St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-21
FOUND A FOSSIL FISH.
A Lucky Trip by a Northern.
Pacific Railroad Of
fetal.
America and Great Britain
Striving to Secure a Rare
Object.
Shaking Hands With Spooks
W no Were Invisible to the
Audience.
Summary Of a Sunday Tour
OF Inspection About the
City.

A railroad conductor, w. S. Sher-
wood, who is in charge Of train run
ming between St Paul and Chicago, is
in luck, and upwards of $4,000 is at
his disposal any time that he sees fit to
demand i t. In the exhibit Of game
birds and animals of the Northwest at
the Ryan an oak frame with a heavy
plate of glass keeps curious fingers Off
piece of mixed blue and sandstone.
which bears the fossil remains of fish
twenty-three inches long and eleven
inches in width. An inscription states
that the fossil was found in the interior
of Oregon and that il is to be sent to the
British museum at London. Eng, in
the event that no purchaser can be
found on this side of the. Atlantic.
Not albone is missing from the remains,
and the fan-Shaped tail and sharp fins
are as clearly defined against the smooth
surface of the rock as though carved by
an artist. Scientists who have inspected
the specimen declare that it is the finest
fossil fish in the world, although no one
has yet been able to determine the Spe-
cieS to which it belongs. Some have eX-
pressed the opinion that it is a salmon,
and the big bones would seem to give
color to the idea, but the head is too
broad for salmon and the SayantS de-
clare that it must belong to prehistoric
age. knowledge of the unexpected find
was conveyed to Prof. Ward at Rochester.
n. Y. and the Smithsonian Institute, at
Washington, ID. c., and the learned pro-
fessors fastened to make all eXamina-
ton of the valuable discovery.
Negotiations are still pending for its
purchase, but the owner knows its
value and will not part with it unless he
can get what he thinks it is worth. An
fort was made to induce him to allow
casts to be made for the benefit of
science and with view of determining.
if possible. the species to which the
fossil belonged. but he was immOvable
! unless spot cash was paid for the
specimen" AS neither of the profess
ors had
TEN THOUSAND; DOLLARS
available at the time. they were COM
PEELED to return East without the COW
eted curio. An aborgine is entitled to
the credit for unearthing the fossil. and
while picking over some loose rock he
found the slab with the representation
of the fish and laid it aside carefully,
luckily not disturbing or breaking a
single bone in the frame. He told a
white companion what he had discoy-
cred. and the latter was not long in pre-
vailing upon the Indian to part with the
property, the story being that greasy
pack of cards was all important factor
in the transaction.
Conductor Sherwood was on duty
with the Northern Pacific railway at
the time, and he was shown the speci-
men one day i'll bar room. the owner
being pretty hard up for ready money.
After several hours dickering the slab
again changed hands, and the elated
railroad official hurled it off to this city
and placed it with friend for safe
keeping. Letters were sent out TO a
number of scientific institutions and
their faculties, aud considerable cores
poudence has already been the result.
A preventative of the British museum
has telegraphed not to accept any offer
made until he reaches New York. when
the fossil will be sent for his inspection.
He followed up his telegram with let
| ter stating that if the specimen was as
represented he was prepared to pay the
highest price demanded by the owner.
| Tiffany. of New York. will have the
custody of the fossil, and it will! be eX-
hibited in the show window for the ben
eft of the curiosity seekers Of Gotham
| for several DAYS.