The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-09-05
Is It the Ark OF Noah?

Theexploration of DR.. Schliemann
among the hummocks of the Troad,
which led to the discovery of the ru-
ins of ancient Troy, the llilum OF
Homer, and the latter exhumation
of archaeological treasures among the
ruins of the valley of the Euphrates
and the hills of Greece, have, accord
ing to accounts, just been supple
mented by discovery, which, If
true, will excite the most intense
interest in every part of christen-
dom. The announcement is repeat
ed in reputable English journal,
upon the authority of CONSTANT
nople contemporary, that a corps OF
Turkish Commissioners which had
been sent to make an investigation
of the question of avalanches on
Mount Ararat, had stumbled upon
gigantic structure of very dark wood
protruding from glacier, and the
belief is expressed that the formida-
BILE looking construction thus perch
ed high up on the summit of the
mount, must be the ark of that an
cient navigator, Noah. The inhabit-
ants reported to the commissioners
that they had seen it for six years,
but had been afraid to approach it
because spirit of fierce aspect had
been seen looking out of the upper
window" 1t is reported situated
"among the fastnesses of one of the
glens of Mount Ararat." 1t is men,
toned that this specimen of antedi-
luvian naval architecture is in good
state of preservation, but its angles
are said to have been a good deal
broken in its descent. An English
man in the party saw that it was
made of the ancient gopher wood of
Scripture" a production only of the
plains of the Euphrates. The struct-
ure is also described as being divid-
ed into partitions fifteen feet high.
Into three only of these the commits
sioners could penetrate, the others
being full Office, and how far the ark
extended into the glacier they could
not tell. A point which must be
conclusive would be the ascertain
ment of the dimensions of this Won
derful craft. Should it reach the fig
ures given in the Mosaic account,
there could be no other Alternative
than the acceptance of this as the
authentic ark of Noah. There could
hardly have been other construc-
tons of those days 800 cubits long.
The time of the deluge is placed at
between 4 1000 and 5,400 years ago,
according to divers authorities. Mt.
Ararat, which rises out OF the plain
of Armenia, is the loftiest peak in
that region, being 10000 feet high,
and is covered with perpetual snow.
The possibility of the preservation
of such material during the long
lapse of years can hardly be ques-
toned. The finding not many years
ago of a hairy mammoth, imbedded
in the glaciers of Northern Europe,
which must have been overtaken
there by some sudden convulsion of
nature, long anterior to the age OF
Noah, would, if there were no other
instances on record of the preserva-
ton qualities of ice and low temper
ature, fully sustain this feature OF
the reported discovery Of the ark.
The whole christian world will await
authenticated information Oh this
subject. The Biblical account OF
the craft in which Noah and his
family and all living animals cruis-
ed over the face of the waters is Civ
en- in sufficient detail for purposes
of identification. The eyes of the
world, like the prov of the ark, are
now directed towards the attitudes
of Ararat, for landing upon sub
stantial fact in vast expense of tradi,
ton.