The American Goliah | Page 7

shovels of earth from its side,
the feet of a man appeared. A few minutes more of labor exposed the
legs to the calf; and now their interest being excited, they began to dig
carefully around it, until the whole form of a man--petrified giant--was
brought to view. The neighbors began to hear of what was found, and
of course went at once to see.
Mr. Silas Forbes, who resides a mile and a-half distant, came to the city
Saturday evening and apprised us of the new found wonder, and
Sunday we went to see it. The story was a big one, and not liking
"Silver Lake Snaiks," we wanted to see before telling our readers. And
here is what we saw:--
The form of a man lying on his back, head and shoulders naturally flat
at hip a trifle over on right side; the right hand spread on the lower part
of the abdomen, with fingers apart; the left arm half behind, and its
hand against the back opposite the other; the left leg and foot thrown
over the right, the feet and toes projecting at a natural angle. The figure
was of apparent lime stone, a mixture of the gray and blue, common in
most parts of the county, and seemed perfect in every particular. The
muscles are well developed; the ribs might be counted; the nostrils are
perforated so as to admit a large sized finger up near two inches; the
lines of toe and finger nails are plainly marked; the left ear is partially
gone, but the right one is perfect and in proportion to the other parts;
the nose finely shaped; the forehead high; and the "Adams' apple"' at
the throat just projecting out, is as most common with men. The

appearance of the "countenance" marks the Giant of the Caucasian race,
and not the Indian. If a work of art, the artist has failed in any effort at
hair on the head.
We have said that the whole was perfect. And so it appeared, except a
few flakes dropped off while the work of exhumation was going on;
and perhaps others yesterday. If any well proportioned man will make
measurement of himself as above, he will see a striking agreement of
ratio.
Though the figure has all the appearance of stone, nevertheless the
outer surface shaves off with a knife without materially dulling the
blade. This was tried, but of course was not allowed to proceed to
disfigure Mr. Giant. A scale that fell from the bottom of one of the feet,
looks much like gold quartz, but still is softish and crumbles readily,
with a sort of soft sand stone result. It rests on half sand, half clay
bottom, the earth above being, as we have already said, of a lighter
character.
News of this remarkable discovery rapidly spread, and yesterday when
we were there, people were coming and going, from a circuit of four or
five miles around, in farm wagons, carriages and buggies, and on foot,
to see it.
John A. Clarke, Esq., being at Cardiff, Saturday evening to speak on
temperance, took occasion for a lamp-light view. Returning to the city
near midnight, he told the story; and was telling it all day yesterday.
Not one in fifty of his hearers would believe the counselor, generally
esteemed reliable though he is. Still, before the day was over a dozen or
more went out to satisfy their curiosity, and returned with full
confirmation--and more too, and the "petrified Giant" is now the
absorbing topic.
Mr. Newell has stumbled upon an "elephant" in this Giant. His
neighbors say it is a fortune to him. It is averred that he was offered
$5,000, $10,000 and even $20,000 for it; that a clergyman offered his
farm in exchange for the monster--but these offers were all declined.
We talked freely with Mr. N. He was quiet and modest, and we doubt if
he has received any such proposals, except perhaps jokingly. He
indicated no such thing. Yet he seemed anxious to have the "thing"
brought out all right if possible, be it what it may, and therefore guards
it by day and by night.

During Saturday night the surface water had settled in the pit so as to
cover the image. The wise men of Cardiff were consulted. One said,
bail out the water--exposure to the air will do no harm. The other said,
leave it thus until some scientific man comes to decide as to the
prospects of destructability. And the latter's advice was adopted. Yet,
when the water was undisturbed and clear, the whole could be seen
perfectly plain. Later in the day Dr. J.F. Boynton, the geologist, drove
out with Mr. John Geenway, the water was bailed out, and Dr. B. made
a thorough