The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-08

stump Of "a tree was uncovered. When
the remaining section Of the tree WIS
uncovered the men were directed To lay
aside all implements and work with
their hands.
Two more feet Of the asphalt was re-
moved when one OF the orkmen un-'
covered slowly and carefully a man,
moth bear OF the Pleistocene period.
So much larger was the find than the
skeletons of bears Normerly uncovered
that extreme care was taken in re-
moving all membranes for IA distance
OF three feet each way from the bear.
This work brought one Of the work.
men to the opposite side of the tree
and he had worked more than an hour
when he called the attention of Prof.
Daggett to n small bone that was i'm
mediately declared by the professor to
belong to human being.
All work near the bear ceased and all
hands began slowly to remove the as
phalt In the vicinity of the last find.
Hardly had a second hour elapsed when
the complete skeleton had been I'M
earthed and was packed in a small cop
per carrier Ia insure its safety. The
cleaning process now In progress was
begun at once.
Previous to the discovery of the
human skeleton the pit had yielded
sabre toothed tigers. mastodons, sloths
and a number Of as yet unclassified
mammoths. These have been mounted
and are now on exhibition.
The theory advanced by the pro-
fessor is that the prehistoric man had
laid himself down beneath the tree and
had fallen asleep when he was suddenly
killed by some animal.
Another theory advanced for the
finding of all the skeletons within such
q small compass Is that the now natu-
rally depressed territory was at one time
"A spring where men and beasts drank
or that il produced n certain vegetation
| upon which they fed, and that while
| feeding or drinking they became caught
In the ooZe and slime and gradually
| settled until they expired.
1t Is also the belief that when they
were caught in the ooze their cries Of
fright brought other beasts to the spot
| and that during an attempt to make
prey OF their unfortunate brothers the
| newcomers themselves were caught In
| the trap of nature and also persisted.
This theory IL borne out to a con-
| siderable extent by the finding OF Pc
| culiar formations In some parts Of the
| asphalt that are believed to have been
| at one time part OF the plant life upon
which the beasts and humans OF that
| time existed
That the secrecy maintained both
at the pits In La Brea and In the study
Of Prof. Daggett Is necessary was shown
when one OF the guards maintained
about halted a would-be visitor. The
visitor asked for permission to work.
but 1t was refused. He then presente ed
card showing him to he well known
authority on anthropology OF Berlin.
He waited until Prof Daggett left the
pits and returned to his home and
then followed him In his endeavor to
secure an interview.
Since the discovery OF the human
skeleton the German has haunted the
works endeavOring to secure informa-
ton. This has been refused, but Prof.
Daggett has announced that he will
see that the German has an opport unity
to examine the skeleton while It is at
the Smithsonian Institution.
Several questions have been put to
Prof. Daggett since the discovery Of
the skeleton relative to his opinion of
the story OF the Creation az recorded
come from clergymen and laymen. To
all he has given but one answer, which
IL as follows
"Of the theories that were handed
down to us by our mothers and their
teachings on religion will say nothing
except that all the theories Of science
will never make any difference when Il
comes to a question OF the CORRECTNESS
OF the Scriptures. We belong to many
creeds and hear many doctrines ex-
pounded, but We doubt not the basis
OF them-the Bible.
I'VE must believe In the Creation
but II It not possible that some OF the
writings that should properly be q part
Of the Bible were lost or that transla-
tors have made mistakes In graphy
or that they have made mistakes In
timer These are the things for science
to now determine"