A LIVING MASTODON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1728, 30 December 1887, Page 3

A LIVING MASTODON

(•JONEATJ, ALASKA, FKEE PRESS).

In conversation, with D. H, Snmmers, formerly of Denver, Col., who came out this t'lll with tbe first party of miners from Forty-mile Creek, we learned that the existence of living maatoduna near th*» head waters of White River was not the mere fabrications of the northern funiere, but that tho «llck Indians had pordtlvely told him tbat no later than five years ayjo Bach an animal had been seen by them. One ol tha Indiana nald that while hunting one day m that unknown seotion be oame across an Immense track, sunk to a depth of several Inohea m the moss, and from the deEcrlption as the Indian marked it ont to him m tho sand, It much resembled an elephnnt'u track, and was larger around than a barrel. Upon striking It the Indian followed up the curious trail which, at all appearance, was very fresh, and tracking from one immonae stride to tbe other for a distance of nome miles, he came m full view af his game And what game I The hunter gave one look, then turned and Aid as thongh pursued by the evil one. These Indians as a class are the bravest of hunters, and with no other weapon than the spear, will attack and play the 8t Elias grizzly. But the immense proportions of thia new kind of game both startled and filled the hunter, brave as be was, with great fear, and he Imagined his only safety lay m swift and immediate flight. He described It as being larger than Harper's (the post trader's) store, with great shining, yellowish tucks, and a mouth large enough to swallow him at a single gulp. He said the animal was undoubtedly the same ea were tho huge bones scattered over that oeotlon. If such an animal is now In exiatonoe, and Mr Summers had no reason to doubt tho veraoity of the Indian, aa other Indians, and alao Mr Harper, had confirmed It, they inhabit a section of very high altitude, and one but rarely visited by human beings, and these only Icdlana. Wo alao have no reason to doubt tke lonian's tale, for at no very recant period tho Ynkon coantry waa inhabited by these Indians, and hundreds of their massive skeletons found strewn along the creeks are tho Bilont but truthful witnesses. Oo Forty-mile Creek bmta can be found projecting partly from tho sands and among the driftwood along the stream On a oreek below thia theae akektuttfl are quite mmerons. . Oni ivory tusk projects 9it out of a sand bank, and ia larger around than a man's body. A single tooth would be a good load for a strong man to carry. This certainly would be a great fioid for the sohmtlet, for, to all appearance ; It li rich m nature's curiosities.