Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-11-26
The Cardiff Giant, or =. Fossil Man - Of
Onnndaga. NJ.


tue or petrifcAtion as some MAINTAIN, found last
month near Cardiff, in 0nondIga t., n. Y. The
fullest and most reliable description We have
seen of this curiosity is by Mr.. John T. Boyuton,
geologist, who writes as follows:
On Saturday last, some laborers engaged in
digging well on the farm of W. C. Newell near
the village of Cardiff, about 10 miles south of
this city discovered, lying about three feet below
the surface Of the earth, what they supposed TO
be the - petrhed body " Of a human being Of
colossal size Its length is ten feet and three
inches, and the rest of the body is proportion
ately large
spent most Of yesterday and to-day, at the
location Of tine so-ctlIei fossil man, " and made
a survey Of the surroundings Of the place were
this wonderful curiosity was found. On a care
fui examination, am con incei that it is moi a
fossil, but WAS cut from piece Of stratifed
suphate q lime, known As the ou0udaga Gyp-
sum-. II it were pulyerized or ground, farmer
would call it plaster. 1t was qusrriel, prob.
ably, somewhere in this country. from our Gyp-
sum beis. The layers are Of different colors -
dark and light The statue was evidently de-
signed to lie on its back, partially So, and re-
presents a dead person in position be would
naturally assume when dying. The body lies
nearly upon the back, the right side q litte
lower; the head leaning little TO the right The
legs lie nearly one above the other; the feet par
italy cross one another. The toe Of the right
foot, little lower, showing plainly that the
statue was never designed to stand erect upon
its feet. The left arm lies down by the left side
Of the body, the fore arm ana hand being
partially covered by the body. The right
hand rests a short distance below the umbilicus,
the little finger spreading from the other, reach
ing nearly to the puoes. The whole statue evi-
IDENTIFY represents the position that body would
naturally take at the departure Of life.
There is perfect harmony in the proportions Of
'he different parts Of the statue TIE features
are strictly Caucasian, having not the high
cheek bones Of the Indian type, neither the out
lines Of the Negro race, anu being entirely un-
like any statuary yet discovered OF Aztec OF In
'ilan origin. The chin e magnificent and gem
erous; the eyebrow, or supcrcnity u.ge, Is "eii
arched; the mouth is pleasant, the brow and
forehead are noble, amt the Adams apple
has fall development.
The statue being colossal and massive, strikes
the 1ehoicer with "a feeling Of ave. some por-
uons Of the features would remind one Of the
oust Of Dewitt clinton, anu others of the A1-
poieoulc type Ny opinion Is that this piece ui
statuary was made TO represent some person of
Caucasian origin, and designed by the artist ta
perpetuate the memory Of great mind and
noble deeds. il would serve 10 impress inferior
minds or races with the great and noble, ami for
this purpose only, was scu.purei Of colossal
dimensions The block Of gypsum is st-auhei,
and dark stratum passes Just below tie outer
portion Of the Left eyebrow, appears again ia The
left breast. having been chise.ei out between the
again in a portion Of the left hip some ua--
tons Of the strata are deso.yei more than other .
.e '... 81 ",g, ',. W., is .''' .u'I'Ys
is-5. the same r,ov' ie.. 5i.tiprtIy. he seen an
the side Of the face and heal I tA.ns thst this
piece Of r'eiig ~ statuary is aet 300 years old,
tut is the work Of the early jesuit Father Ia
Lis country. who are known TO have ire.leu,eI
the onondaga Valley from 30 &C. $50 yeiIrs agli .
That II would prooAn.y bear ID laie ia history
corresponding with the monumental Stone which .