New York Tribune, Monday, May 17, 1875 --- Triple Sheet, Page 3
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| Illustration --- Mastodon at the British Museum |
A CHASE FOR A MASTODON
PROF. MARSH’S LATEST CAPTURE
Circumstances
of Discovery of the Bones --- Views of the Neighbors On the Subject ---
Rise and fall of fossil Stock --- Competition and Sale --- Mastodons in
General and this One in Particular --- How the Interior Department
Fosters Science.
[From a Staff correspondent of the Tribune] Otisville, N.Y., May 3.
---
This little hamlet, almost inclosed [sic] by a curve of the Erie
Railway, 900 feet above sea level in the Swawangunk Mountains and 75
miles from New-York has just passed through its most exciting
experience. For three years it has contained a first-class object of
curiosity. The prospect of the sale of the Otisville mastodon prompted
the visit of your correspondent , who was fortunate in arriving on the
ground before the affair was concluded, and the lid closed over the
fossil remains. Less than a mile north-east of the railroad station of
Otisville (which is between Port Jervis and Middletown) there is a now
noted swamp in a valley that runs east-north-east. In all this region
hills and valleys constitute the principal features of the landscapes,
and a morass at the bottom of a valley is rather the rule than the
exception. The hills are of Laurentian or pre-Silurian rocks---among the
oldest of earth’s formations. The valleys between them at some much
later geographical period contained fresh water lakes, and these were
gradually filled by vegetable growths and the soil washed from the
surrounding hills. The result is a large number of peaty swamps or
morasses, but there is only one of them, the one which is on the
property of Mr. Andrew Mitchell that claims our attention. Some student
of the laws of vegetable life can perhaps explain why swamps of this
kind are covered so regularly with round clumps of grass rising above
the surface , each clump reaching about the same dimensions---say 18
inches diameter and two feet height ---and each with its last year’s
growth of grass-stems parting from a point near its center and drooping
over its sides. If we suppose that a regiment of giants shoulder to
shoulder, were sunk over their necks in this swamp, these clumps would
represent their full plumed helmets. Beneath these plumes there was
something stranger, though less mythical than giants; but Mr. Mitchell
in digging there was in search of far more prosaic and practical matter.
He wanted swamp muck to put on his land.
But in
digging for the swamp muck Mr. Mitchell, according to the phrase most in
favor in the vicinity, “found a 20-acre lot.” Penetrating the morass
from what is represented as the lower side in the diagram, and cutting a
pathway wide enough for the passage of two teams, he made his first
discovery in January, 1872 at the point marked “a.” This consisted of
two rib bones. Not recognized as of any value, they were thrown upon the
top of the musk heap, and left there. Shortly afterward a vertebra was
unearthed. Mr.Mitchell supposed these were wood; parts of trees,
probably the roots, imbedded in the swamp. It is not unusual to find
remains of trees in these morasses, but this swamp has yielded very few
of them, the curious shape of the supposed roots interested Mr.
Mitchell. He wished to bring them into the house, but Mrs. Mitchell
objected to lumbering it with such rubbish, not did mend matters when
Mr. Mitchell suggested that one of the curiosities might do duty as a
spittoon, the circular shape and concave hollow of the vertebra giving
it a striking likeness to that national utensil. So the discoverer put
his curiosities in his barn, and went on with his digging. When other
ribs were found and compared with the first, the notion dawned upon Mr.
Mitchell that perhaps these things were bones. The vertebra, on his
supposition, he took to be a foot. Led by a praiseworthy curiosity, he
bought a book on anatomy, and soon became convinced that the bones
belonged to an animal larger than a horse. In digging toward the left of
his first discovery many smaller vertebra and ribs were found, but it
was not until he unearthed a leg bone at “c” that the enormous bulk of
the animal fairly dawned upon his comprehension.
Some
interest had been excited among his neighbors, and the wiseacres of the
village had already propounded their theories concerning these remains,
when Mr. Mitchell’s spade dislodged the mighty arch of the pelvis (at
“d” in the diagram). Here was a bone indeed. Through its capacious
hollow a flour barrel could be thrust without rubbing the hoops. A tall
man with arms extended across it could scarcely touch both edges with
his finger-tips. The weight was near half a ton. Thenceforth Mr.
Mitchell was famous. He was not long in ascertaining that he had found
either a mammoth or a mastodon.
