Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1915 — Almost Complete Mastodon Dug Up From Indiana Farm. [ARTICLE]

Almost Complete Mastodon Dug Up From Indiana Farm.

Winamac, Ind., June 26.—J. W. Gidley of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, is preparing to leave Winamac with a number of mastodon bones found near here, which will make one of the most complete skeletons of that pre-his-toric monster ever reconstructed. Prof. Gidley has been working for some time on the W. D. Pattison fnrni, nine miles southwest of Winamac, where the bones were found. More than a year ago many large bones were dug up by a dredge. These were shipped to the Smithsonian Institution and Mr. Pattison made a trip to Washington with the result that Prof. Gidley, in charge of the fossil mammal department, came here, and, employing a force of men, began a systematic search on the Pattison farm. The mastodon’s entire lower jaw was found, with all its teeth intact, though the jaw was broken at the point. One of the shoulder blades, portions of the skull and several leg bones also were found. The bones, when added to those already at the institution, will make from two-thirds to threefourths of the entire skeletop. Two important parts not yet found are the tusks, and Prof. Gidley is anxious to get them, because lie could make up a skeleton more complete than any other on' exhibition. No real mastodon tusks ever yet have been found and those seen on skeletons are “restored” ones. Prof. Gidley believes the tusks are on the farm, possibly deeper than the other bones, but he can not give any more time now to hunting for them, because the appropriation made for this search was small. He feels that his showing will obtain enough money to further the search. He estimated the weight of the animal when alive as 8,000 pounds or more. V