Science: Stolen Footprints

In a bed of sandstone on the bank of the Connecticut River near Holyoke, Mass., Professor Edward Hitchcock of Amherst studied some curious footprints which had been called to his attention, advanced the theory that they were those of huge prehistoric birds. That was in 1858. Later scientists definitely attributed the tracks to Triassic dinosaurs of various sizes and unknown species. Some 20 individual prints were visible, ranging in length from three to 18 inches. The biggest tracks and the longest strides indicated that the largest lizard was 25 ft. long. The trustees of Massachusetts Public Reservations bought the surrounding land from its owner. President George E. Pellissier of Holyoke Street Railway Co.,turned it into a prehistoric monument and park.

Last week the trustees indignantly announced that vandals had invaded the park, cut loose more than a ton of track-bearing sandstone with pneumatic drills, carted the precious material away. The police were without a clue. Mr. Pellissier hired a watchman. At week’s end the vandals had not offered their booty to the most likely buyer—Ward’s Natural Science Establishment of Rochester, N. Y..