The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1889-12-12
ISORT O. SAURUS.I
Relic of a PIiocene Monster Found
In Alaska Ice.
Fossil Remains of A Big Reptile
Story Told III stone-Big Jaws ant
Savage Teeth-A Eiehy Yarn.

say age Teeth-A EiGhy Yarn.
Capt. Frank MclJermott. United States
inspector Of boilers, sent to President
Dekur. of the Northern Pacific Indus.
trial association. Il part of the fossil re-
mains of the head Of some cetacean or
reptilian monster, which was dug and,
cut out of ali Alaskan glacier some time!
ago. This has been imbedded in the iceI
for many hundreds or thousands of years,
but still retains "an ancient and fish
like smell. 1t is a reminder OF those fari
of days, possibly of an earlier era event
than that when. according to some poet,
the inhab itantS sat Oh some promontoryI
which iuttcd out into the Vastly deep, and
pour passe lie temps "bobbed for a whale
with an ichthyosaurus.
This relic Of a bygOne age. the mere
sight of which would make glad the
heart of a San Francisco silurau, is of
the following dimensions; Extreme
length, fourteen inches; extreme width
Iat base, eleven inches, tapering to two
inches; extreme thickness. seven inches
There are ten teeth on each side of theI
the lower. the longest two and two-thirdI
inches, tie shortest one inch TheyI
lOvetail INTO each other with mathe
ImatcaI accuracy, ana are in state of
!, rf>ct preservation. Only one of theI
teeth Is missing, having been broken off i
probably, 10y the finder TO preserve as al
souvenir Not the slightest evidence oil
decay is TO be seen at the place of frac.
turo.
The massive jaws and formidable
teeth Indicate immense and most de
latructive crushing, biting and grinding
power, What proportion of the head
whether one-third, one half, or more or
less, has been brought to light, cannot
with any accuracy be conjectured, Pos
sibly Agas9iz or some other great natu
raliat could tell at a glance. 1t has been
placed in the apartments of the Oregon
Alpine club for inspection. 1t is to bel
hoped that, if the local Savants get to-
disputing over it, they will bear in mind
lie av full fate of that member Of the so
Getty on the St2nia laus, who after a
memorable debate in that body, made
himself shortstop for ''passel Of
bones" and then the subsequent pro
ceedings Interested him no more" Keep
cool, gentlemen.
On the arrival Of "the remains" at the
Exposition building, President Dekum
called in Capt Dubois and Capt. Douglas
to ascertain their opinions as to what
sort Of head it was. Both of these
gentlemen gave it up" While the above
measurements were being taken, Capt
George Pope, who has sailed the seas
over more than once, inspected it and
gave it as his opinion that it was part OF
the head Of a sperm whale which had
got caught out on first base during the
glacia! period. Just then Mr.. .. P. Ma
son came in, and, after looking at the
relic Of the deceased monster. declared ii
to be souvenir of the reptilian age.
probably the head Of plesiosaurus. In
that event he probably was not used for
oait by the antediluvian of the imagi
native poet already quoted.
Badinage aside, the relic is a most
singular and interesting one, and it will
probably be necessary to wait until Pro
lessor Condor sees TO it to have it fully
Identified. Capt. McDermott states that
the relic was sent to the United States
inspectors Office by gentleman now il
Alaska, and was received on Thursday
morning, the 10th inst. 1t was taken
out of the ice about two months ago al
some point in northern Alaska. Nd
statement accompanied it. Capt. Nc
Dermott has written back to the finder
to forward the remainder of the body
or as much Of it as can be secured, Tic
Will reserve lis decision as to what dis
position he viii make Of this interesting
and valuable find.-Port!and Oregonian