The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-01-15
A House For the Cardiff Giant.


writing from Sonora, Ohio, gives the fol-
lowing remarkable story in serious
earnest
Yesterday your correspondent visited
one of the most remarkable remains Of
other years which has ever been I'M
oarthed and discovered in this State.
1t has been found near Germantown, q
village few miles south of here. The
following are the facts, as ascertained
by us of M. Lewis Transer, on whose
farm it was first noticed: A few weeks
ago q gentleman from Richmond, Ind,
PASSING by Mr.. Transfers residence,
drank from a spring near the roadside
Being m old coal miner, Of course any
indications Of such minerals would be
discovered by him, and he observed to q
bystander that there was surely coal in
those hills. He was so confident of the
truth Of his assertion that he obtained
permission of the owner to investigate
il, and set to work on the following
Monday. He searched all week with
pick and shovel without finding any
further signs Of the mineral, but on Sat
urlay evening his tools struck upon
what was once stick chimney, popular
many years ago with our pioneers, but
now evidently petritied. This discovery
SO aroused his curiosity that he procured
the assistance of several neighbors, and
they continued the excavation all night,
and on Sunday, when large crowd COL
lected at the spot, and the work was so
vigorously pushed that before night
there stood before the astonished multi
tude a complete log house, II by IA
feet, now solid rock The house is in
perfect condition, with slab roof and
"clinked" walls. Its height is about IL
feet, and it is mass Of white rock.
Every stick in the chimney, every LOG,
every piece of bark On the roof, and ev-
cry hickory withe binding the logs to-
gether at the door, are perfect stone, but
as distinguishable as they were origin
ally. We entered the house through a
low door, which is the only aperture in
the walls except the fireplace communi-
eating with the chimney.
The light from these enables us to
see in one corner of the only room
rude bed, also perfectly petrifed, formed
in the usual manner of the pioneers by
placing poles in holes in the logs and
supporting them with upright posts. 1t
was covered with clapboards, and fur
ther with skins and pelts. On this
rude couch is the skeleton of a man
about six feet in length and entirely
petrifed. Behind the open door is the
sitting skeleton of dog, evidently his
last faithful companion; and over this
entrance, supported by pegs, is rusty
rifle barrel, Of the old fashioned flint
lock pattern, The stock having rotted
and fallen to the floor There are
| few other articles in the room, all pet
rifed. and which we were unable to
identify The skeleton lies on its back,
but we could find no further resem-
blance to the human frame, although
the petrifcation is very complete.
This wonfer is daily attracting large
bodies of people from remote places, and
scientists are busy investigating it and
furnishin. theories as to its singular po-
sition and brmation. Mr.. Grauser has
been offered $4,000 for the house by
DR.. w. A. Manning and other gentle
men of Miamisburg, Montgomery
county, but has refused it. He will
probably receive much larger sum for
it from some scientific institution.
The house appears 10 be on its origi-
nal foundation, and the query arises
how did it get here, and how did it be-
come petritied here between two large
hills, and at least thirty feet under
ground
1t is not our province to furnish theo-
ries concerning this singular formation
of man and nature, but we hope that
this may SO intcres. some OF your well
known scientists that they may throw
some additional light on it. For fur
ther reference address Mr.. Louis Grau
ser, or Mr. W. Il. Morse, Germantown;
or Mr.. Chas. Blossom, editor Bulletin,
Miamisburg. In the future we may
again refer 10 this important discovery
Cx,vSnllino Cov,1hl. C1oyynr