
verteb@ weighing three AVID a halt
pounds, also the third, fourth and fifth
vertebraes of the neck, and which
were all found almost cemei,ted ~
gether; these pieces are about eight
In depth aud six inches width the al
las or first verlebrae of the neck, forms
a sort of "washer," to use a merchanical
term, for the head to turn In. The doc |
tor is also In possession or several.of the |
vertebrae in the middle of the spinal |
and which weigh from two to |
four pounds each. These are marked |
by the long process sometimes called |
he fin on the back of the cattle. All |
'he vertebrae are short, with the neu-
raj splnes OF the thoracle region elon-
gated, Ten ribs, each two and une-
half feet long, are in the doctors pos s.
ZION. These ale those that formed the
)acs bone, but none that Joined the ster-
ium or breast bone, and must haue
'een much longer before they had de-
aged. He has also pant of one thigh,
he lower end of which Is perfectly ar
iculated. 1t shows a knee OF 6x8
inches. A portion of that shoulder blade
vas also found with the articulating
ocket large enough to accommodate a
,one of eighth inches in diameter.
The only tooth found is in Mr.. Cutters
,osession and 1t is grinding tooth it is
i've inches vide in its largest point, on
me side the enamel is quite PEI feet the
Doth bears the rid ses and crowns from
which the animal takes its name the
Doth weighs three pounds. The form
f the tooth defiues the fact of so much
interest TO scientists that It's posessor was
n intermediate between the ordinary
Ierbivorous animals and the elephant.
IN the whole the size of the animal is
xed by approxim alton to have been as
arge If not larger than that found in a
cry perfect condition In a swamp at
Tewberg, N. Y. That specimen meas
red IL feet in height II feeS in length
D the base of the tail. The entire |
sngth of the tusk was 10 feet IL inches,
bout q feet being included in the
ocket, which would correspond to the
ze Of the tusks OF the skeleton In ques.
on. The fore foot measures nearly
vo feet across. When alive the ami
lal must have been about fourteen feet
i height, and including the tusks,
bout twenty-five feet long.