Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-01-20
LIVED IN AN
AGE LONG AGO
Louis MauIand, a Stoekman Living
Down in the Missouri Brakes.
Makes a Discovery.
RICH FIELD FOR FOSSIL HUNTER
Perfect Remains of Animals OF the
Ages Gone Found Embedded
in the Rocks.

Louis Mauland, the well known
wool grower of the Missouri country,
was in the city after a load of sup
plies Thursday and Friday and
brought up from the brakes with him
a story of an important geological
discovery recently made on his ranch.
About ten days ago. one of his herd
ers discovered what appeared to be
a huge stick projecting from a ledge
of lime rock five or six feet from the
top of what is known in that country
as an "alkali hill" on Two Calf creek.
A closer scrutiny revealed that il was
not a piece of wood. as was at first
supposed, but a genuine bone. Mr..
Mauland was informed Of the mus
ual discovery and being somewhat of
a fossil hunter, he went to the spot
for the purpose of making an inves-
tigation.
He found the bone as the herder
had described, protruding a few inch
es from the rock. He at once decid-
ed to spend a little of his spare time
in digging out the bone. When fully
recovered. il proved urfdeniably TO
be the lower bone of the fore leg OF
some huge animal. 1t was four feet
long and five inches in diameter at
the Joint. When exposed TO the air,
il fell to pieces, but Mr.. Mauland was
able to put It together as it originally
existed and is carefully preserving 1t.
Continuing his explorations, he found
the ~submaxiliary of what may posi-
bly, prove to be the same animal.
This bone was one and one-half feet
long and still retained ten OF its huge
teeth. The teeth are d combination
of the molar and incisor forms. They
were one and a half inches in length
and contained eight sharp points sep.
arated by regular concaye surfaces.
What the animal is or was, Mr..
Mauland modestly declined to state
positively. He did say. however, that
it might be a certified. a member OF
the ce%rthiopsidae family of the larn-
ioglassate gastripods. If that is what
il is land the writer doesn't dispute
Mr.. Mauland's scientific knowledge)
II cavorted around down on the banks
OF the Missouri during the Eocene
period of the Cenozoic era. That was
several years before Ed. Brassey,
Dave Hilger, Bill SHELTON or any Of
the rest OF the old-timers, came to this
part of the country.
In this connection it may be stated
that there is probably no country in
the west, OF the east, either, for that
matter. more fertile in fossil remains
than the brakes of the Missouri. Two
Calf creek, which runs through Mr..
Mauland's place and vicinity, con
tains an especially large number of
perfect fossils and bones of prehistor'
ic animals. II has been very little
disturbed by scientists and the frs,
party on scientific research bent
which goes into the country will be
the fortunate one Secretary Il. Won
Tobel of the high school board, and
Others interested in collecting mater
ial for the biological department oil
the Fergus County High School, are
arranging to have Mr.. Mauland brins
in a load of the bones and fossils sc
numerous on and about his place
Such a collection, which can now BIZ
made SO easily and at so little eX
pense, will undoubtedly be of grea'
value in the future. 1t is well for tn,
local collectors to take advantage o
this excellent opportunity to get tn,
pick of this rich field. as II will b.
but two or three years at least befor,
some Smithsonian investigators will
be on the ground and will take. thu
best specimens to be found.
Mr.. Mauland while up also told o
n strange visitor which he has at hi
ranch. A few days ago a well dress
ed individual presented himself a
the Mauland home and asked for
nights lodging. He was given a hos
pitable welcome and showed that h.
appreciated 1t by Immediately max
ing himself at home. He Remained
the next day and night and when MI
Mauland left for Lewistown he ha,
made no preparations towards leay
ing. He came across the Missouri
river and though he talks in a ration
al and even intelligent manner. he il
either somewhat upset in his crania
regions or is a likely candidate To-
championship prevaricating honors.
He says that he has stacks o
money but can't get to it just yet
and that he is in hiding to pre-, en-
certain legal proceedings, which ar,
impossible without his presence. HI
modestly admits that he is a Inca
~descendent of the Duke of Westinin
lister and that but one aged and infirn
person stands between him and tn,
dukedom. Mr.. Mauland says that tn
man does not appear to be looking TO
any American heiresses, so his nc
bility is seriously doubted. He is al
entertaining talker and readily es
plains the chronological and ornitho
logical remains OF Two Calf creek
He corns work and says that he ha
all OF the money necessary. WheI
he m to his own as Duke of West
minister, he promises to do somethinI
handsome by his host, Mr.. Mauland
Louis, however, will go ahead raisinI
sheep and is not banking to a yer.
great extent on his coming fortune.