The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-05
SKELETON IN ARMoR.
An Astonishing Discovery Made III Little
Rock. A kansas.

Little Rock Cor. of the Phila. Times,
While several workmen We're recently
engaged in making some excavations
in lot at the rear of an old building
a very startling discovery was made.
What was apparently at one time
huge. rough oak box was unearthed,
which instantly crumbled under the
blows of the picks, and which to their
utter astoniShment revealed consider
able portion of once gigantic skele
ton. Some of the smaller bones had en-
tirely decayed, but upon examination
trace of their former existence was
plainly visible upon the sides and the
bottom of the rude coffin. To attach
still greater interest to the discovery,
the srinning skull was encased in a
heavy warriors helmet, while in the
fleshless fingers of the right hand was
clutched long, rust-eaten sword.
From head to foot the skeleton meas
ured seven feet four inches, which es-
tahlishes the theory that its possessor
must have been of remarkable size and
strength, although no possible clue can
be ascertained whereby an ultimate So
luton of the mystery surrounding it
could be hoped for. Besides the helmet
and sword neither of which can serve
toward revealing the Identity of the
strange parsonage who lay buried there,
nothing else except the bones remained.
This discovery was made in the west
ern portion Of this city, and has occa-
stoned much interest and no little de-
gree of speculation among medical men
and others more or less scientifically
inclined. The exact location OF the
giants grave is a lot upon the north
east corner of Marshall and West Thir-
teenth streets, the front OF which Is
occupied by a small grocery store.
There were no indications Of grave at
the spot. and ii is probably past finding
out when and under What conditions IL
CHANGED to be there.
The find is certainly most remark
able one in many respects. and one of
which some positive knowledge would
doubtless prove of great material
value The mystery, however, remains
as yet unsolyed, providing of itself no
evident means of attaining any definite
or even indefinite solution.
The removal Of the bones from the
ground was achieved with the greatest
difficulty. Even when IL had been ae-
complished With some degree OF success
it was at once evident that they were
too much deeomposed for preservation.
They crumhled as If they were ashes,
and with the slightest pressure of the
fingers We're easily reduced to the sub
stance of the lightcst dust. \ portion
of the skull WAS successfully removed,
and was given i'll charge of a local phy-
sicain. The helmet and sword had also
reached an advanced stage of decay.
These were retained by the person upon
whose premises the discovery was
made Il Mr. Rixie who has since dis
posed of them to another party, a gen
tlelnan interested in scientific and his
torical research. While absolutely no
information has been obtained giving
the remotest clue to the identity of this
huge skeleton. the prior existence OF
this strange parsonage certainly ante
dates the period of definite historical
record, which leads 70 the generally ac-
cepted belief. of which there is a posi-
bility, that he comprised one Of the
number of early discoveries of the Mis-
sissippi. and probably was buried in
the spot described by his struggling
band of companions. of which De Soto
was possibly himself a distinguished
member There i no inscription on the
helmet or sword that would aid the dis
coverers TO determine the age of the
find