The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-07-08
MAsToDoN UNCOVERED.
Tho Remains Found In swamp Near Free
hold, New Jersey.


hold, New Jersey.
FREEHOLD, June 16.-William II.
Reed, farmer living about two
miles west of this village, has recent
ly had several workmen engaged in
draining a swampy meadow One
of the laborers threw out what was
at first supposed TO he a large white
grayel-stone, but which, on being
wiped off by one of the men, was
seen TO be an immense tooth which
had evidently belonged to some
large animal. The tooth was about
four inches long and two inches
thick and two inches acress the top,
and weighed four pounds. The men
were about to resume digging, when
Mr.. Reed ordered them to desist. He
acquainted DR.. Samuel Lockwood,
the naturalist, who lives here, with
his "find," and showed him the tooth.
DIR. Lockwood Immediately declared
it to be a molar from the mastodon.
Mr.. Lockwood.accompanied Mr.Reeed
to the place where the remains were
found. This was evidently the site
of an ancient beaver dam The labor
er had cut through the remains of the
creature at point which took away
the base of the tuslss and a portion
of the face of the animal. Under the
direction of Mr.. Lockwood the Dig
ging was resumed. The ends of
both tusks were exposed. The left
one was uncovered and carefully
lifted out to the surface OF the ground.
1t was four feet four inches in length !;
measuring the width of the ditch,
which was eighteen inches, and al
lowing two feet for insertion in the
skull, the entire length of the tusk
would be seven feet ten inches. No
sooner was the tusk exposed TO the
atmosphere than disintegratioR be-
gan, the tusk falling to pieces in
transverse sections, each section be-
ing about onc-fourth of an inch in
diameter. In the course Of half an
hour the disintegration had proceed
ed SO, rapidly that only crumbly
mass was left of the tusk. When
first exhumed the tusk had the feel
ing of a piece Of fresh cheese newly
cut. On account ofthe greater depth
of the second tusk portions of 1t re-
manned uncovered while the lahorcrs
were at work at the remainder, and
by the time the whole was uncovered
the first part had so far decomposed
as to render it impossible to lift it
out.
On the second day after the dis
covery the work OF exhuming the
body was begun. Operations com
menced at the head, which was lying
within two feet Of thesurface. When
the laborers had cut down to the
head it was found to be so soft that
the bones were easily cut through
with spade. 1t was nearly the coll
or of the black vegetable mold of the
meadow, and was therefore almost
undistinguishable. But a careful
inspection showed that the front part
OF the head was greatly similar to
that Of the elephant Of the present
day, except that the forehead was
abnormally high. BY close inves-
tigation of the skull numerous air
cells, some Of them an inch in diam
eter, were found. The bone Of the
skull was of an immense thickness,
but completely honeycombed with
these air-cells. These cells had be-
come filed with the fibrous roots of
plants, which extended through the
entire skull. After digging through
the skull and coming to the lower
part of the head, three or four more
teeth similar in shape, size and
weight to that already described were
found. The teeth, unlike the tusks
and bones, were in remarkably
good state of preservation The ex-
ploration was continued until the en-
tire body was laid bare. Beneath
the bones was found bed Of sand
upon which the animal had evidently
laid down to die. The bones OF the
body, though greatly decomposed,
were plainly distinguishable, and the
position Of the animal was ascertain
ed. 1t was lying with its head to
the northeast, and its legs stretched
out at right-angles to its body, and
it's head inclined toward its chest.
About year ago the remains OF a
megathcrinm were found in the mari
pits Of Marlboro, where those of
smaller sea-crcatnres Of that period
are numerous. The discovery Of the
remains OF the mastodon is import
ant to geological history, as it has
been the general belief among geolo-
gists that at the time the mastodon
lived the coast of New Jersey was
submerged and that it had risen from