The Mastodon
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The Mitchels kept at the work of digging, but they now had a double purpose in view. At first the parts of the skeleton were thrown carelessly into a heap, and left there unprotected. Now, as fast as found, they were carefully guarded, and stored away under lock and key.
As the work proceeded the water became troublesome. The owner of the farm, believing he had found a prize, arranged to have the water pumped out while the search continued. The result of their labors was the exhuming of one of the most perfect fossil remains of the extinct mastodon that has ever been found, and which weighed about seventeen hundred pounds; the skeleton when put together stood over ten feet in height, and nearly fifteen in length. Some minor parts were missing, either not having been exhumed by reason of the difficulty experienced in digging, or having been carried away as souvenirs by curious visitors before their value was known.
News of the finding of this valuable geological specimen spread through the country. Inquiries poured in by every mail, and some of the leading colleges took measures to secure it for their respective cabinets. Negotiations with the college authorities reached the point which made it certain that either Yale or Princeton would carry off the prize; and the question which of the two should get it would depend on whether a Yale or a Princeton representative arrived first on the ground.
Prof. Waterhouse Hawkins, of Princeton college, took passage on a train that was scheduled to stop at Otisville, the nearest station on the Erie railroad. Prof. O. C. Marsh, of Yale college, adopted, as he said, his usual custom, and took the first and swiftest train that started in the direction he wanted to go, and did not trouble himself to inquire whether it stopped at Otisville or not. The latter found means to induce the conductor of the train to slow up at a point nearest the Mitchel farm; and when Prof. Hawkins arrived by the accommodation train some hours later, the writings were all drawn in favor of Yale, and Prof. Marsh had made all sure by a payment on the same. And that is why the Mount Hope mastodon to-day graces the Yale museum instead of the college cabinet at Princeton.
Prof. O. C. Marsh, of Yale college, adopted, as he said, his usual custom, and took the first and swiftest train that started in the direction he wanted to go, and did not trouble himself to inquire whether it stopped at Otisville or not. The latter found means to induce the conductor of the train to slow up at a point nearest the Mitchel farm; and when Prof. Hawkins arrived by the accommodation train some hours later, the writings were all drawn in favor of Yale, and Prof. Marsh had made all sure by a payment on the same. And that is why the Mount Hope mastodon to-day graces the Yale museum instead of the college cabinet at Princeton. A resident of Otisville, who was personally acquainted with the conductor of the train on which the Yale professor took passage, said to him a few days afterwards:- `You had a distinguished passenger on board of your train the other day, I hear.”
“Not that I know of,” said the conductor.
“Didn't you slow up your train to let a gentleman off ? --mentioning the day.
“Yes, I did.”
“That passenger was Prof. Marsh, of Yale college. Now tell me how you came to accommodate him so far as to let him get off between stations.”
“Well, I'll tell you how that came about,” replied the railway official, knocking the ashes from his Havana, and assuming an air of gravity; “you see, that fellow had some deuced good cigars with him!”
Dr. Theo. Writer, of Otisville, was present when the Professor was packing the mastodon in boxes. The Doctor had in his possession the skull of a weasel; and knowing that Prof. Marsh was an authority on skeletons, took it down to show him. “Here, Professor,” said the Doctor, “here is a skull not quite so large as the one you are packing in that box, but if you will accept it with my compliments, you are welcome to it.” The Professor looked at it and instantly exclaimed, “That is a weasel's skull.” And then he went on to give some facts in natural history relating to those mischievous little animals. He thanked Dr. Writer for the skull,-no gift could have pleased him better. Doubtless that weasel's skull occupies a niche in the Yale college museum to this day.
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