Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1904-12-03
WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.
The Petrified Remains of a Mas
todon EOund i'm Stata IBr.tSon

The Petrified Remains Of a Mas
todOn Found in State Prison.
Through the efforts of a prisoner
to escape from the state penitentiary
at Carson City last week is due one
of the most remarkable scientific dis
coveries Of ancient or modern times,
says the Churchill Standard, and in
substance is as follows:
Monday evening at roll call a pris-
oner serving a life sentence failed TO
answer to his number and a search
showed that he had evidently taken
French leave. The fact was reported
to the warden anu he at once de-
tailed several of the men to scour the
surrounding hills for some trace of
the absent criminal. The hounds
we're brought up, but they sulked
and refused to leave the prison yard,
seemingly unable to find the trail.
The matter was kept very quiet as
is the usual custom, but the search
continued undated.
The afternoon following the prison
er's disappearance, a guard at post
three noticed one of a number Of
prisoners, who were busily engaged
quarrying stone, deposit a package
near a hole in the solid stone wall at
the eastern end Of the prison enclos-
ure which the convicts had uncovered
the day previous. Thinking the
package contained nothing other
than a new drill the guard paid no
attention to the affair until presently
he saw a man's arm reach out through
the opening and take in the little
bundle. He instantly signalled the
lieutenant of the guards, who
straigntway informed the captain.
The %convicts were all called in and
locked up and guard Joe Muller, vino
at various times has displayed great
bravery, va selected to investigate.
With a dark lantern in his hand
thoughts Of his home and family in
his heart, Mr.. Muller entered the
hoIe in the wall. A flash from his
lantern revealed q circularcave much
larger than the boiler Of a modern
locomotive, but quite the same in
general appearance, with rib like
bands OF solid stone extending from
the top 70 the bottom, connecting
with a beam Of solid stone at the top
which closely resembled an enormous
baekbon Of some prehistoric mas
todou. He could notice no one in
there, however. The strange ap-
pearauce Of the ave awakened in
him a curiosity for further explora
tion. Elcvating his light he noticed
a globe like passage way some feet
in front Of him and just a trine higher
than his head. He passed along un
ill he reached the place aud by grasp
ing onto the edge Of the passage
drew himself up and peered into the
darkness. His lantern was then
brought into play and the light
showed that the passage way mar
rowed perceptively in the five feet Of
its length and then extended down.
ward. He crawlrd to the further
edge and shot the rays Of his light
down the tube-Iike passage. The
piercing light revealed the form of
aman a few feet below standing erect
and with wide open eyes staring
steadily at the guard.
God have mercy on me, - escaped
the lips Of the man, hunter and the
silence thal followed was only broken
by a voice from below saying; Don't
shoot me, Joe, don't shoot! You
have caught me. Help me up and
IIl 90 with you"
Muller, having by this time re.
gained his composure, stretched out
his arm and lifted the life. termer out
from his hiding place, led him through
the cav and passing out with his
man turned him over to the captain,
The prisoner was searched and on
him we're found matches, tobacco,
food and other articles thal had been
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