Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-29
INK ssuPA snAGE-
Supposed to he the Nest Ancient York
OF IIuman Hands In Existence.

OF IIuman Hands In Existence.
The Scientific American illustrates
the image taken from the artesian
well at Namps, Ada county, last
summer, and publishes lengthy ar
ticle in relation to it, which is based
upon lecture delivered before the
Brooklyn Institute, on October 3lst,
by Prof. G.. Frederick Wright, OF
Ohio, upon "The Ice Age IN North
America, and lis Relation to tho An
tiquity of Man" Prof. Wrght's at
tentiou was called TO the image in
letter from Charles Francis Adams,
President OF the Union Pacific Rail-
road company, written on the l'th
OF September last. The image was
found about August LIST by NJ. a.
kurtz, OF Nampa, who was engaged
in boring an artesian we'll at that
place. That region is covered by ex-
tcnsive lava deposits Of post-tertiary
or quaternary date. This image was
described by MIR, Adams "as appar-
emily the figure of female, one leg
and one arm being missing, made OF
baked clay. II is just such prodoc-
ton as an ingenious boy, with taste
that way, might produce.
The image is about one and one
half inch in length, and came up
from the sand pump in the ordinary
way from depth Of about $50 feet
below the surface. Mr.. Cumming,
the general manager OF the Union
Pacific lines ia Idaho, was at Boise
City the day after the discovery. lie
is graduate Of Harvard, well known
in Boston, aud his evidence in rela-
ton TO tho facts is considered con
elusive.
I" Mr.. kurtz was on the ground,
says the Scientific American, watch
ing the progress of the work will
much solicltude, and as the SANE
pump came up, ran the content
through his hand as it was dumped
ou:, aud 50 had the image IN HI
hand before knowing wha: it was
supposing it was twig; but on dip
ping it into barrel OF water an,
washing il, saw its character. TIL
only other persons present at III
time were Mr., DUTIES, a promineu
citizen OF the town, aud the drille
aud helper. The drill was not use
after passing through the lava depos
its, and the sand pump was Of ampl
size for bringing up the image, tn
valve being three and one hall inche
on the inside.
eThe following are the strata
bored through MS reported by the drill
er: 60 fl. Of soil, II to 10 #, of lay
rock, 100 II. quicksand, g in. OF ella,
40 #. of quicksand, 6 It. of clay, ]
#. of quicksand, L TO 10 #. Of ella.
then clay balls mixed with sand, the
coarse sand IN which the image cam
up, then vegetable soil, then the oris
NAL sandstone.
IAN evidence Of its genuinene'
exists IN some particles OF sand C,
mented into the crease between ii
arm aud the body, which can be see
ia the left baud side of tho frol
view. These could not have bee
where they are il it had been recent
manufactured. Taking the eyident
altogether, Prof, Putnam and Pro
Haynes are entirely convinced OF
genuineness.
S. f. Emmons, of the u. S. &c
logical Survey, expresses 1t as b
opinion that the beds from which Il
image was taken are probably OF {
greater antiquity than any deposi
in which human implements ha'
heretofore been discovered. II
occurrence of the beds is readily a
counted for by inspection of the r
glon.
The Scientific American closes
article on the find as follows:
Through distractions in the 10
er part d tho valley Of Snsks iivs