Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1869-12-11
TIE aEanr.

oin ihe 20 Time IN the neWapa-
peFs relative TO this curiosity. The
history Of the "so-called7 curiosity
is not very generally known. From
various sources VIC CLEAN the fol-
lowing:
A Mr.. Merrill, Of Cardiff, New
York, processes to have found on
his farm, below the surface Of the
earth, near & swamp, q gigantic re.
eumbent figure In stone. He claims
that he was about to dig a well for
the use Of his cattle, and when
about six feet below the surface Of
the earth he discovered this i'm.
mense stone giant.
The question which has distract
ed the SaUGnts is, SIS this q work of
art or a work Of nature 2" IL a work
of art who was the sculptor? II q
work Ofnature, then there must have
been at q certain time in the histo-
ry of this country, a race Of giants
inhabiting 1t. These questions are
based upon the superstition that
the statement of Mr.. Newell are
true. Many persons have been
disposed to doubt his word and
claim that the whole thing is q huge
humbug. But to Mr.. Newell's
statement. The figure, as we have
said, Is a recumbent one. 1t is
wholly undraped, and lies at full
length with one arm under the
body, palm outward. The other
hand Is thrown ~carelessly over the
body and the limbs are so disposed
as TO create the impression OF un-
easy slumber. In honor Of the
place Of its discovery 1t has re.
ceived the name Of the Cardiff gi-
ant, and the marvellous reports Of
its doubtful origin and extraOrdin-
airy antiquity soon drew large
crowds to the lonely farm, where,
at that time, the statue was lying
partly covered with water, in the
trench which had been opened to
expose It's huge proportions. The
excitement thus created, speedily
led to the removal Of this alleged
relic Of antiquity to the town Of
Syracuse, where it Ia now on cxhi-
bition-s dentist Of that place hav-
ing bought an interest in the won
dOrful lgue, paying therefor, II is
said, the sum of thirty thousand
dollars.
This dentist pretends TO think
that the figure is a.pctrifcation Of
one who died many years ago. HI
urges that, from its uneasy position
It is clear a traveller became worl
out In a snow storm, and, giving
way to that desire for sleep which
Overcomes one thoroughly benumb
ed with cold, laid down and fel
asleepnever to wake on earth. Be
ing near this marsh,the body becaml
submerged In some way, and iron
the action Of certain chemical prop
critics in the water, was eventual,
petrifed. The stone Is that know
as gypsum, a soft stone which
easily worn by the action of the ele
ments, aud, as Mr.. Newell says
shaws the marks of the many raj
and snow storms to which II ha
been exposed in the countless year
since the demise of the being.
With a bold show of artless con
fdence, the owners Of the statu
have given to artists, sculptors, all,
men Of science, permission to thor
oughly investigate its character
The theory that 1t was a petri6e,
man first obtained credence, an,
even now finds some supporters
One of the Investigators, VIII.
avows his disbelief in the petrifaC
ton theory, declares, nevertheless
with charming simplicity-"I don.
quite fall into the dictum that sue
petrifaction is impossible" II
also cites, giving some plausibilit
to the earlier opinion, the remarka
BILE fact, il it be a fact, that 9TH
head rings hollow ever so surpri'
ingly, and with q metallic soun(
The pit of the stomach likewis
rings hollow" But in spite ofthes
suggestive evidences Of petriflcG
? ton, he comes TO the conclusio
"that it is a work of art, an
that the material Is tho gypsum {
the vicinity" lie is, however, Of tn
decided belief "that the stone gian
is q piece Of sculpture Of very greu
age that it is the work of EuroE
can hands, and monumental to som
leader Of a national party Of discoV
cry and possession, and not ecclC
siastical." Others had previousl
declared IL to be the work Of som
/ skillful Jesuit at the time when tn
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