Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-09-24
THE FOSSIL FOOTPRINTS.
Professor LIE COnte's Theories Dis.
proved by NIX Tn.

Professor LIE COnte's Theories Dis.
proved by Nix Tn.
The following letter will be read with
interest by the lovers of science generally
HARTFORD, Conn.,, Sept. 10.
EDITOR VIRGINIA CHRONICLE Sir: 1
have read with mingled feelings Of amaze
ment and amusement several long-winded
reports and scientific disquisitions about
certain so-called 'fossil footprints in the
State Prison yard at Carson. Now it goes
against my grain to say anything even
seemingly disrespectful of Science, for I
have myself been a humble votary at her
shrine. My first researches were in the
domain of boxing. I put on the gloves
one day with George Dawson, in Chauvel's
old Virginia City gymnasium, and he
swelled my nose up 20 l looked like Frank
Pixley for two weeks. Then l studied
draw poker Ia dollar ante) and seven up
two dollars a corner) in company with
Daggett, Steve Gillis, Ike Bateman
and several other young men OF
the Comstock, whose finer instincts
had not been altogether blunted
by the prevailing feverish thirst for wealth.
Need | say that my studies in this di-
rection were not profitable? Well, I reck-
on not. However, 1 am not combining my
self to the question before the House, as
old Pete Hopkins used to remark.
We were speaking of these ''fossil-foot-
prints" in the prison yard at Carson, l
believe. This naturally recalls to my
mind Colonel John Van Buren, Perry, an
old friend of mine, who used to run wild
der machine in Virginia City in the plio-
Gene or post-prandial period Of that city's
history. Jack Perry was a man of infinite
feet. | remember one time he was at
tackled by rheumatism, and the infiamma-
ton naturally gravitated to the most
prominent members of his body-it settled
In his feet. Jack used to call them his
yams, but | regard that term as obsolete.)
However, the room where he lay groaning
and swearing was very small and badly
located, and Doc. McMeans ordered his
removal to better quarters; SO we raised
him tenderly on his mattress and started
to carry him out, head foremost, but didn't
succeed. His feet were so big they wouldn't
so through the doorway, and so we had
to break out one end of the cabin. Two or
three weeks after this, Jack having recov-
cred and his feet being down to low
water mark again, I went with him one
day to the Warm Springs at Carson-the
place where the State Prison now stands.
The ground was in some places soft from
recent showers, and in these spots our feet
left distinct impressions. Jacks feet left
particularly distinct impressions. They
measured just nineteen inches from toe to
heel. This, I observe, is the longitudinal
area assigned to the ~pre-Adamite hoof
marks referred to by Prof. LIE Conte. 1t
seems to me that his and all other theories
must be dissipated by this simple state
ment Of fact. No dispassionate mind can
hesitate in awarding to Jack Perry the
honor of having left these footprints in
the prison yard. A landslide probably
them over soon after, and there
they have lain hardening in the earth for
the past twenty years. I suppose Jack
Perry is dead now, and I have felt it my
duty to honor his memory by this small
tribute to his ponderous hoofs.
MK III |