Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-15
A WONDERFUL FIND,
The Head of q HideouS Prehistoric
Reptile or Fish Unearthed in
Allegheny, Yesterday.
A MAN AT HIS WIFE'S MERCY.
The DuqueSne Traction Company Making
Arrangements to Compete With Its
Rivals in Speed.
TWO BROTHERS SHOOT AT EACH OTHER.
The Happenings of a Day in the Twin Cities at the
Head Of the Ohio

A wonderful find was made yesterday
morning in Allegheny. In the window of
Harris drug store, on Federal street, near
the Fort Wayne depot, there was exhibited
all day a thing that caused thousands of
persons to halt and gaze in amazement, and
many an old lusher to recoil in horror and
wonder if he really chad 'em" this time for
sure
The object of interest was the head of a
monstrous prehistoric reptile or fish. 1t
was found by Mr.. Harris and some work.
men who were making excavations in the
cellar beneath the store.
The store stands directly over the bed of
the old canal 1t is on record in geologic
and antiquarian circles that many curious
and valuable finds were made in the con-
struction of this canal, and that region of
lower Allegheny, near Monument Hill, has
always been full of interest to the student
with taste for delving into the past.
AN INTERESTING STUDY.
a party of geologists and scientists last
wear made close study of the different out
groupings of strata on the side OF Monu-
ment Hin and an examination of the diff
ferent material passed through in boring
the deep wells in the parks, and found it
one of the most interesting fields of re-
search in the country, having discovered
many traces of extict animals belonging to
remote periods, mainly TO the Mesozoic age.
But nothing so well preserved in form as
this discovered yesterday was unearthed by
them.
The workmen, in digging foundation for
a soda-water-charging apparatus, struck a
large rock some feet below the floor of the
cellar, which is about on a level with the
bottom of the old canal, and after. with
great difficulty, removing the stone, they
found another beneath it, but falling away
from it at an angle, forming crevice be-
tween the end Of the stone they had taken
up and the one beneath. When the light
fell upon the spot thus uncovered the men
were terribly frightened at sight of the
grinning head which they beheld. 1t was
taken upstairs and placed in the show win
dow, where it was viewed yesterday even
ing BY hundreds of people.
A DISPATCH reporter, attracted by the
large crowd in front of the store last night,
went in TO investigate. He found Mr.. Har-
ris, who is an enthusiastic antiquarian and
student Of natural history, porIng over q lot
OF muSty tones in search Of pedigree for
his latest pet.
HIDEOUS RELIC OF A BYGoNE AGE.
II is difficult to describe this hideous
relic of a bygone age, without resorting to
the language OF the sea-serpent fakir, but
all who have seen If declare it is the most
fearfully ugly thing they have ever wit
messed. Mr.. Harris SAYS it undoubtedly
belongs to the order Ichthyopterygia, which
existed in the time of the Liessic formation,
and disappeared long before the Cretaceous
period The head, which is the only part
preserved, is petrifed 1t is about
feet long and i inches across the
top. The mouth, which is open, is
something like that of an alligator, and is
filled with immense fangs. The eyes are
situated far down on the sides of the head,
are Of an oval form and have a sinister glare
in them.
Dr. Frank Hanna, an authority in mat
tcrs Of this kind, SAYS this is probably the
finest specimen of ichthyosaurian remains in
the world.
Several local scientists were gathered last
nighr and decided to apprise DIR. Marsh, of
New York, and other Eastern celebrities in
this line Of research of the discovery, and
they expect they will come here at once to
inspect the prize