It is a trite remark of
the moralist, that fame does not bring happiness. Mr. Mitchell’s
experience accorded with the adage which declares that ease and honor
are seldom bedfellows. He had not made his excavations like the
grave-diggers of the Cardiff giant by night and in secret. The neighbors
who helped in extracting the big bone spread the story of its
dimensions, which grew as it traveled. Newspapers got hold of some of
the facts, and touched up the details with a very free brush. An unusual
of passengers on the railway stopped every day at Otisville, and the
keeper of the station got the habit of stating the way to Mr. Mitchell’s
house as a part of his regular business on the arrival of trains.
Country wagons blocked the road around the house and from 50 to 75
visitors at a time became the daily experience of the Mitchell
household. The proprietor of the bones was “interviewed” about them day
and night. I couldn’t eat or sleep in peace. I feared that burglars
would rob my barn. I didn’t know what to do with the people; they
overran my house from roof to cellar. I dared not leave them with the
bones, and I could not get them to leave the bones. Men and boys would
loiter around and stare at them for hours together. And what I was most
afraid of, was their wanting to handle the bones. I felt sure they’d do
some damage.”
Letters of advice respecting the proper
treatment of the fossils were addressed to Mr. Mitchell by scientific
man who had read in the newspapers about the discovery. Prof. Marsh, by
letter, urged upon him not to let the bones dry too rapidly, to keep
them in the swamp muck as long as possible, especially not to let them
be handled while wet, and that all handling was dangerous. Prof.
Waterhouse Hawkins sent a precise letter of instructions as to the
preservation of the bones by the immediate use of glue; he supposing it
likely that these, like the most of mastodon bones, would crumble or
break in fragments during removal and drying. The object of these
letters was to save the fossils for science, without reference to their
possession; but Prof.’s Marsh and Hawkins both sent their
representatives at a later date to view the remains and report more
particularly upon them, and these intelligent assistants communicated
many cautions and some knowledge concerning bones to Prof. Mitchell; and
it is fairly due to him here to say that he profited by the
instructions, and that the world of science thence profits in turn by
the jealous care which these fossils have been preserved.
ZEAL THAT WAS OF SERVICE TO SCIENCE
Mr.
Mitchell is a mason by trade, working when there is work to be had on
buildings in New-York, and still dependent on his daily labor for
support; but with Scotch frugality and industry he has acquired a little
property. Since his discovery of fossils he has fairly mastered a
general knowledge of anatomy and could now pass an examination on that
science better than many college professors. Something of the fervor
that burns in the scientific breast must have urged him to overcome the
various obstacles he encountered. The water in the swamp gave him a
great deal of trouble. There was a brook ( represented in the diagram by
dotted lines passing partly through the excavation) which was right in
his path. To drain it, he cut a deep ditch to the right of it (also
represented by dotted lines) but this soon filled up and he was obliged
to construct another at a greater distance. After the brook was
permanently diverted, it became evident that a spring in swamp (at A in
the diagram) was the chief source was the chief source of its water
supply. At the time of the writer’s visit, the whole area of excavation,
a space of perhaps 70 feet in longest diameter, was full of water. Only
by incessant pumping by horse-power can the water be brought down
enough to make digging practicable. Once when the water was gaining on
Mr. Mitchell and his animals were worn out, the people in the vicinity
organized what is known as a “bee” to help him. The day’s work of the
neighbors was very effective in draining and digging, but it had the
disadvantage of making every man in the village think he held some share
in the bones, since he had helped at the bee, It was an ungracious task
to keep such helpful visitors ar arm’s length, but events soon proved
it necessary. One day Mr. Mitchell observed one of his neighbors---one
of the old-fashioned kind that carries a heavy cane with a substantial
ferrule, poking it among the fossils with the emphasis of Sir Anthony
Absolute. Mr. Mitchell rushed to the rescue, but all too late; the
ferrule had punched a hole through the pelvis bone. After that, a charge
of 25 cents was imposed for permission to see the fossils, and had a
wonderful effect in diminishing the numbers of the curious crowd.
