The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-13
ROUGH ON sKEPTICs.
The Discovery of Noah's Ark Upon Mount
Ararat and in Insurance ArchIeves.
New York Times.

The Discovery of Noah's Ark Upon Mount
Ararat and in Insurance Archieves.
New York Times
The commission recently appointed by the
Supreme Court of Turkey to investigate ava
lanches on Mount ATarat with view to ascer
tanning If it were practicable TO grow wheat or
the mountain top and slide the Held into the
valley on an avalanche to be harvested, mas
made its report. While this report does not set
tie the real question at Issue, ft throws lighl
upon n snhjscI which has bothered biblical
students for about 5000 years. 1t seems that the
commissioners, while pursuing their lnvestiga
lions, came upon what seemed to be the bow oil
a gigantic canal boat protrudtng from a glacier,
and (see questions FPS to 1,7S3 of the report
they maze inquiries concerning IL of the inhab
tants. These barbarians had been aware Of the
existence of this structure for centuries past
but had never dared to investigate IL because a
spirit o: remarkable fierce and savage aspect
mad glared from an upper window upon whoever
approached and frightened them away.
The president of .he commission, however.
was not to be daunted by any mere spirit, and
he proceeded at once to pay visit to the Inys-
terious structure. and according TO the report,
captured the spirit and disposed of it TO All
American named Tunnel, or VunnelI, or Bun
nell. tSee folio COS of the reportJ Upon enter
Ing the structure they at once discovered IL to be
nothing less important than NOah'e ark, which
fouudered upon Mount Ararat about the year
2.34S b. c.. but had been popularity supposed to
have crumbled TO ruin. Indeed, it's very exist
ence has been doubted by irreIgious scoffers,
who have affected to believe that the late Moses
did not thoroughly investigate all the tales he
signing person had imposed the story of the ark
upon the patriarch for reasons of his own. The
discovery of the ark will be sufficient refuta-
ton of these heresles. Tue report reads as fol.
lows: 1--WE discovered that the vessel was made
of the ancient gopher wood of Scripture, which,
as every one knows, only grows on the
plains of the Euphrates. Effecuing an en-
trance into the structure, which was painted
brown, we found that the admiralty require
ments for the conveyance of horses had been
carried out, and the interior WAS divided into
partitions fifteen feet high. Into three of these
only could we get, the others being full Of ice,
and how far the ark extended into the glacier
we could not tell. II, however, on being uncOv-
cred 1t turns out to be 800 cubts long, 1t will 20
hard with disbelievers in the book of Genesis. {"
From papers discovered on the vessel it was in
ferred that the ark had been insured with the
Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company, and a re-
porter of the Times was ordered TO take an ON
nIbus, without regard to expense, aud inquire OF
Vlce-presidenJ Dennis, Of the company, at the
eompany's office. No. 81 Broadway. Mr.. Dennis
SAID that although the company was one OF the
oldest in the world, it had the records OF very
few vessels of $500 b. c. Upon searching
through the inspection minutes" however, he
fonnd the following record:
THE ARK.-Buit by Noah; owned by Noah &
Sons; tonnage. 42,413.95; length over all, 525
feet; breadth of beam, 81 feet inches depth of
hold, 81 feet inches; built of gopher wood; bow
ports and treenailed throughout; used as passen-
ger and cattle transport; rated Al"
"Can you inform me what the ark was insured
fort" asked the reporter.
II should not feel al liberty to make that mat
ter public without consulting the proprietors,"
''Was the menagerie insured separately" the
reporter inquired.
"Our company does not insure live stock and
therefore cannot answer that they were," said
the vice-presidsnt.
"Can You tell me whether NOahs life was in
suredf" pursued the questioner.
81 capnOt give you information from my own
knowledge" replied Mr.. Dennis. "as the matter
occurred so many years back that can scarcely
recollect 1t. have heard, however, that it was.
The story is that he was insured with the Lamech
Mutual, and you will remember that he lived o be
$50 years old. In his nine hundred and forty
eighth year he happened to figure up the amount
OF the premiums he had paid on his policies, and
found that the sum amounted to about four
times as much as the value of she policy itself.
So he let it lapse"
as it a fact that Japhet made a kick about the
matter after his fathers death7" asked the re-
porter.
81 don't know" Mr.. Dennis said.
WAS 1t Ham2' inquired the reporter
81 don't know" replied the viee-president
wasn't 1t Shema" queried again the reporter
81 don't know" repeated Mr. Dennis.
We'll. who was itP' persisted the reporter.
II don't KNOW" again Mr.. Dennis replied; and,
as he at that moment reached for IA revolver in
the back part of a drawer, the reporter came
away, sadly but slowly.