No "jazz" in Alaska

[Tom Dalzell]

"Once again, fact proves fiction true.  Ice worms do exist, though the wags who
created the mythical worm in Dawson at the turn of the century almost certainly
did not know it.  The real worms (Mesenchytraeus solifugus and several other
species) are about three-quarters of an inch long and live near the surface of
glaciers, feeding on airborne pollen and spores."

Tabbertt, Russell: Dictionary of Alaskan English
Juneau: Denali Press (1991)
Page 264

"James A. Landau" wrote:

> In a message dated 7/1/02 10:38:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Bapopik at AOL.COM
> writes:
>
> > 17 March 1912, VALDEZ WEEKLY MINER, pg. 6, col. 4:
>      <snip>
> >     The new terpsichorean step has been named the "Ice-Worm Wiggle."
> > Although the dance has not been given in public yet, it is said to be very
> > bizarre in its nature, recalling the old Dawson dance hall days.
>
> The "ice-worm" is a hoax, made famous by a poem by Robert Service, entitled
> somethiing like "The Iceworm Cocktail".  I have no idea if Service invented
> the hoax or merely wrote about it.
>
>          - Jim Landau