Year: 1878

lie StuttSart Mdmnotu.


Not quite a year ago the readers of
the Democrat will remember descrip-
ton was given of the famous Stuttgart
mammoth which Prof. Ward, of the
University of Rochester, had purchased
and brought to this country. That
grand specimen, the only restoration of
the kind in the world, and beyond ques-
ton the greatest achievement in zoologi-
cal science, is now fully mounted and
ready to be looked upon by the wonder
ing public. A few words relative to its
history may not be amiss.


The bones from which the original
restoration by Martins was made are in
the possession of the Royal Museum at
Stuttgart CWurtemberg). They were
of such class and character that by
additional assistance of quantity of
hair, and other portions of the giants
frame found in various parts of the
world, a restoration authentic and re-
liable was easily made. Its fame spread
over the entire scientific world, and at
once Stuttgart and Martins became eel
ebrated on its account. A few years
ago Prof Ward, in one of his European
tours, went to Stuttgart and endeavored
to negotiate for the purchase of the
mammoth. The price placed upon it,
however, was so exorbitantly high that
no bargain could be made. Later, while
the learned Professor was travelling
in Abyssinia, he wrote the proprietors,
telling them that upon certain date he
should be in Paris on the way to Amer
lea, and that if they had any proposition
to make to him regarding the man.
moth, he could receive it there. Arriy-
ing at Paris, he found letter asking
him to make an offer. He responded by
telegraph, and his offer was accepted.
He therefore delayed his expected re-
turn to this country, went to Stuttgart
and began the long and tedious job of
taking down and packing for transpor-
tation the gigantic specimen of past
ages. In this task he had the assistance
of several skillful artists. The monster
restoration occupied, when ready for
travel, fourteen large boxes, which
weighed in the aggregate over seven
tons. The freight on the animal from
Stuttgart to New York was 1862, and
from New York to Rochester, by canal,
$50. Several of the largest freight
wagons were required to convey his
lordship to the working buildings OF
Prof. Ward, at the rear of the Univer-
sity buildings, and new building had
to be erected to accommodate him when
he should be dressed in reception re-
gala, clothed, and, as far as the image
of an animal could require, in his right
mind. Two skillful artists from Ger
many and several from New York were
procured to assist Prof. Ward in the
work of putting the affair together again.


Since that time Prof. Ward has been
busily at work upon the restoration OF
this mammoth, and now has it COM
plete. Saturday an opportunity was
afforded a reporter of the Democrat to
examine the wonder, and we can assure
our readers it is indeed a wonder fol
any one to examine. The building
erected by Prof Ward for its special ac.
commodation is situated little east OF
Cosmos Hail. 1t contains nothing else
than the mammoth, with the exception
of the skeleton of an elephant in one
corner, which is so small as to be insig
nificant beside its prehistoric rival. The
animal stands facing the door, and hence
upon entrance the visitor finds himself
suddenly face to face with startling
but at the same time an Innocent-look
ing monster. 1t stands before him 16!
feet in height, 13 feet between the tusks
261 feet from tusks to tail, and 30 fee
in girth about the thickest part of tn,
body The tusks are nearly foot il
thickness at their greatest size, ant
are truly enormous in appearance. Th'
eyes, located high up in the head
are, of course, quite small il
proportion to the size of th


body, as is the case with all ami
mails of the species to which he belongs
The hair is long, dark, rough and shag
gy, as was that of the original wearer
The legs are about two feet in diameter
and man can easily walk between
them and under the animals bod,
standing upright. In order to obtain


satisfactory view of the monster it i


necessary to ascend flight of stairs in
to the gallery which has been erecte


for that pun pose. That brings the Wis


itor nearly upon level with the eyes


and enables him to form a good idea @


the great size of the restoration.


When the visitors were looking at


Saturday from this elevated point, a lii


tie daughter of Prof. Ward, aged abou


4 years, came into the building, an


seating herself upon the platform upo


which the mammoth stands, leane


back against one of the gigantic for'
legs and looked on with smile at th


spectators in the gallery. Appetizer c
; more interesting picture could not
conceived. There sat a beautiful littl
child, born in the civilized year of 1877
: side by side with the monster who's
birthday no man can tell, save by al
Proclamation, away back in prehistor
ges.-RocheSter Democrat.