The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-12-24
correspondence If the Y.EVening Post
FOSSIL HUNTING.
New HAYDN December Il, 1874

FOSSIL HUNTING.
New HAVEN December Il, 1874
Professor Marsh, ct Yale Co lege, returned
last evening from his sixth expedition to the
far West IN search OF fossil remains. The
expedition was completely successful, and
several tons OF rare and vsluG BILE specimens
ae now on the way f)r this city and the
Peabody Museum Of Yale l found the
Professor today in his work-room in the
t'easury building, surrounded by piles of
drawers and cases, labelled far into the hun
dreds, awaiting transportation to he new
museum across the st.eet. Half dozen
expert assistants were busy at work scrub
bling, scrulinizing and arranging the skelp-
tons and fossils, " hlie he intrepid Professor
was receiving the congratulations of two or
three brother scientists on his safe return.
He left New Haven about the middle Of
October, and has, ttert fore, been absen, only
about two months III all. The object Of his
trip was, in part, TO observe what his western
assistants have heen accomplishing during
the summer, but mainly TO make original
Investigations in a new and very promising
locality During tn. past year 10 less than
eleven different parties have been engaged
at different points in the Rocky Mountain
regions under the direction of Professor
Marsh and us the result OF this larger
amount of fossil remains has come 10 Yale
College within IS twelveUonth than has been
collected in Gil the other museums of Il Q
county.
Approaching the peculiar hardships and
dangers OF the trip, Professor Marsh decline
to take with lin on the recent expedition
any amateur ASSISTANTS, and set out rem
New haven alone. On arriving at the from
tier, where, on account Of his many previous
visits, he is widely known, he gathered a
select 6ody OF experienced and well red
scouts and an escort Of soldiers, aud thus
attended began he pigI image TO the lately
observed bone-felds. in he Bad Lands, i'm
mediately south If the Black Hills Uufor-
tunately, as the telegraph has announced
Just as the expedition was ready to pTocer d ,
tue Indians became alarmed lest this should
be party prospecting for gold and vebe-
mently retu> ed 1t permission to enter their
territory. TIE dispatches received at The
time showed how violent WAS this opposition
ard how it was finally overcome by the tact
and persistence Of the great medicine man"
Az last, Disguised with Indians and Indian
councils he boldly folded his tents, as The
Arabs are supposed TO, and as slim ~ stole
away in the direction Of the fossil fie.di.
The redskins hung about the party in hos
tile attitude for several days, but at length
assured that the mission Of the intruder was
harmless one, they allowed him to work
IN comparative peace. The utmost vigilance,
however. was necessary and seEefal times
night attack, which would probably have
proved fatal t. the whole party, was pre-
vented only by the utmost waicLfulness.
The animals whose remains were found
were all Of tropical species, aLd widely
different from any now living. They were
| imhedded In the basin of an ancient lake of
the Miocene period. Professor Marsh is If
course not yet prepared to announce the
scien, ifc results OF the expedition in detail.
As soon as the col ectiuns can be satlefActc-
rily arranged and studied, he hopes to pub
l,sh Il complete description Of all the remains
gathered. He is abundantly satisfied with
his success, which fully repays him Tor the
difficulties and dangers To has endured. and
regards his recently concluded expedition
as the most nporrant in It's results If any
vet undertaken. Tie hopes ultimately to
clear up mauy obscure points in the history
I'd develcpme u Of annual life by the light
offered by GeSe wonderful remains, which
have been patiently waiting TO til their
autobiography Tor perhaps aliens of years.
Il. 4. e.