The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-26
BIaGERTHAN JUMBO.
Discovery of Prehistoric Monster n
Indiana


Indiana.
VINcESNEs IND, July 2l.-A party con !.
sisting OF Professor McCrary, president Of
Vincennes university, DR.. Jobert Jessup,
Mr.. G. j. McCord, who brought the tusk to
this city, Mr.. Albert Foulks, and a cores.
pondent, left this city in two-horse con-
veyance for White river. where the nam.
moth tusk was recently found, for the pur-
pose Of making an extended search, in an
endeavor to find, II possible other parts of
the mammoth animal to which the tusk
originally belonged. The distance was
about fifteen miles from this city. Arriving
at the spot, which was at once identified bv
finding piece about seven inches long
which had come of the large end of the
tusk, the party proceeded TO explore with
shovel and pick for further DEVELOPMENTS.
but after iruitless search 1t was given up.
The spot where the tusk was found is one
of romantic beauty. AT the waters edge
is nat rock surface which extends directly
out into the river about seyenty-hye feet
and is evidently growing in size each wear.
the water, as IL turns bend in the river,
gradually washing out the bank, which for
two or three hundred wards
r,ses almost perpendcularly above
the rock below, distance
ofiifteen or twenty feet. Immediately above
the spot where the tusk lay.th water has
washed the soil out so that good.sizcd
tree on the top Of the bank has half its
roots exposed, and will undoubtedly fall at
the next high water. 1t was Thought
by the party that the washings had
left the tusk lying bare on the rocks
and that in all probability other parts
would by digging be unearthed. Be-
Ing disappointed in this, the party
started on search along the bank OF the
river, and upon reaching q large clump of
willow bushes, about an eighth Of a mile
below, found large amount of pieces OF the
tusk that had evidently been caught and
held by the bushes. Among these pieces
was one Of considerable Importance, II be-
ing the point OF the tusk. This piece was
about four inches long and about
one and three-fourths Of an inch in
diameter at the tip. This piece more
strikingly shows itself to be genuine
ivory than other portions of the tusk, Il
showing plainly, in transverse sections,
different colored lines running In circular
arcs, and forming, by their decussations,
minute loxenge-shaped spaces, these fea.
lures being strikingly shown by the aid Of
tne lens. Whnt mas been found tends
to confirm previous estimates of lis
length being between ten and twelve
feet, while the weight would be
from one.half TO three-fourths GREATER
than II now Is. were II not owing to decom-
position. II this theory be true, the tusk
when sound would weigh between 100 and
200 pounds. This, II the proportions were
carried out, would make the animal from
three to five times the size Of "Jumbo,n
and an elephants giganteus, ,::or mammoth.
IL is believed that an organized effort with
professional shovelers might secure
other bones of the animal. Tho soil
In which the tusk was found Is
sticky gravel which containcs some
iron, The rocky bottom, which runs out
into the river, seems 10 extend equally into
the bank, and II Is gradually being uncoy.
cred and laid bare by each succeeding rise
Of the river. The surrounding country Is
very low, swampy and uncultlvated. Aaer
partaking OF q lunch on the rocks the party
started for home. which was. reached al d
late hour last night. A good-sized piece Of
the tusk will be sent 70 Prof. Andrews, oi
Chicago, for his exAmjnntion.