Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-05
BUzzINGS.

historic times was unearthed at Defiance,
Ia, in the shape Of a mammoth tusl, found
on farm three miles northwest Of that
place, at depth Of twenty-sevep feet. 1t is
now in the possession of Mr.. II. b. Sooy, and
it is said to measure seven feet.
This story calls to mind an interesting
"reminiscences of a tusk which was on exhi-
bition in the store Off. S. Collins, in Omaha,
as far back as 1865. 1t was alleged to have
been discovered in cave near Green's
quarry, some miles below this city. The
tusk measured was six feet in length and was
an object Of curiosity, 1t had white, ashy
appearance and bore hieroglyphics which
gave it the stamp of antiquity. People came
from the surrounding towns to see 1t. The
government surveyors who at that time
were running the meridian and setting stone
columns on the high school campas (Which
will be noticed there to-day, examined the
tusk and appeared to be as greatly n.ysttied
as everybody else. After the tusk had re-
manned an object of wonder for consid-
cradle length of time it became whispered
about town that it was counterfeit, and an
investigation revealed the fact that a number
of local testers had perpetrated huge joke
upon the confiding public. The principals in
the scheme were Mr.. G.. H. Collins, deceased; /;
Mr.. John Creighton. Mr.. Andrew Simpson
and Mr.. Z. Rosewater. 1t was developed
that the tusk was made in the carriage fac
tory of Mr.. Simpson.
Eyes, l recollect quite well the painted
and daubed up representation Of antiquity
that was placed in our shop window some
twenty-four years ago." said Mr.. ]. S. Col
Inns at was labeled, Found in Green's
Quarry and the people who looked at it
were easily fooled, for they were not per-
mtted to get their hands on the imposition.
1t was, of course, just a joke John Creigh-
ton was as great a wag as were the rest of
the practical jokers.
"However," continued Mr. Collins, ''I
don't consider it at all remarkable that such
relic should be discovered in the great val
leys of the country l remember that during
the gold digging days in Montana. in Adler
Gulch, 1 saw miners dig up at a depth of
about thirty feet, seven foot
Jusk. Exposure to the air soon
checked and crumbed the find, and in
the course Of short time it was pile of
ashes. When first unearthed the bone was
iridescent. l have seen tooth weighing
fifteen or twenty pounds found in the same
guich.
Nick Janice brought to me from what is
RuOWH rs Jile f'rdtJ O. rdHCN, SltuaCeu
thirty miles below Fort Laramie, on the
Platte river, what seemed to be the knuckle
of the leg-bone of mammoth. 1t was at
least two and one-half feet high, in compost
tion similar to stone, and it was all that a
stout man coulu do to lift it.
MIR. Collins thought that these prehistoric
animals had followed the assuagiug waters
of the earth, and could on that hypothesis
raadilu hn1iaua in tho find ad
Iowa.
"When in New York the other day." said
prominent newspaper man of this city, 81
saw meager description of the latest i'm
proved invention for the transmission of tel
egrams. From cursory examination of,
and what was told me concerning the pat
ent, prophesy that it will work complete
revolution in the matter of sending and re-
ceiving telegraphic dispatches, both in the
commercial and newspaper worlds.
"The sending instrument is fashioned
somewhat after the idea OF the typewriter
keyboard, and is manipulated very much in
the same way. AT the receiving end the
message is typewriter upon paper, and
leaves the instrument as perfect specimen
off n typewriter page as well can be i'm
agined.
"You may have seen something approach
ing the wonderful invention in the stock
brokers' Office where little instruments are
heard ticking away and printing with letters
| the market quotations on a narrow paper
| tape which is reeled off spindle.
1.-THE messages which come by means Of
this new patent referred to, which by the
| way is of English invention, are printed on
| sheets of the ordinary size of letter paper,
| ana with the usual number Of words upon
| page, and also gwen number of words to
each line. They are printed upon roll of
| paper which is automatically cut TO uni
form length after the page had been printed.
| No operator is required at the receiving end
| In the matter of press reports this phenom-
| inal instrument will work a great change
and be best appreciated.
81 understand that the Western Union
| company Is endeayorlng TO secure the patent
| for its exclusive use in this country, and
| was told also that one or the other of the
| leading press associations was endeavorng
| to secure the patent. If the latter is sue
| cessful it is among the possibilities that
special wires will be built by the association
| exclusively for the use of the new Device In
| which event the transmission of pcess news
will undergo another great stride"