The union Democrat., 1869-01-23
e;fls 11niun 9fmurrat,
c.,1o,n,. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Giants.

,, .ntfouftic--Aucisnt Giants.
T, ,,;rbt be- interesting 10 refer to certain
-..ala,;,ns tina. have been made IN the south
e..tera norton of this State, in tho course OF
mining enterprises. We refer TO q variety
of fossil remains now in possession OF the D.
olnmne Historical Society az sonora, when
have been collected mainly through the ex-
ertions of DR.. Perez Smell. who Is now over
eighty wears old, and whose whole life has
heen spent in the development OF American
antiquities.
Some of the human fossils found in Tuo-
umne county are of gigantic proportions, ana
an well preserved that there can be no posi-
he question that they once formed parts oil
human bodice, the like of which are not now
found on the earth. The most Interesting
of ,bese remains were found on Blanket
Creek in 1859 They consisted OF the thigh
bone and skull of a human being, whose stat
ure, calculating from those remains, must
have been at least eight or nine feet high.
Their silent testimony is that this country
was once inhabited by race of huge people,
or nj leost race some of whom were gigan-
tie. 1t is no longer possible to doubt that
this region was formerly inhabited by mon
strons animals which are now extinct from
the earth, or, at any rate, that 1t has been the
pIace of their burial. There are in the So
nora collection, in perfect form and preeerva-
tion. the bones of the Fossil Elephant, crea-
ture now extinct and which was OF twice the
dimensions Of the elephant now existing.
There are, also, the thigh bones OF the Mas
todon, smaller animal, but yet larger than
any living creature known to the naturalists
of this time. Also, the bones of the Great
lIyena, extinct likewise, together with many
more gigantic remains which have been ex
umed IN that county within the past fifteen
wears They were all tangible witnesses
from ages of unknown antiquity, to which
the mind runs only in hewildercd imagina-
ton. 1t seems reasonable that since beasts
Of snch woudrous size had existence In that
lnnc-cone and inscrutable time, there were
human beings constructed on n like scale OF
grandeur-thnt the proportions of nature were
then observed as now. That there were, the
ancient graves reyeal-sepulchres not made
with hands. but formed in the commissions of
the earth in the times of her travail and
trouble, when the crested waves rolled over
those pleasant valleys. and the mountains
tossed their frey spray to the clouds.
The human remains found under Table
Mountain in 1855, consists Of an immense
jaw bone, entire, including many of the
teeth likewise the two thigh-bones Of n maa,
nerfectly preserved. They were found on the
bedrock three hundred and fourteen feet ver-
tically from the surface, and nearly half Il
mile from the horizontal entrance of the tun-
mel. The thigh-bones of a man of common
stature are about fifteen inches long, some
times a little more The under,law of this
skeleton is five and half inches at the widest
place, and is immensely strong. That of n
common-sized man now is three and half
inches, at the same place Of measurement.
pr. Smell considers that the frame of which
these remains were part, must have been
more than eight, perhaps. niue feet in stat
urr. Here therefore, without entering the
realms of speculation, we have tangible proof,
demonstrated by compass and rule, that a
human being moro than eight feet high once
strode about those parts, and at period CO.
temporary with the formation OF Table Noun
tain, found grave three hundred and four
teen feet deep, where he slept in profound
oblivion until the stalwart miner smote open
his rocky sepulchre. Who will prove that
hc was not asleep there when Adam was max
ing love to the blushing Eve amid the groves
of Paradise?
Together with and near these human re-
mains, were found other interesting antqui-
ties. Stone mplcments-one probably used
~ a handle for a bow, hollow on ore side to
fit the weapon. and convex on the other to
give the hand better grasp. Also, pipe
Of fine workmanship. aud scoop. or ladle,
made Of soapstonr. with wcll-termed ham
die. Probably the giant had returned fron
hunt, laid down his bow. AVID was prepav-
inS his meal. when some wrathiul 0lin over
threw Table Mountain and created for him
the proioundest of graves \ small o~oa-
amert about the thickness ot n hab-doliar
sua composed Of the hematitc Of lron-an
exceeding hard suhStance-was found close
hv. Il seems to have heen designed as . sort
of medal was grooved round the edge to ad-
NIT n thong or string, and had hole in the
center which had been filled with red Gin
nahar, probably ~ he used as paint. What
makes this trinket worth mention is the fact
difficulty OF its construction with tools likely
to be in the possession of savaSes. In pur-
suing their work the miners encountered
large trees petrj6ed. and standing As they
had grown in the forest. Some, originally
pine and oak, had changed to carbon. and
afterwards petrifed, but the most were siiic-
ifed TO pure flint.
Amid this aintv forest cur giant was en-
toned. and over him the motionleSS stony
branches had hung, va suppose. when 1.-THE
morning stars sang together, and all the sons
of God shouted for joy Oakland Tran
Script.
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