The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-08-09
WHAT ARE THE SKELETONS ?


BRIDGEToN, N. J., July 31.-The great
stone skeletons which are being eXhumed
at the quarry near Irelands mill are caus.
Ing sensation in this section which has
not been equaled since the war. Each day
new Is brought out, and the
town Is In a lively state of commotion,
awaiting the latest developments. There
have been numerous body forms excavated
from the mari BEDS belt of which crosses
portions Of this and Salem counties west of
Ireland's mill and running from northeast
to southwest, but this is the first time that
stone formation has been found, and this
is at least eight miles from the mari vein,
and the village wiSeacres are unable to ex-
plain 1t.
The skeletons are found imbedded in the
sand or iron" stone common to the gray.
ely strata of South Jersey, which is used
for building foundations, and, although it
Is partly formed of iron pyrites, it is com.
monty known here as building stone.
When this stone is first dug out 1t Is soft
and crumbly, but on exposure to the air it
soon hardens.
MEASUREMENTS OF THE SKELETONS
The skeletons found were discovered
about ten feet beneath the surface of the
ground, and the animal lies upon its side
at an angle of several degrees, the back and
head being nearer to the surface than the
other parts of the body The neck is in a
the top of the ground. The body of the
man was first found, occupying space of
about six and a half feet, with its legs
doubled under. The hind quarters of the
animal, whatever it may be, were first dis.
covered, and this portion was quite imper-
feet. Careful excavation resulted in com
pletely exposing the form, which is of a
large size. The length of the body from
the breast to the extremity of the hind
quarters is feet; from the breast to the
top of the head is 4 feet; from the top of
the head to the extremity of the hind quart
ers is IL feet; the height from the hind foot
to the top Of the back is feet, while the
height OF the foreparts is 81 feet The fore
foot, which has been excavated, Is broken
oil at the knee joint and doubled up. The
hoofs are cloven. The head and nose are
nearly perfect. There are protuberances
where the eyes and ears were
PHYSICIANS MAKE EXAMINATIONS.
The scene around the quarry today re.
sembled a camp meeting. Hundreds Of
people Hooked there and the roads were
lined with wagons and carriages Promi-
nently interested in the skeletons are the
physicians of this city, some of whom have
LETT for Philadelphia to see some scientific
savants and have them come down and in
spect the remains" The quarrymen
guard them day and night, and, with, ma
tive Jersey shrewdness, charge q nickel for
peep at the wonderful stone monsters
State GeolOgist George 81. Cook sent his
assistant, Frank l.. Mason, of New Bruins
wick, to examine it today. Professor Ma
son TOOK accurate measurements of the
form, which looks like huge beast carved
IN solid stone, its outline and symmetry be-
ing perfect. The head was further uncov.
cred today, exposing an erect horn about
thlrteen inches in length, extending from
the top.
Three Men Try to Destroy New Jersoy,s
Geological Wonder.
Philadelphia Times, August 2)
There was a sensational scene noar
Brldgeton before daybreak yesterday morn.
ing when three strange men tried to DESTROY
the Jersey geological wonder. The men
were surprised by Amos Penn and Frank
Lowell, the discoverers of the What Is It."
and after an exchange of shots, they were
driven into the woods back of the Ireland's
mill road. Ever since the two humble
quarrymen struck the petrified man and
the strange animal while prospecting in the
loan for stone there has been the hottest
kind of envy and the pit has to be guarded
day and night
The body OF the man was found first,
and that night was left unguarded. At
dayDreak the next morning the human
FOSSIL was found broken into pieces. The
Vandals had completely destroyed its scien.
tific value. Late that day Penn and Lowell
struck the hoof of the wonderful animal
which they soon revealed to the light
While one slept the other discoverer kent
watch In the pit in which the animal lies
Just after 3 o'clock yesterday morning
Lowell was taking a nap under q tree and
Penn was at Arnold's pond near by getting
can of water when he saw three men
pushing their way through the thickets In
the woods Penn dropped the can and
slipped toward the pit just as the first man
mounted the low fence that surrounds the
excavation.
a BATTLE WITH VANDALS.
When Penn hailed him the man answered
with the shot of a revolver, the ball whiz.
Zing through the trees. Penn returned the
IRE ana the three men dashed back TO the
woods. Lowell had heard the shots and he
sprang from the ground and ran after Penn
as he rushed on the men. The strangers
dashed into tho black shadows of the pines
When one OF them wheeled and again fired
Ihe bullet whistled between Penn and
Lowell, VINO rallied and drove the murder.
=, '"i'oio lui INCL luLO Gue WOODS, Where
they disappeared in the darkness.
Daybreak soon followed, and before
breakfast people began to journey to Ire,
lands mill to see the marvellous relic of n
prehistoric age. Some came on foot, but
most of the pilgrims rode to the pit Peo.
pie came from all parts of the surrounding
country In all kinds Of vehicles, from a aur.
rey to q country ice wagon, while a mum.
Der of Philadelphians travelled down TO
Cumberland county to get a peep at the |
~ '"'
Penn and Lowell, both very Door men
were digging for stone, the result of their
work TO be shared between themselves and
Lawyer Walton Baker, of Bridgeton, the |
owner of the land where they made their |
ind. Now hundreds of people are paving !
ZEN cents apiece to see the "What-is.It, /
and the guarrymen are pilIng up the she
tels. They charged but nickel until AS.
'istant State Geologist Mason told them the |
price was too low. Yesterday they raised
he tariff. Some of the countrymen kicked
md produced newspapers to show that the
price OF admission within the fence was a
nickel, but they had to give up their dimes.
CROWDS VIEW THE WONDER.
a big portion of Bridgeton's best.so.