The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-13
Letters to the Editor.
Skeleton of 6 Giant.
Clayhatichie. Ala. June 9. 1903.

Slayhatlchle, Ala, June ,, lyo5. Editor The Advertiser:
 Situated on the banks of the choctaw- natichee river, at what Is known as Pate's Landing, there is large mound. mound and unearthed skeletons in un- limited number.
 A great many other things in addition to bones have been unearthed, such as pots. bowls, arrow points, beads, etc.
 This mound is only one and half ing of Messrs. W. H. Thompson, Will son. John Mclean and the writer. visited the mound few days ago with spades, shovels and other utensils for the pur- what V we spI could finds e We We had dsS not been cen at work long before we struck bones of all sizes. One skeleton unearthed was particularly interesting on account of The femur or thigh bone measured near three feet in length. As the femur is about the same length as the two bones or lore leg lfrom knee to fooD this would nave made his lower extremities near six feet in length. The trunk or balance of body, as rule. is about same length as particular skeleton measure near twelve feet in stature. The vertebrae is very much larger than the ordinary. I have o9.s.d oHs upper pp and M ,S under jaw bones in my Inches at their widest part. All the teeth are Intact. Thirty-two in number, which tS tUe normal.
 We could not secure but a few pieces of the, cranium (skulD bones. but secured enough to see what the general contour of the skull was. The forehead is re. ples. The base of the skull Is broad and prominent, showing, according to phre- nology. that the animal instincts or pas sions pr edominated.
 The other skeletons unearthed were normal in size, that is, comparing favor ably In size with those of the Anglo saxon race.
 This particular mound covers more than one-eighth of an acre in area. It is Dyramidal in shape and Is twenty or twenty-five feet high at its highest point. coating of hard clay This was perha ps two feet under the surface. Under the clay coating there was coating of of cement. Beneath the layer ' of char h coal there was a layer or coating of fine white. sand. and underneath this we found the skeletons.
 Just below or near .he jaw bones of were found. They were presumably around this giants neck. They are very terial.
 Was this prehistoric race Indian? think not. No doubt these skeletons have before tRe bFn of oe chris mheE soye sne hey were It Is very evident that they are now extinct as a race. They may nave been wiped from the face of the earth by un- teasing and :olstant warfare between hostile factions. They may have been suddenly destroyed by some great con vulsion of nature, rs an earthquake.
 Doesn't physical geography teach that where the continents now stand the oceans formerly rested? and where the oceans now rest land showed itself? This great transformation may have been brought about suddenly, thus destroying every living creature. Or they may have become extinct, from natural causes. That is, the death rate exceeding the birth rate until there was none left This is all conjecture, however. It Is not prob able that the Indians built the various monuments mo- to be found in Mexico, Ohio who built them, if this ancient rae, AGcalled for like of a better name the mound builders) did not build them2
 l would like to zee this particular mound completely uncarthed. but it would take 100 menA two or three weeks hard work to do the job. If any one feels suf- ficiently interested to visit this mound they will find 1t on the east yank of Chocta whatchee at what used to be Pates Landing, perhaps fifteen miles north of Geneva and about eight miles south of Newton. Yours respectfully.
 U. H Lingo. M. D.