Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-21
A LIVING LOST LINK
A supposed Iguanodon Ben
risSantensis.
A Prehistoric Monster in Death
Valley Desert.
The Horrible Creature Recsntly Seen by
q Scientist-His Description of an
Animal Belonging to
Past Ages.

That marvellous monster which was
seen in the Death valley desert, about
twenty miles from Daggett, recently
by Mr.. E. w. Speer and Mr.. Henry
Brown of Daggett. at separate times,
while out on prospecting parties, has
occasioned wonderful interest in
scientific circles, especially those who
have made archaeological research.
Yesterday Mr.. Oscar w. Clark, who has
been spending some time in Daggett and
who has been making geological re-
searches along the coast in the interest
OF the Royal Academy of Sciences, was
on his way to Coronado to take a rest.
Mr.. CLARK has made number Of journeys
into Death valley desert, and was one of
the parties who saw this gigantic mon
ster. He has sent the result of his ex-
periences to the Smithsonian Institute,
with view to having party sent out
here to endeavor to capture the monster.
''The announcement of the expert
ences of Messrs. Spear and Brown rather
anticipated me-" said Mr.. Clark yester-
day. 81 had fine opportunity of seeing
this strange denizen of that mysterious
land known as Death Valley desert, and
/ desire to say that this animal is the
most wonderful living proof of the exact
authenticity of the researches made by
savants into the field of archaeological
study. This animal is really the only
living link between prehistoric times
and the present. It is virtually mar
vel of the ages, an eighth wonder of the
world. A marvellous illustration of the
profound economy of nature. 1t was
six weeks ago that had the pleasure of
seeing this remarkable animal.
was some thirty miles distant from
Daggett, and stopped at O'Clock in the
evening to rest. having made some val
liable additions to my collection of fossil
remains. Happening to glance to the
southwest through the haze heat pecu-
liar to the desert saw strange body
moving along about one mile away. |
went toward it and was soon both elated
and Mortified by seeing an animal fully
thirty feet long that differed from any
of the known forms of the present epoch.
1t was an immense monster, walking
part OF the time on its hind feet and at
times dragging itself through the sand,
and leaving tracks of three-toed foot
and a peculiar scratchy configuration in
the sand whenever it changed its form
of locomotion and dragged itself. The
forelimbs OF the animal were extremely
short, and it occasionally grasped the
desert scrub and devoured it. The
thumb of the three-pronged forefoot was
evidently strong conical spine that
would be dangerous weapon to attack.
Whenever the animal stood upright it
was fully fourteen ieet high. The head
was as large as a good sized cask, and
~ hot IN
while the body was as large as that of
an elephant, with long tail extending
from the headquarters much like that of
an alligator. When l saw it the strange
animal was on the edge of great sink
hole OF alkaline water-a sink-hole, by
the way. that my guides told
me was bottomless pit, and
evidently a remnant of the days
when Death valley was an inland
sea. approached within 800 yards of
the monster, crawling cautiously over
the stand and watched it for fully half
an hour. Suddenly the beast began to
below, and the sound was OF most
terrifying and blood-curdling character.
Its immense eyes, fully as large as
saucers, projected from the head, and
cleaned with wild and furious fire,
while from the enormous mouth of the
mOuHLoT btIeamS Oh SCeam ike VapOr
were exhaled, and as they drifted to-
ward one the effluvia was something
awful. The animal was liver color,
with bronze-like spots. The monster
dragged itself to the edge of the sink
hole and lashed it's tail, and finally fell
off into quiescent condition. / left
the scene and attempted to secure the
assistance of my guides in an effort to
capture the monster, but they were alb
solutely terrified and refused to do any
thing.
''From what saw of the animal am
perfectly satisfied that it is one of the
species OF the Iguanodon Bennissanten-
sis, Of the European Jurassic, an animal
presenting many points Of structure IN
common with the iguana of today. In
fact, that is the report that have sent
in, and knowing fully we'll the geologic
environments of the Pacific slope and
the very remarkable and peculiar condi-
tions regarding the Death valley section,
am satisfied that my deductions are
correct, and that there is today living
and existing in the desert of Death
valley one of the most remarkable ami
mails now existing on the face of the
globe, none other than one of the mon
sters of the prehistoric epoch-a won
der OF the centuries"