Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-10-07
a PREiIsToRlc oIAET.
rhs Rem,in. "f n Msmmoih MAstodon
Uasarthed In Canada.

rhs Rem,ln. af Msmmoth MAstodon
uasarthed In Canada.
A giant mastodon's remains have iu I
hoon exhumed from their long resting
place In q corn-Asll near llighgatc. Tho
skeleton has, pirce by piece boon disin-
torrcd, and fer masslyenoss and grand
eur Of proportions Il equals, II 1t doc3
not surpass any thing yet known TO
science, II has boon dug out OF pieco
of farm Land which forms part OF
swampy plain. Its exact location Is
given thus; The southerly part OF tho
east part a lot * concession 6, OF the
Township Of Oxford. in tho county OF
Oxford. owned by MIR John Rcycraft ="
II In little over forty milos westward
OF ST. Thomas on The Michigan Central
line. and 100 miles from Toronto.
-Four years ago tho farmers OF tho vi.
cinity decided 10 unite their energies
In draining a marshy bog-a place which
had been apparently moro or less sub.
merged for centuries. To carry oil tho
water that accumulated on the surface,
they cut an open ditch through several
lots until they ELECTED n junction with
larger channel. While the ditch was
being opened In Mr.. Rcycrafl's land tho
cxcavator, relative Of the owner.
struck his spade against what ho at first
regarded rs n logof wood, but ON exam
ination found 10 be the big bono Of an
animal larger than any ho had eve.
read or heard OF. AS be continued his
digging he came upon some moro re.
mains, large foro,lcg bone, part OF tho
hind leg, several ribs vcrtcbrin, and ono
or two smaller bones
Tho entire collection was carefully
slowed away In the farm house. and few
words passed about the discovery. Mr..
EeycrafL however, made up his mind To
prosecute further search at more con-
vcnicnt season. The years slipped by.
and that convenient season never cam6.
About twelve months ago one CT tho
farm hands was plowing the field by the
side OF this lonely ditch. and the collier
struck another massive bone. In bulk
II was like the dccaying stump OF an
ample pine. 1t proved a stumbling
block to the indignant Hodge, and ho
contemptuously hurled II into the ditch.
whence II has not yet been recovered.
J The discovery Of tic skeleton was n
smatter OF small account to the good
folks about llighgate, but through tho
medium Of travelling Snowman tho
story reached the ears OF Mr.. John Jel-
ly, OF Shclbonrne. lie took an active
part In the finding OF mammoth on
MIR. w. u. Jclly's farm. In tho township
ofAmaranth last summer, and he and
his nephew. Mr. W. A. llillhouse, soon
found that the facts were as represented
10y tho Snowman Mr.. Jelly lost no
time In acquiring possession OF all tho
bonos found four years ago, and tho
right TO search for what further remains
there might be In the field, lio and his
nephew, with q gang OF men, set to
work, and the reward OF their
dred pieces OF tho gigan-
TO skeleton. The enormous jaws, teeth
and tusk proclaim Mt once that they be-
longed 10 this mastodon, and one OF tho
largcst OF that branch OF the elephant
family. Tho next day their efforts
wore attended with almost equal sue
eoss, and the following day added to the
collection. which now weighs several
tees and numbers several hundred
Tho area OF this earliest OF earth's
scpulchcrs is IS feet by 81. The bones
wero scattered over 1t, one joint fitting
the other In bod OF gray mari about o
feet below the surface. Over the mari
Is q thick layer OF black loamy soil. re-
sembling In composition and quality tho
lands that skirt peat moss. II Is
eombustible and will, when fire is mp.
piled. smolder snllenly, and the ashes
are like the ashes OF a peat fire. --Toron-
to Globe,