The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-28

OF these presentations in the cause Of
science Prof. Greene has many pleasant
reminiscent stories to tell. New Harmony,
at that time, being the intellectual Mecca
of the West, thither he often accompanied
the Kochs, there meeting the eminent Rob-
ert Dale Owen, DAVID Dale Owen, Richard
owen and many other scientific men who
were attracted to that remote Posey county
stronghold of learning From these advan-
tages came naturally the knowledge and
enthusiasm which gave to his life its scien-
tific bent. The lead mines of Golconda, ILL.,,
it may be mentioned, were discovered by
DR.. Koch during one of his scientific
forays, and, after final trip to France, he
settled at Golconda, expecting to become
wealthy; this dream was not realized, how
ever, and he lived and died there without
having made a fortune. After the civil war
Prof. Greene found his zeal for geology
unimpaired, and opened O. little fossil shop
at Jeffersonvlle, this State; from that
starting point his place of sale has been
as migratory his own early life with
the foreign scientists. For several years he
was located in Louisville, twice he kept his
curiosity shop in Indianapolis, once on
West Market street, and again on South
Illinois street. During the worlds fair his
establishment was moved to Chicago. Often
in his scientific career he has locked his
shop door, pocketed' the key and departed
to the fossil fields on absences extending
sometimes over months. On his return he
would open his door, whisk the dust from
the two-headed calf, spread out his new
fossils and enter briskly into commerce
again. From 1879 to 1883 Professor Greene
John Collett and during that period clas-
sified and labeled the collection of fossils
in the State Museum at Indianapolis with
fidelity and Skill" as the geological report
of 1880 afirms. The geological collection of
the State University at Bloomington was
also classified and arranged by him, under
Professor Richard Owen. In 1873 one-half
his private collection of fossils was sold to
the State University, and the remaining
portion in 1882 he sold to. the State Museum.
Since 1885, by collection and purchase, he
has amassed the 100000 fossils now in his
possession. OF his work under Professor
Collect is also to be noted his geological
survey Of Monroe county, given in detail
in the state geological report of 1880. Prof.
Greene's large exhibit at the worlds fair,
in the Anthropologica1 building was en-
tered as an exhibit of Indiana fossils, and
was awarded a medal and two diplomas.
With his present location in New Albany
this most industrious fossil gatherer de-
clares himself perfectly content. AS re-
cent Chicago writer on the Gurley collection
of fossils said of him: Professor Greene
is more devoted to the chase than to the
mercenary proceeds This is a just esti-
mate of the man. If large sum came
into his hands tomorrow he would proba-
bly, turn in the next day and spend it for
more fossils. The scientific world knows his
whereabouts, and his sales do not depend on
mere advertising. To his quaint little I'M
pretentious shop-a shop without a sign
come letters bringing fossil orders from the
great universities and the smaller ones. He
has sold to Yale, Harvard and Cambridge,
and to universities in England and in Ger
many. Natural history societies and schools
of technology in all the large cities have
been enriched by the fruits of his scientific
industry. On one of my visits to his shop
1 brushed against Prof. VIM. +. e. Gurley,
of Danville III. EARRING away in a bas-
ket on his arm several hundred dollars
worth of fossils, and in back room Prof.
Greene was boxing up a valuable consign-
ment to Belgium.
A TIRELESS FOSSIL HUNTER.
Concerning the collection of fossils, south
ern Indiana he declares, to be the finest
fossil field in the world, and the Ohio river
bed, at the falls, on the Indiana side, I'M
surpassed in coral formations. In a radius
of thirty miles, north and south of the
river, lie also fine fossil beds. In good
weather and in bad weather Professor
Greene pursues the fossil warpath; and
other biologists say of him that he leaves a
fossil famine wherever he searches-the
next conner doesn't find anything. Often,
he says, in his ramblings he has been lost
all day, and didn't care if he was. His de-
vouring scientific ambition is to have the
Ohio river fenced in at the falls to pre-
serve what remains of its valuable fossil
deposits. These, he affirms, are rapidly
being destroyed by agencies not contribu-
tive to science-severe winters, high water,
government Improvements which involve
blasting and driving heavy wagons over the
rocky lodges, are all conspiring to obliterate
these priceless records of prehistoric ages.
In the fossil hunt this Jealous geologist
has had many interesting experiences. One
afternoon on Sand island, near the Ken
lucky shore, he discovered large corallum
(cladeopra pinguis), and began with ham
mer and chisel the delicate task of chipping
it out from it's rocky environment, roots
and all. AS he describes it, it would fill
a half-bushel measure. The day Waned as
he worked on, and the fisherman who had
taken him to the island in his boat called
to him that he was going home. Nothing
swerved him from his task, however, and
the sun went down and the moon came up
to find him still engaged with the coral.
Towards midnight the huge specimen was
hoisted to his shoulder, in a basket, and he
began to think of home and supper. Wading
in water breast deep he climbed across and
up the rocky walls of the old Tarascon
mill race, reached solid ground and footed
it over the bridge to New Albany. Six
months later, when ready to put the big
fossil into acid, he discovered that one end
of it was nissing-had been left in the rock
on Sand island Again he made trip
thither, equipped with bucket and broom,
and AYERS that by accurate measurement
he scrubbed over one acre of ground be-
fore he discovered the spot of his former
labors and secured the missing portion.
Professor Greene's home, in all its apart
ments, is as crowded with fossils-on
chairs, tables, mantels and sofas-as the de-
mands of living will allow; and several
barns and sheds which he owns also serve
as storehouses for his large collection. Be-
ing thorough outdoor man, the cleaning
of fossils-in which he is accounted most
EXPERTS, almost all the year round, an
outdoor occupation with him, and his little