The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-15
T.A.BRYSON
Columbia Wheels,
Toledo Steam Carriages,
242 Bull Street.

feet state the most remarkable exist
ing relic of prehistoric times.
The discovery of this mammoth has
for some months past excited a most
lively interest in Russia. The first clue
to 1t was given by a Cossack named
Jawlowsky. 1t was imbedded in a
glacier near the Beresowka river,
miles away from the nearest settle
ment. In summer the upper portion of
the great mass Of ice, which was sunk
into pocket-like cavity, would melt.
The lower section was never affected
by summer temperatures. Here the
mammoth has lain. The news was con-
veyed to the Governor of Yakutsk, who
informed the Imperial Academy of
sciences.
An expedition to recover the mann
moth was organized on the spot DIR.
Otto Herr, curator of the imperial
museum, was appointed leader.
The journey was one of extraordi-
nary hardships. Salt fish, mares meat
and stewed tree bark constituted the
food of the scientists. Several of them
died.
The harder ones, including Dr.
Herb himself, reached their destina-
ton and began Immediately the exca-
walton in which they have been so sue
cessful.
AS a first move the skin was re-
moved from the animal. This was
treated with arsenic, then sewed up
in new cowhide, which shrinks, be-
comes air-tight and preserves the con-
tents. The next step was to dismem-
Der the gigantic creature, preserving
each separate part so that it may be
set up in the museum exactly as it
appeared when tramping heavily over
the wilds of Russia untold centuries
ago.
1t has not been decidede yet Just
how DR.. Herr will return with his
prize. The long stretches of swamp
make summer travel, especially with
such burden, practically impossible.
He may plan to board a steamship
from a small port on Behrlng Sea
next summer, or he may make sledge
trips to Irkutsk in the winter Of 1902
1903.
What is this mammoth that Rus
sian scientists are losing their lives in
the attempt to preserve?
The mammoth was gigantic species
of elephant, and is believed to have
been referred to in the Old Testament.
In the old stone age the mammoth
was as common as the horse is to-day.
The creature had long, thick, reddish
hair and teeth and stomach so re-
cate and digest the trunks of trees.
The mammoth's stomach has been
found full of young fir trees. His teeth
were built in LAYERS and renewed
themselves repeatedly.
Some of these interesting animals
had four tusks, two turning up and
two down. Some of these horns were
twelve feet long, thus being admirably
adapted to digging up and pulling down
trees.
The very size of these curious crea-
lures often proved fatal to them. Prim-
tive men found ways and weapons
to slaughter them with, and some
times simply by force of their own
bulk the mammoths would become
mired in a soft spot of earth or inn
prisoned in a glacier, as this one did.
There is no doubt that scientists
from all over the world will flock to
St. Petersburg as soon as DR.. Herr
precious trophy arrives there to see the
only perfect specimen Of mammoth
existing anywhere in the world.
Meanwhile the attention of Ameri-
can scientists is chiefly taken up with
the remarkable Yale specimen, which
is the largest known.
This dinosaur belonged to the Juras-
sic period, and was found in Wyom-
ing by the late Prof. Marsh. Prof. G.
E. Beecher, who has charge of the
mounting of the skeleton, says that
the vast creature, which alive must
have been seventeen feet tall and sixty
five feet long. figures almost incon-
ceivable to-day. Standing on its hind
legs, the professor said, 1t could have
looked over the top of the Peabody
Museum, which is eighty feet high.
But even with the skeleton at hand,
II is so far from being an easy matter
to set It up that the cost of the un-
dertaking is figured at 10000. For the
directors of the museum are content
ing themselves with mounting the
hind legs and pelvis only OF the
monster. II the whola animal were
mounted room seventy-five feet
long and at least seventeen feet high
would be necessary 20 exhibit II in.
Such room Is not, Of course, 70 be
found in the museum. A house or
room especially constructed for this
purpose would cost the university sew
eral thousand dollars So a section Of