The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-10-29

I VINO wandered Sh0eiesS through the elector-
ate Of good King George the Third. tits
certain that no romance Of Royalty is equal
to the house of Rothschild.
] The Iowa Geological Pick
49, @ pocket.
! Fiom the Chiacgo Tribune.
| Our readers will remember that few
days since, we cronicaled the exploits Of a
geological pickpocket. at Dubuque, profess
ing to be James Dale Owen, son of the
eminent geologist, David Dale Owen, profes.
sor in the geological department of the
Smithsonian Institute. How he victimized
the 'Iowans during the progress of the State
Fair; how he was going to Walled Lake, at
Fort Dodge, upon geological business: how
he became engaged to several young ladies
in Dubcque, who were connoisseus in paint
ing, all Of whom he was to take to Europe
next summer. and introduce to the chef d.
eupres of Murillo and Raphael; how he
dined with Governor K,rkwood how he
prevailed upon Judge Mason Of Burlington
10 present a copy of Owens Geological Sur
yey Of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota to
the Young Mems Library-a very expensive
volume and now out Of print; how be by.
pothecated several works of Darwin, Lyell
and other geologists, at the expense of
prominent citizens of Dubuque; how he
stole valuable overcoat from Dr. Horr, re.
leved ladies of their money while he was
talking with them, took $50 from the pock-
| ct Of an exhibiter Of stock who was show
| ing him his animals, stole money and
clothing from the Key City Houst--all these
things are matters of record, and the good
people of Iowa are loudly lamenting at their
losses Of money, clothing, books and geo.
logical specimens by this meek and lowly
disciple Of Hugh Miller and Lyel, who in
his moments ofstony abstraction distracted
others property. We admit to sundry
laughs in the sleeves and internal chucklings
at the vernal freshness of our friends in
Iowa, bu. we have now discovered where
the gaz ellie comes in, and that the ravages
of the son of David Dale Owen have not
been confined to iowa, but that his rascal.
ly strata have ut-cropped in our own State.
On Saturday, the Sd inst, a gentlemanly
looking parsonage called at the residence Of
O. Adams. Esq. .,at La Sale. Mr. Adamsi is
known to all geclogists as an ardent lover Of
that study, the possessor ofan elegant cabi-
net, and a gentleman who has made the
characteristics of La Sale basin the study
of years. He has entertained all the prom
inent geologists Of the country, and nvesti-
gated the various characteristics cf the North.
west with many of them. spending three
weeks in 1913 with David Dale Owen him
SELF in Minnesota. He was an ardent
friend Of Owen, and INDUCED in sort Of
hero worship Of the great geologist. But
we are leaving the gentemanly looking per-
sonage at the door all this time. Mr.. Ad-
ans greeted him courteously, and the stran.
ger p, esonted a letter Of introduction from
Major General Curtis, commencing him to
the favor of Mr.. Adams as Prof. James Dale
Owen, son Of David Dale Owen. The stran-
ger exhibited other letters and package Of
railroad passes made to the same imaginable
geologist He further relieved Mr.. Adams
of any suspicious and convinced him Of his
identity by saying that Rev. NJ. Burris, of
Burlington, and Mr.. Worthen. State Geolo-
gist, friends Of Mr. Adams) and referred
him to Mr.. A. as a proper person to acquaint
him with the geological aud archaeological
characteristics Of La Sale Coal Basin.-
Prof. Owen said these subjects were of vital
importance to him as he was preparing pa
per on the general geological character Of the
Northwest, to be read at meeting Of the
Royald Academy of Science at London, in
june next. He Informed Mr.. Adams that
he had dlned with the Bishop CT Dubuque
and Governor Kirkwood, and was returning
from . visit to Walled Lake, at Fort Dodge,
q visit which he had made at the instance of
Sir Charles Lyel, of London. In proof Of
this, he woald beg his friend to accept lit
tie collection Of agates which he picked up
there, accompanying the presentation with
a description Of them. He was the son of
David Dale Owen, and now stood in his
fathers shoes rs Professor in the geological
department Of the Smithsonian institute. -
Convinced that he was the bona .fed son,
Mr.. Adams, IN respect for his father, at once
admitted the son to his confidence. and pre-
pared to give him reception worthy Of SO
illustrious sire. They chatted for some
time on various topics and went to the par
lor to view some Of Mr.. AS choicest speci-
mems. There was one beautiful set of fos-
sils, illustrative Of the archaeological char
acter of the basin, which the Professor
begged as contribution to the Institute
Mr. A. was glad to give it to him, although
il was very valuable, embracing among other
varieties, a fern upon piece Of camel coal,
which is exceedingly scarce, and a nautilus
| from the roof Of the middle vein Of coal.
| Having obtained these illustrations Of the
basin, the next day they went out &c view
the basin itself, and the geological position