Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-08-07
Giants.

References in ancient literature to
the existence of giants and dwarfs are
by no means rare, and even in the
records of the sacred historians we find
it mentioned that "there were giants on
the earth" Henrion, a member Of the
French Academy of Sciences, published
a work in 1718 large portion of which
was devoted to the discussion of the
great decrease in the stature and gen
eral physical conformation Of the
human race which undoubtedly took
place between the creation and the
opening of the Christian era. In this
curious treatise the learned but some
what credulous author informs us that
Adam was 123 feet 8 inches in height,
while Ewes stature is asserted to have
been 119 feet 9 inches and lines.
The exactitude Of the Academician's
calculations forms noticeable point in
the recital, and his assertion of the in
expllcable degeneracy which the race
seems to have undergone in cOmpara-
lively short period is no less remarka-
bic. Noah, we are told, attained a
height of only 27 feet; Abraham was
barely 90 feet in stature, while Moses
is alleged to have measured only IS
feet in height. Henrion takes care to
add that, in his opinion, the advent Of
the Christian era prevented the con-
tinuous decrease which had hitherto
prevailed, and records his thankfulness
that humanity was not permitted to
degenerate into infinitesimal or micro
scopic specks.
The ancient and medieval accounts
of human giants are also intermingled
with much that is problematic,
and in some cases absolutely fabulous.
We are told that the height of Yunman,
Scotch giant who lived in the time of
Pope Eugenius H., was II feet. This
-pontiff died in the year 627, so that the
exaggerated Scotchman must have
been in existence somewhere about the
opening of the ninth century. In 1909
there were discovered at Rouen the
remains of Chevalier Rincou, whose
skull was alleged to have been capable
of holding bushel Of wheat, while the
length of his shinbone is stated at
feet. IL 1705 the skeleton of hero
named Bucart was disinterred at
Valence, the remains measuring some
% feet in length. These cases of huge
development may be very appropri-
ately capped by the Sicllian story of
human skeleton which was gravely
maintained to have measured 800 feet,
while, with the apparent object Of Civ
ing additional veracity to the state
ment, the giants walking stick was
alleged te have been found buried be-
side him, the latter article, according
to all testimony, measuring 30 feet.
One fact is specially noticeable in re-
gard to these persons of abnormal di-
mensions, and that is that they are near
ly all of the male SEX. Giantesses, in
deed, are rarely mentioned among the
records that have been preserved of re-
markable tall human beings. Thus, in
the reign Edward I'LL, Long More or
Mores, an Irish.giant attained the height
of feet 109 inches. Queen Elizabeth
had porter who attained the height of
feet inches. This, however was much
exceeded by John Middleton, or the
"Child of Hale" as he was called, who
who lived in 1873, and measured 9 feet
3 inches. G. Munster, yoeman of the
HanOverlan Guard, who died in 1876,
attained height of s feet 6 inches.
Cajanus, the Swedish giant, who was
exhibited in London in 1742, measured
9 feet in height. Among all these there
is no mention of a single giantess. The
most celebrated of living giants is the
famous Captain Bates Of Kentucky
This giant has beeen fortunate enough
to secure a mate of suitable proportions.
His wife, nee Swan, was born in Nova
Scotia, and measures s feet In height.
Another giant of renown is the China
man Chang wu-gou. This tall Celestial
measures z feet inches in stature.
The details of giant life exhibit
many curious features. Contrary to
expectation, and against the spirit of
the old legends, our modern giants are
for the most part persons of singularly
mild disposition, and exhibit, as rule,