The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-25
art to inspect it. Professor Hall, who was allowed
few moments OF examination, was pledged to re-
serve his opinion until permission was gwen him TO
make 1t known.


serve his opinion until permission was gwen him 10
make 1t known.
The Discovery and Description Of the Giant.
SYRACUSE, Oct. 20, 1860.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
On last Sabbath the quietude or our city was dis
turbed by the circulation OF rumor TO the effect
that the remains Of some colossal human being had
been discovered under peculiar circumstances some
twelve miles south OF Syracuse, at place called
Cardiff, in the township OF Lafayette. From the
many reports In circulation gathered the facts that
the remains found were those or a human person in
perrlfed state. AS soon as the rumor gained ere
dence thousands OF persons ocked to the locality,
your reporter among the number. Upon arriving at
the spot saw the form OF man lying ON his back,
head and shoulders naturally nat; at hip tribe
over on right side, the right hand spread on the
lower part OF The abdomen, with fingers apart and
the left arm half behind and its hand against the
back opposite the other the left leg and foot thrown
over the right. the feet ana toes projecting
at natural angle. The figure was OF APP
parent limestone, mixture of gray and blue CON-
mon in most parts OF the county, and seemed per-
feet in every particular. The muscles are well
developed. The ribs may be counted. The nostrlls
are perforated SO as to admit large sized finger up
some two inches. The lines Of toe and finger nails
are plainly marked. The left ear is partially gone,
the other parts. The nose finely shaped, the fore
head high, and the adams applen at the throat
projecting in the most natural manner. The ap-
pearance Of the "countenance" marks the giant
OF the Caucasian race, and not the Indian. II the
work OF art the artist has failed in any effort at hair
on the head. The measurements we obtained OF this
wonderful petri1ed specimen of the past race
follows:-From top OF head to instep sole,
or natural standing height ten feet two
and one-half inches; from point OF chin
to top Of head, lwenty-one inches; nose,
from brow to tip six inches; across base or
nostrils, three and quarter inches; mouth, four
inches; from extremes OF shoulders three feet hand,
across PALM seven inches: through wrist i've inches;
second finger, from knuckle joint eight inches; leg
from hip Joint to knee joint three feet through thigh
one FOOT through caf nine ana Onehalf inches; foot,
nineteen and half inches long. II any wen proper
see q striking ratio. Though the Inquire has all the
appearance OF stone yet the surface can be shaved
or with knife without dulling the blade. This
tried, out of course not allowed 10 proceed to dis
figure the statute f such it be) scale fell from the
bes gold quartz but soft and crumDles at the touch
with sort of soft sand stone result. II rests on
hall sandy and clay bottom, the earth being Of q
as fOilOwS:-
On last Saturday forenoon q MI. Newell set two
men to dig for well some twenty feet back OF q
barn, in ravne, at the foot Of what Is called Bear
Mountain, IN the lowest place on the border OF
mole formed by the waters Of the Onondaga creek,
which runs through IL and in seasons Overnows
ia locality which would be convenient for water
ing his stock. The intention was to dig the well
about five feet deep; O stone layer was present to
complete 1t as soon as the excavation was made,
and tue stone had been drawn for that purpose.
nine inches when the shovel OF one or the
diegers struck hard substance. He at first
doing exposed the whole foot to view. Tne men
became alarmed, and Mr. Newell, VINO was pres
ent, ordered the men TO cover Il up and say nothing
about the matter, and selected new site Tor his
weli but the discovery excited the interest some
Of the persons present. and one Of them, seeing the
direction IN which the body lay, Immediately seized
shovel and began digging until he soon exposed
the whole body to view. The water continued to
gather III the excavation and had TO be bailed out
While the exhumation was progressing Mr. Newell
his household and near neighborS were in great
state Of excitement. AS the intelligence OF the won
derful discovery spread through the surrounding
country hundreds OF people hurried to verify the
stories they had heard. Men left their WORK; women
caught up their babies and children in numbers all
hurried TO the scene OF interest Men offered Mr..
Newell their farms Tor his stone treasure, but he,
seeing money in It, considered 1t was good to HIM
as TO them, and SO wisely held on to his treasure
like mlser 10 his stores. One offer of $4,000
was made by an ex shownian and alike refused.
up to Sunday evening the hundreds OF people had
been allowed to inspect the wonder without price;
but the owner then began to look at the matter in
cooler light, and the result was on Monday morning
q canvas tent was erected over the place OF dis
covery, the trench enlarged and made regular,
pump sunk Tor pumping out the water guards
posted the valuable relic, money takers placed
at the door OF the tent and the moderate sum OF
fifty cents demanded from each visitor. The crowds
who visited the exhibition on Monday and Tuesday
immense and have continued without cessation
till the present time, and 1t Is estimated that not
less than 10000 persons OF all sexes have visited the
blg man. IN the last week. and still they come. Every
train arriving IN Syracuse brings visitors from
almost every section OF the country, among whom
are many prominent gentlemen OF scientific celebrity
and many are the opinions expressed regarding this
great curiosity. The conclusions OF DR.. J. +. Boyn
ton, the well-known lecturer on geology are given
in favor OF Its being work OF art; while other gen
temen OF excellent scientific attanments maiutaln
that 1t is the remains OF petrided human body 1t
understood
to Professor Agassz. state Geologlst Hall DR.. 5.
b. Woolw orth secretary OF the Board OF Regents to
come and settle the disputed point. on consulting
Clarks History OF Onondaga we lind that locality
in the town OF Pompey called Indian Hill lis noted
Westerns farm was found a skull much larger than
ordinary; the under Jaw would I'll completely over
LATER OCTOBER 22)
State Geologst Hall arrived rom Albany to-day,
and with small and select party OF friends visited
the petrlfed body. All visitors were excluded from
the tent while Professor Hall and party were making
their examination For several minutes not word
was spoken, when the Professor broke the silence by
renarkng, "1his is most certainly the greatest curt
osity ever exhumed on the American Continent, and
be 1t petriled human body or sculpture it exceeds
allworks OF art nature ever beheldn AS the Pro-
fessor's time was limited he was obliged to leave
without giving an opinion as to what Il was but he
carried away portion OF the body and some OF the
earth upon which 1t rests, and also took the sur
roundings OF the country.
Professor Halls opinion will be looked for with
much interest. lie returned to Albany last evening.
/ am just informed by reliable authority that the
body has been disposed OF by Mr.. Newell for the
of $4,000, the purchasers being DR.. Amos Wescott
OF this city; Alfred Huggins Mr. A. uillett, and DR..
Haannum OF Homer, N. Y. Mr.. Newell retains one
fourth interest 1t is understood that the body Will
remain where 1t was found for some time yet and
Will then be removed TO New York city and placed
exhibition in Woods Museum.
Many points about the body convince me that 1t Is
beyond a doubt a petried human body. For in
stance from the eyes, ears, nose and mouth some
substance has run down upon the neck and crystal
zed giving the neck rough appearance II the work
OF an artist he certainly would have finished IL like
the rest OF the body, with smooth surface. Again.
why should the left hand be placed behind hlm
Immediately opposite the right hand In front II ii
was not that he aC one time was a human being and
has been pierced by an arrow or javelin, and In
death agony has clasped his hands over the wounded
part and died Again, the feet being crossed in
such manner that the statue cannot be raised TO a
standing posture, and many other points which
might be raised, which show concusIvely 1t could
not be the WORK OF art. Upon sounding on the head
IT. Is hollow as well as the body ITSELF showing con-
clusvely 1t could never have been carved hollow
BE II what lt may time VIII coon disclose all and IL