A MAMMOTH’S AND MASTODON’S TOOTH
On
the left one molar tooth of Elephas Primigenius. On the right one molar
tooth of Mastodon Americanus.More leg bones and some belonging to the
feet were found (at “a” in the diagram) and shortly afterward the most
important discovery up to this time was made: the skull with the upper
teeth still firm in their sockets---four molars, two on each side---was
found in a complete state of preservation. Excitement on the subject now
rose to fever-lient [?] . his neighbors assured Mr. Mitchell that if he
would take the bones to Europe he could get a fortune for them; there
were millions of greenbacks in that mastodon. Of course the hopes of the
owner expanded like the reveries of Alnaschar. His estimates of value
ranged far above slender scientific purses. Barnum was to have been
among the competitions. But Barnum did not come. A half dozen colleges
made polite inquiry as to the price and then waited for it to subside.
The panic in the Fall of 1873 and the “hard times” following induced
economy, even in mastodons. The owner began to realize that his bones
were ceasing to be a curiosity. But last Winter, at 9 ½ feet below the
surface he found two ribs, some vertebrae, and finally the lower jaw (at
“h” in the diagram), which materially increased the value of the whole
collection. The number of real competition had, however, dwindled to
three, under the pressure of hard times; Connecticut, New-York, and
New-Jersey, alone survived the panic. From each a representative of a
possible purchaser had called to examine the bones and report on their
value. The owner’s patience at length gave out; he boxed his curiosity,
and determined to sell. Prof. Marsh was busy with the presentation of
red Cloud’s complaints and the exposure of the Indian ring, but he
recognized the fact that the mastodon was in a crisis.
THE RACE TO OTISVILLE
The
representative of New-Jersey started from New-York the same morning
with Prof. Marsh, for Otisville,. The third competitor was represented
by a resident of the village. Prof. Marsh took an express train, which
did not count Otisville among its shopping places. The representative of
New-Jersey took the accommodation train which stops at
Otisville.“Cannot you let me out as we pass Otisville?” asked Prof.
Marsh when the conductor took his ticket.“Absolutely impossible,”
replied that functionary. Had he been a Sioux chieftain, doubtless Prof.
Marsh would have ordered for him a big feast in his tepee. No such
blandishments were practicable on the rail, in Orange County, and this
letter cannot chronicle them. Nor would it be fair to suppose that a
long and earnest conversation, held by the Professor with conductor, had
anything to do with the circumstance of the engineer’s suspecting that
he had a hot box on one of his wheels when near Otisville, and stopping
the train to examine it. Suffice it, that the Professor got off at the
village, had dined with Mr. Mitchell, and was deep in negotiations, when
a visitor was announced.“Tell him I’m engaged,” said Mr. Mitchell.“He
says he’s tho [sic] gentleman from New-Jersey, and he would like to see
you immediately.”“Let us close this matter first,” said Prof. Marsh.“I
see that my journey was useless. If I had known you were here I should
not have come,” said the New-Jersey representative, entering the room
some minutes afterward, and shaking hands with Prof. Marsh.
THE LAST LOOK AT THE REMAINS
The
bones were on exhibition in the village church. Science was doing
service for religion. The show as part of a fair for the Sunday-school,
and the price of admission to see the fossils was reduced to 10 cents.
Despite the utmost efforts to keep the matter quiet a large concourse of
citizens and small boys attended the removal of the boxes to the
railway depot, there to be repacked under the Professor’s eye. No first
born in its swaddling clothes was ever more tenderly handled by its
mother. Straw beds in sacks were laid in the boxes, one for each side,
top, bottom and end. The Professor’s solicitude about the softness of
those beds exceeded that of the Brooklyn plaintiff. Great bats of cotton
were tied around the teeth with firm tenderness:“Well, said a
bystander, “he’ll never catch cold in them jaws.”“A whole day and all
the sacking in the village were consumed in the operation. Of course it
could not be kept quiet. Even the railway premises were not proof
against popular curiosity. The officials could not keep the towns people
out of the freight house:“Why,” said one of them,” I helped to raise
that there bone out of the muck myself.”“Do you really think now,
Professor,” said another, wistfully, “that creature lived before the
flood!”I should think he might have been before this world,” suggested
another. Whereupon an argument arose as to whether there was any world
before Adam, the Professor being far too much absorbed to give heed to
the dispute. As he was driving the nails of one of the last covers, a
lady came into the freight-house.“Can’t I see it!”“Why, no, Madam, it’s
all packed.”“Oh dear! dear! And I could have seen it any time, even
yesterday!” She walked around among the boxes with a piteous air.“If
you’ll come to New-Haven you shall see it when it is set up in the
Museum. I shall be most happy to see you there, said the Professor. “But
the gallantry of the remark did not touch her grief. She wandered
around among the boxes, and from time to time repeated sadly the words,
“I could have seen it whenever I wanted to.” As the last nails were
driven that closed the pine coffin over the remains the church-bell
tolled mournfully.“Freight, 1700 pounds, “said the railway agent. “But
the skull, at least, ought to go as a deadhead,” suggested the
Professor.
