New-York tribune., 1901-08-11
HUNTING FOR MASTODONS.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABoI-T THE
DISCOVERY OF THEIR SKELETONS
IN THIS STATE


which has been conducted in the muck hole
on the Konnght farm. this place for the
last three weeks, under the direction of
state Paleontologist J. w. Clarke. of Albany.
and T. E BirGsau, the expert maStodon mount
er, OF Rochester has been suspended until more
effective pumping machinery can be secured and
put into service. Besides the portions Of the
skeleton Of the extinct monster uncovered by
Martin Konnight which led to the State hunt
for the missing portions. the workmen under
the State Paleontologist found a thigh bone. a
shoulder blade and a number OF other bones
during their excavations.
The portions found by Farmer Konnight were
both Of the long upper tusks. as well the two
lower ones. and several ribs. There have been
other remnants Of mastodons besides this one
found in Orange County. but IN only three cases
have the lower tusks been exhumed In fact
only two complete specimens Of the mastOdon
We're among the lot, the one found the
Brewster farm. in the town Of New Wburg. and
the one excayated near Otisyille in the town Of
Mount Hope. Hence the finding of the lower
tusks On the konnight farm increased the scien-
dhc interest in the search. There is a hope that
another perfect specimen Of this gigantic fossil
beast may be obtained.
The spot where the remains of this mastodon
we're recovered is in OF the deposits Of mari
while digging out this mari Pit that Farmer
kOnnight discovered the tusks and other bones
u the mastodOn. These he stored in one Of his
buildings. and made no effort 10 uncover other
bones. He died, and then George W. konnight
became Interested in the mastodon. Through
him the matter was brought the attention of
the State authorities. and last winter an ap-
propriatiOn made 10 carry on the search.
This mari bed is perhaps ten feet deep. is
lies IN a hollow, near the public road. and a. the
excayaling proceeded living springs un-
covered, which flooded the pit and compelled
the diseontinuance Of the work temporarily. The
snail area Of the swamp in which this rnastodon
iOsI ages ago makes il impossible that the
rest u the bones should be anywhere else. un-
ike those that We're engulfed in the large tama-
rack sSamps in other parts ot the country.
where, hy the action OF the water the bones il
time became widely separated and deposited.
The theory that was advanced originally 20
plain the presence of the mastodons in Orange
County ia such large numbers that they
carried there during the glacial period.
This has been abandoned for the theory that the
great beast lived in this and other portions Of
the State. and the skeletons Of those that have
been found were the remains Of mastodons that
had mired in the swanps. That the entire
skeleton Of the that met its fate il the
KonnighI swamp viii eventually De uncovered
seems to BE- certain. The recovery Of the skele
ton is particularly desired. as. judging from the
size u the ruslxs excavated. the specimen, II
covered viii be the second largest ever found.
The largest is the skeleton eXcayated on the
Brewster farm The next largest one now in
istence is the one found on the Mitchell farm,
aear Otisvflle
A letter written by Governor Dudley to cotton
Mather, bearing date July 10 1895. copy OF
which has been in the possession OF an odd Or
ange County family for more than one hundred
wears mentions the discovery Of what was un-
doubtedly the first portion Of a mastodon ever
uncovered on this continent. although such a
fossil as the mastodon then unknown This
particular discovery made near Albany, in
1903 BIZ two honest Dutchmen." as Governor
Dudley writes. IL "a certain tooth, Of the
perfect form OF the eye tooth Of man" IL was
five and three-eigflths inches long, thirteen
inches round, and weighed two pounds three
ounces 1T Was found under the bank of Hud-
sons River, some miles below the city Of Al
bany Goliath not half 50 many feet tall
as this fellow Was els long" What became Of
this tooth is not known, but il Was beyond doubt
an upper tooth Of a mastodon.
Orange County seens to have been the home
Of the rnastOdon, and the area Of country OF
which the present village of Montgomery is the
centre Was apparently a favorite foraging plac"
for them Within circuit Of tW elve miles of