Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-01-14
The Cardiff Giant lm.eryic ~ ed. i.

"Gris'' of the Cincinnati Times, recently
paid visit to the "great Onoudaga Giant,
which he describes as follows:
found his gantship reclining in n
wooden enclosure that looked Ike IN aqua
rum from which the water had been drawn
of. Encirclirg it was platform SO eleva.
ted as to afford good view of the monster
There we're but few visitors when | was
there. The hight of the giant is 10 feet 4.
inches, Or woul! if he stood erect, which he
is not calculated to do very we'll. He re-
clines upon his back, with bis right hand
pressea upon the side, aud his left hand
pressed upon his back, indicating that he
died of the liver complaint aggravated by
the bilious collie. He evidently died hard,
aud has been getting harder ever since.
The right side of the face was nearly per-
feet, showing a noble profile, bnt the left
side is very much worn away by the action
of the water, as indeed is the entire left
side Of body and limbs. 1t is the form Of
powerfully developed man who died in the
yigor Of lie.
The skull is perfectly smooth, showing no
indication Of hair. Woods hair restora.
tive is being tried by MIR. Wood to bring j,
cut, but 50 far in vaiu.) The material
from which the giant is carved, land By
which the proprietors are carving THEN
own f)rturcs), is gypsum, mineral con.
consisting of sulphate Of lime and 2l per
cent. Of water. When cslcined it becomes
plaster Of Paris. If this is a petrifed
giant, he couldn't be one Of the modern gi-
ants who travel with shows. None Of them
ever got u per cent Of water in their sys.
tens in all their lives. They might get to
be gyp some, bat not altogether.
An enthusiastic spirituaist who was
viewing the giant with me averred his ell
tire belief that be was retrided gant, and
declared that being himself medium, lie
had actually received communications from
the giants spirit. asked the medium if
could be permitted to PROFOUND few ques-
tons to the giant through him, and he said
could. propounded as follows;
Q.-"Who are you?.
Atm A. Sumner
Q.-"Were you always as hard as you
are uow?'
A.-"No, simply hardcase, that's all
Now I'm hard all through"
u htfc yUul I1ititS hhiu
A.-"Yes, hard of hearing"
Q.-"Whati is your weight?''
A.-"Three hundred stone."
Q.--"Why did YOU turn tostone?"
A.-"Because | didn't know what els'
to turn to at the time
Q.-"What were you petrifed with?"
A.-"Petrlied with astonishmeht."
Q.-"Ever have any Of the iufantile dis
eases?'
Ayes, stone bruise on the heel
Q.-"Hhat were your boyish .muse
ments?"
A,-"Playiog marbles, riding on a stone
boat ard running around stone qunrries.
Q.--"What is your occupation ~
A.-"LGying stone at present"
Q.-"Got brothers p
A.-"Yes."
Q.--"Are tn y like you?"
A.-''Yes. all in the stone business
Q.-"Did that stony heart ever feel th'
soltening power Of love? Didst ever h.v
a sweetbeart?''
II mention oe sweetheart he softene,
visibly; sigh heaved his massive chest
while something Ike tear trickled dow
his stony checks "ashing away some NOR
gypsuml, but be quickly recovered, an
was stone again. He was silent, and
didt press the question:
Q.-"How do you feel now, anyhow 2
Al feel good deal ,rorn, especiall
on my left side. Besides, l don't Ike IN
idol life.'
Q.-"What your drink q
| "S,oun-feune
Q.-"Would you like to throw in q glas
now?'
A.-"No; those who live in stone house
shouldn't throw glass
Q.-"Was you killed in Cardiff; an
how?'
A.-"Ycs, killed by the cars. Got
cardiff in the stomach
Q-"Was you ever rolling stoue?'
A.--"No. And that's the way gathel
ed ny moss
Q-"!Iard feelings toward anybody ?"
A.-"Yes, I'd ike to punch the head
the man that dug me up
The interview WAS entirely satisfactory
and left with feelings Of lofty admiratio
for the stone man.