The Washington herald., 1913-09-21
Scientists Discover Near Cor
rigansviIle, Nd, Evidence
of Existence of Animal Life
in Pleistocene Age -Prac-
tically All Now Are Extinct.

Recent discoveries of prehistoric NAM
NAL remains in cave deposits near the
little village Of CorrigansvilIe, just four
miles from Cumberland. on the Connells-
VILE extension OF the Western Maryland
Railway Company, have attracted the
interest OF scientists the country over.
for they believe that such discoveries will
he the means OF giving to science greater
knowledge Of Pleistocene mammalian
life in the eastern section Of the Emitted
States.
Although not generally known, scien-
lists. who are engaged in collecting data
relating to animals which existed 10000
years ago or longer. have little or no
information at hand to prove, beyond
doubt. the extent Of the existence of rare
mammalian animal life in Eastern North
America. and they are ever and anon
seeking for more light on subject which
they admit is somewhat lost in Obscurity.
GIdIey Lifts Veil.
The man who is responsible for the veil
being lifted. so to speak, so as to permit
his fellow-workers to look backward and
get a glimpse of the Pleistocene period
of apimal life is Prof. James William
Gidley. assistant curator of fossil man.
mails of the United States National Mu-
scum, which is a part of the Smithson-
ian Institution at Washington.
Since the remains of the extinct ami
mails were discovered by wOrkmen who
were employed in excavation work on
the Western Maryland's new extension
some months ago, Prof. Gidley has spent
much time in examining the bones which
had been buried for ages, and, as re-
suit of his investigations il has become
known that the specimens of bones un-
earthed are the remains of rare animals,
many of which practically are extinct,
so far as this country is concerned.
One of the specimens in the possession
of Prof Gidley happens to be that OF the
extinct species of Gland. or antelope,
closely related to those now living only
in Africa. The assistant curator Of the
National Museum at Washington says
that il is a most important discovery,
since no close relatives of this great
antelope heretofore have been found in
America.
prof. GidIey has just issued an inter
esting report relating to the discoveries
that he has made on the new line of the
western Maryland Railway Company,
and this report has been eagerly sought
by scientists interested in the subject.
He makes known the fact that in the
cave at COrrlgansNlile over lOV specimens
of prehistoric animals were secured, con-
sisting principally of jaws and jaw frag-
'ments, which represent twenty-five rec
ognizable genera, including one genus
now exclusively African. and at least
twenty species, most Of which are ap-
parently extinct. or are now to be found
in remote localities These specimens in
clude jaws of dogs. wolves, foxes, sc.
Valuable to Museum.
Prof Gidley states that his more recent
work near Cumberland has added addi-
tional forms to his already important
list. and that they will prove valuable
to the museum, and will aid those who
are endeavoring to give to the world a
more thorough knowledge Of animal life
of thousands of years ago.
Speaking OF the discoveries, Prof. Gid
ley, in his report recently issued, states,
In part. as follows:
The mammals represented in the col
lection are undoubtedly Pleistocene, and
probably pre-Wisconsin in age; a more
exact geological horizon of the deposits.
however. cannot at present be deter
mined From the preliminary study, they
appear to be about the equivalent of the
Port Kennedy cave deposits. the fauna