The American Goliah | Page 2

Across palm of hand, seven inches.
Length of second finger from knuckle joint, eight inches.
Across wrist, five inches. Distance around thighs, (about half way

between knee and thigh joints,) five feet, seven and one-half inches.
Leg, from hip joint to knee joint, three feet; through thigh, one foot;
through calf, nine and one-half inches.
Foot, nineteen and one-half inches.
The discovery, as may be supposed, created an immense sensation. Mr.
Newell was much perplexed and annoyed and determined at one time
to fill up the excavation and keep the discovery from the knowledge of
the public. Some years ago a razor was found in a hollow stump near
by and suspicions were then thrown out that a murder had been
committed. The family feared that the corpse of the murdered man
would in some manner confront them through this discovery.
A rush occurred of neighbors and others to see the exhumed wonder,
for intelligence of the Giant spread on the wings of the wind. The
excitement and ceaseless questions still farther confused the mind of
the quiet proprietor and he almost unconsciously consented to various
suggestions. One was that the body be raised that day
(Saturday,)--consent for which Mr. Newell acknowledges to have given.
Ropes were procured and preparations made therefor, but the lateness
of the afternoon hour caused its postponement. This is a matter of
rejoicing to scientific men, as well as the public generally; for every
one naturally wishes to see the Giant as he had slept in his bed for
centuries, and for themselves examine the winding sheets he wrapped
about him.
POSITION OF THE FIGURE.
The form is lying on its back, the head towards the east and the feet
toward the west. The reclining posture is a perfectly natural one, the
limbs and feet being slightly drawn up. The figure appears as if a
person had fallen there and died. There seem to be evidences of
considerable physical anguish in the position of the limbs, of the body,
and in the tension of the nerves as well as the contraction of the
muscles (which are fully developed.) The right hand rests upon the
lower abdomen, and the left is pressed against the back directly
opposite. The left foot is thrown partially over the right one, the leg
resting partly upon its fellow, but not crossing it. The head is inclined
to the right.
The face is the only part seemingly free from traces of the agony of
dissolution. The expression is calm, thoughtful, almost sweet. The high,

massive forehead sets off with grand, yet benevolent dignity, the well
rounded and proportioned features. The countenance is a study.
Beautiful despite its immensity, it displays a largeness of kindly feeling
not commonly surmised from Fairy tales of Giants and Giant deeds.
The spectator gazes upon the grand old sleeper with feelings of
admiration and awe. "Nothing like it has ever been seen," say all who
have gazed upon it. "It is a great event in our lives to behold it," (is the
universal verdict,)--" worth coming hundreds of miles for this alone." "I
would not for anything have missed seeing it, for I consider it the
greatest natural curiosity of the age," say Geologists, Naturalists,
Students and all who can intelligently examine the Onondaga County
Wonder.
The increasing interest of the public and the constantly enlarging
attendance corroborate the previously expressed opinions of the
inestimable value of the discovery, and sanction the verdict that the
Cardiff Giant is the great wonder of the Nineteenth Century.
WHAT IS IT?
This question has been diligently asked and variously answered. Dr.
John F. Boynton, of Syracuse, a celebrated Geologist, went among the
first to the scene and examined the figure with much care. His opinion,
(which was the first one expressed by any distinguished scientific
authority) has been given decidedly that the body is a massive and
beautiful statue. His own language will best state his reasons for
declining to think it a petrifaction. A letter of his is subjoined, which
was kindly furnished by him for publication. The letter was written to
one of the most scientific men of America.
SYRACUSE, Oct. 18th, 1869. Henry Morton, Prof. in Pennsylvania
University and Franklin Institute:
DEAR SIR:--On Saturday last, some laborers engaged in digging a
well on the farm of W.C. Newell, near the village of Cardiff, about 13
miles south of this city, discovered, lying at about three feet below the
surface of the earth, what they supposed to be the "petrified body" of a
human being, of colossal size. Its length is ten feet and three inches,
and the rest of the body is proportionately large. The excitement in this
locality over the discovery is immense and unprecedented. Thousands
have visited the locality within the last three days, and the