Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-02-28

Sdlu his cOfStOuS quSStIOHO''
brought nothing into the world, and cal
take nothing out,
True enough, mon," said Stephen II
his old brogue; shut dinna We ken TIT
Lord says, 'Occipy till Gomez"
Morals in this mushroom town we're
among the articles of commerce. No ont
tried to posses any unless money could
be made by it. An occasional individual
thought it worth while to abjure women
wine and cards long enough to inspire
confidence and run away with some OF
his fellow towns-men's ducats. From
motives of courtesy occasional women
were called wives, but it was well to avoid
inquisitiveness on the subject. Iremem-
Der one day certain couple arrived by
stage. It was easy to see they were fugi-
tives. OF the two the woman was the
Oldest, and it appeared to be rather a case
in which she was running off with the
man. They coon obtained passage in a
Mexican train for Santa Fe. Two days
afterward pursuing husband arrived
in Sheridan. His questions were few and
to the point. Having learned that the
fugitives were two days journey away
on the desolate plain, he simply fred up
with an extra chip of navy plug, thrust
both hands deep into his pockets, and re-
marked, ''The old gals tongue cuts like a
cart whip. Fore next spring there'n be
one man sorry didn't catch up"
Twelve miles from Sheridan, and close
to the Colorado line, Fort Wallace stood
guard. Its bright flag, far away over the
waste, could be seen for miles. This
piece of country is known to biologists
as a peculiarly rich fossil belt, having
yielded up some very fine specimens.
In wild ravine just on the edge of the
town the remains of large saurian were
discovered, and forwarded to Agassiz.
Other valuable specimens were sent to
the eminent naturalist Professor Cope
and some, which were new to science
named by him. An eccentric Sheridan
man who had contributed his discovery,
was astounded by having it named after
him. But the Latin ending was entirely
too much. Before, he had been a sort of
street authority on geological matters,
and was wont to mystify such "bull-
whackers" and ''fOragers" as had an itch
ing for learning by illusions to primary,
tertiary, cretaceous, and SO forth, mixed
in for the sake of sound, and at the ex-
pense of sense. This notoriety struck
him dumb. He remarked to me, SORROW
fully, knowing about as much of fossils
as an oyster does, I shall keep my mouth
about as closely shut"
All over this fossil belt the remains of
the monsters of the primitive world are
thickly strewn. Huge saurians, locked
for thousands of centuries in their wise
like prison, are constantly being exposed
by the elements to the gaze of the nine
teenth century. While we doubt mod
ern sea-serpent impossible, we discover
fOssilized marine monsters which could
easily have swallowed the biggest snake
ever run foul of by honest mariner. Time
was when this now desolate waste lay I'M
der tropical sun, beautiful succession
of green pastures and sparkling lakes.
Here the lion roared and the tiger crept
on his prey, while the elephant
travelled leisurely along with its trunk,
and the rhinecoros offered horn to tie
primeval man when he came that way,
And this latter parsonage, if we may be-
lieye some of the authorities, not only ex-
listed during the latter part of this period,
but with the strength of gorilla and the
club of Hercules, dashed in the skulls
of such beasts as were necessary for its
food.
But perhaps the period Of time immed-
lately preceding this, when the sea Gov
cred the plain, was even more interesting.
Huge snake-like forms swarmed upon the
waters, among them individuals which,
without moving the body, could explore
with their long necks the depths forty feet
below. And often the fierce struggles of
SO many great creatures must have made
the deep "bol like q pot" while flying
saurians, with leathery wings covering
spread of twenty feet, beat the air above,
and watched this combat.
The game of this region now is buffalo,
antelope, elk and wolves. The water
courses are insignificant and destitute of
trees. The principal river, the Smoky
Hill, sinks into sand, underneath which
it flows on a living stream.
Ito be continued.)