SKELETON OF MASTODON IN BRITISH MUSEUM
Out
of a hundred mastodons whose remains are discovered, it is safe to say
that not more than one is on good condition. As a rule they have
carelessly left their bones in strata not fitted to preserve them.
Frequently the remains crumble at a touch. The perfect condition of the
mastodon of Otisville is remarkable. It will stand probably 12 feet in
height and perhaps 17 in length, when mounted. Its size and the
character of the teeth indicate full maturity, if not extreme age. It is
not quite so easy to judge of the age of a mastodon as of a horse by
his teeth, but it can be safely said that this animal may have been a
hundred years old at death. First-class mastodons can be counted on the
fingers of one hand. Until this one is mounted, comparison with other
specimens would be premature. The best of American mastodons was found
by Dr. Koch in Missouri, and called by him “the Missouri Leviathan.”
That skeleton is now in the British Museum; the engraving of it given
above is reduced directly from Owen’s British Mammals. Dr. Koch
circulated an absurd story about this skeleton, to the effect that the
animal had been killed and partly roasted by Indians. This is thoroughly
refuted by Prof. Dana in the last number of The American Journal of
Science. Next in value to that specimen are the Warren mastodon now in
Boston, on which Dr. Warren wrote a memoir, and the Cohoes mastodon now
in the State Geological Cabinet in Albany. Two less known but almost
equally complete specimens from Indiana were destroyed in Chicago’s
great fire. A smaller mastodon discovered in 1844 in warren Co., N.J.,
formed part of the late Prof. Wyman’s collection at Cambridge, and now
goes to the Boston Society of Natural History. The Otisville mastodon is
at least the sixth that has been found in the swamps of Orange County.
SCIENCE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Perfect
specimens of the teeth in position in the jaws, are most desired by
naturalists, to clear up doubtful points. Some years ago there was a
large quantity of fossil remains found at Big Bone Lick in Kentucky.
They constituted the best collection ever made of the jaws and teeth of
the mastodon. They were sent to the Patent Office at Washington. A high
official of the Interior Department found those bones in his way. He
wanted more room. He had those specimens taken out of the Patent Office.
They were sent to a bone-mill and ground up as fertilizing material.
The loss to science is absolutely irreparable. Compared with this
performance, the destruction of Prof. Waterhouse Hawkin’s fossil models
by the Tweed Ring was an important piece facetiousness; money and skill
can replace the models that were buried in Central Park, but the Big
Bone Lick specimens were not made by man.
SKELETON OF MAMMOTH IN ST.PETERSBURG MUSEUM
Though
both the mammoth and the mastodon were elephantine creatures, they are
easily distinguishable. The most prominent difference is in the tusks
and teeth, but the American mammoth was a shaggy animal, while the
mastodon had probably a smooth skin like the modern elephant. Of the
two, the mammoth was the larger quadruped, the mastodon being stouter
and on shorter legs, and probably more aquatic in its habits. The
mastodon takes its name from its nipple-shaped teeth; the drawing of one
of these and of a tooth of a mammoth ( Elephas Americanus ) is reduced
from Dana’s Manual of Geology. The nipple-shaped teeth are principally
made up of dentine, within which are separate lozenges of enamel. The
Otisville mastodon has eight teeth, two on each side in each jaw. These
teeth are about four inches thick, and each pair, as it stands in the
jaw, is 11 ½ inches long on top. They look as though they could have
crunched a good-sized tree without difficulty. The tusks of the mammoth
are long and much curved, as is shown in the illustration; those of the
mastodon are comparatively short and slender. In early life the mastodon
had two small tusks in the lower jaw; one of these the male shed with
advancing years; the female shed both. The absence of these in this
Otisville skeleton inclines Prof. marsh to the belief that it was a
female. Geologically speaking, the mastodon is an older animal than the
elephant or mammoth, but the series of specimens already obtained of
different species, indicates near affinity and probably common ancestry.
W.C.W.
