Editorial Co nun cut. i8q 
EDITORIAL CO^^niENT. 
THE LAXSIXG SKELETOX. 
The article of Mr. Up'nam in this number of the Geol- 
or.rsT sufficiently details the facts relating to the topography 
and other surroundings of the place in which this skele- 
ton was found. It may be well to mention however, more in 
detail, some facts relating to the skeleton itself, and to the act 
of discover}-. 
The tunnel in the excavation of which the skeleton was 
found was commenced in the winter of 1900 and 1901, and was 
about half completed that winter. It was resumed and com- 
pleted in the winter of 1901-1902. The human skeleton was 
found in February, 1902, at the distance of about 70 feet from 
the mouth of the tunnel and about 20 feet belo\y the natural 
surface. 
The men are farmers and did not appreciate the signifi- 
cance of the discovery, breaking the skull with the pick and 
scattering the pieces with the rest of the skeleton, hardly taking 
pains to throw the fragments into a place by themselves. Air. ]\T. 
C. Long and ]Mr. Butts, both of Kansas City, endeavored to 
secure the remains, and ]Mr. Butts purchased from the owner 
for a dollar and a half, the right to the lot. but a compromise 
was effected by which ]\lr. Long received the fragments of the 
skull and !\[r. Butts received the rest. ^Ir. Long was instru- 
mental in bringing the skeleton to public notice and Prof. Wil- 
liston's article in Science, Aug. i. 1902. was the first ac- 
curate and trustworthy account. It is plain, therefore, that the 
circumstances of the initial history do not suggest any culluiion 
or attempt to deceive the public. 
The owners of the farm were subjected to close question- 
ing. It should be stated that after the close of the examination 
of the spot, in the presence of the owners, there rested on the 
minds of the four experienced scientists present and partic- 
ipating not a shadow of doubt as to the veracitv of the famieis 
Concannon. Some of the party (including the writer) in- 
'specting the wall of the tunnel with a small pick. al)out sixty 
feet from the entrance, for the purpose of learning its char- 
acter and alternations, found small 1)its of black charcoal near 
the top an.d two small fragments of bone adherent in the wall, 
