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SPECIAL NOTICE
SPECIAL NOTICE
This pamphlet is the only authorized account of the discovery of the great wonder and the latest facts regarding management; and is the only publication furnished by the owners of the Giant with immediate and authentic information of any examinations, experiments or new developments regarding it. Such new facts will be immediately added to this pamphlet, together with such scientific opinions as may be of interest or value to the public. The statements herein contained have been taken from the l
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DIMENSIONS.
DIMENSIONS.
From top of head to instep of sole, ten feet three inches. If standing in a perfectly upright position, the height would be ten feet, seven or eight inches. Length of head from chin to top of head, twenty-one inches. Nose, from brow to tip, six inches—across base of nostrils, three and one-half inches. Mouth four inches. Shoulders from point to point, three feet. Circumference of neck thirty-seven inches. Length of right arm from point of shoulder to end of middle finger, four feet, nine and one
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POSITION OF THE FIGURE.
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 th
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WHAT IS IT?
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 furni
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IS THE BODY A PETRIFACTION?
IS THE BODY A PETRIFACTION?
"The majority of visitors disagree with the opinion of Dr. Boynton, that the figure is a statue, and pronounce it a petrified man. It is claimed that no sculptor would have invented such an unheard of position and design for a statue. No sculptor could have so perfectly imitated nature, especially in the minutiae which render the image such a wonder. It is claimed by the stone cutters and quarrymen who are constantly engaged in cutting the Onondaga County stone, that no single block could have b
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WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE IMAGE?
WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE IMAGE?
The spot is perhaps twenty-five feet below the house. The soil on the surface is a loose one, half sand and half muck (dark.) The spot has undoubtedly been filled in to a considerable extent from washings from the hills around. Mr. Wright, the former owner, says that the spot used to be covered with water, and that he had at one time a bridge constructed over this very point, in order to reach the higher land beyond. Even after the water failed to stand there constantly, he was obliged to use th
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HOW TO FIND THE GIANT
HOW TO FIND THE GIANT
Passengers by the Central or Oswego Railroads leave the cars at Syracuse, and will find an excellent road through the beautiful Onondaga Valley, to Mr. Newell's residence, twelve miles from Syracuse. Strangers will find the principal hack stand of the city near the Wieting Block, on Salina street. The entire force of drivers became within three days perfectly acquainted, not only with the road, but with the leading facts regarding the wonderful discovery. The demand for carriages has been immens
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WHO VISITS THE WONDER?
WHO VISITS THE WONDER?
Everybody. Old and young, male and female, people of all classes of community, rush in a constant stream to view the immense curiosity. People from all parts of the United States are hastening to see the Giant before he shall be removed from his long resting place. The average daily attendance for the first week was from three to five hundred persons....
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HOW LONG WILL HE BE KEPT WHERE HE WAS FOUND?
HOW LONG WILL HE BE KEPT WHERE HE WAS FOUND?
Probably for some time, as that seems to be the public wish. Arrangements have been made for some of the chief scientific men of the country to examine critically the colossus. Their opinion or opinions, (which will be published promptly in this work,) will have much weight in the minds of the managers in deciding when and what to do....
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WHO OWN THE IMAGE?
WHO OWN THE IMAGE?
Three capitalists have bought of Mr. Newell, (who has declined probably over one hundred offers,) a three-fourths interest in the enterprise. The tour partners will determine what course to pursue. We subjoin several reports of the Press for a few days succeeding the discovery of his Giantship. From the Syracuse Daily Standard Oct. 18th, 1869. The valley of Onondaga has a romance of beauty in its wild scenery, and as the home of the famous tribe of the red men of the forest— the Onondagas—around
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LETTER FAVORING PETRIFACTION.
LETTER FAVORING PETRIFACTION.
MR. EDITOR:—It needs no apology to address you upon a subject that is now engaging the constant attention of all your readers and thousands besides, and if any person can throw any light upon the subject it would seem to be their duty to communicate it to the public. While there has been much speculation and wonder as to the nature and origin of the marvelous curiosity found last Saturday in the town of Lafayette, in this county, there has been made public no argument from scientific men up to t
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THE BELIEF OF THE ONONDAGA INDIANS—THE BODY OF AN INDIAN PROPHET.
THE BELIEF OF THE ONONDAGA INDIANS—THE BODY OF AN INDIAN PROPHET.
To the Editor of the Syracuse Journal:— In your columns devoted to "Letters from the People," I thought you would at this time publish the following, it being interesting as one of the current opinions of the Indians of "the Castle" regarding the wonderful "human petrified statue," which, in its colossal proportions and the sphynx-like silence of its history is so electrifying and exciting the people. By one of the old squaws I am told that a large number of Onondagas believe that the statue is
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THE STONE GIANT.
THE STONE GIANT.
On Saturday the sale of the remaining one-half interest in the Great Giant Wonder was closed up. Another partner, Mr. Wm. Spencer —an old-time schoolmate of Mr. Newell—was taken in, so that the present owners are Wm. C. Newell, of Cardiff, Alfred Higgins, Dr. Amos Westcott and Amos Gillett, of this city, David H. Hannurn, of Homer, and Wm. Spencer, of Utica. Saturday was a bad day, as to weather; nevertheless several hundred visited the Giant. Sunday was a crusher. The people began to go early,
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LETTER FROM A PETRIFACTIONIST.
LETTER FROM A PETRIFACTIONIST.
EDITOR STANDARD:—Permit me to notice a few of the arguments upon the Cardiff discovery, appearing in your paper of Saturday last, and the Journal of the same day. It seems a committee of the editors and owners of the Journal, named respectively Tom, Dick and Harry, of widely various characteristics, visited the Giant last week, and treat the subject on their return by articles published in that highly original sheet, according to their respective peculiarities. Tom, who is evidently admired in h
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OPINION OF PROFESSOR HALL, STATE GEOLOGIST.
OPINION OF PROFESSOR HALL, STATE GEOLOGIST.
Professor Hall, gives the following definite opinion, in the Albany Argus of Monday, the 20th of October: GENTLEMEN:—Your paragraph in this morning's issue, relative to the Onondagas Stone Giant, does injustice to the proprietor of that most remarkable object. Dr. Woolworth and Prof. Hall left here on Thursday afternoon, with the intent of visiting, as they had been solicited to do, the supposed fossil giant or statue—for there were conflicting opinions in regard to its nature. On Friday morning
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THE VALUE OF THE GIANT WONDER.
THE VALUE OF THE GIANT WONDER.
We learn from a reliable source that $20,000 was offered on Saturday by a perfectly responsible party and in good faith, to two different persons holding interests in the stone giant, for one-quarter share of the stock in the wonderful statue, and the offer was promptly declined....
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AN ANCIENT COIN FOUND IN THE EARTH TAKEN FROM THE GIANT'S BED.
AN ANCIENT COIN FOUND IN THE EARTH TAKEN FROM THE GIANT'S BED.
On Saturday last, Mathew, a son of Dr. Alexander Henderson, veterinary surgeon, of this city, while visiting the Cardiff giant, picked up from the surrounding debris thrown out of the excavated resting place of this huge work of stone something that seemed like a blackened scale of brass or a rusty old button. Thinking that it might have some affinity to the wonderful statue, the lad rubbed the dirt and rust from its surface between his finger and thumb, and burnishing it a little by rubbing it
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PROBABILITIES THAT IT WAS TRANSPORTED ON THE WATER-COURSES FROM THE SEA-BOARD.
PROBABILITIES THAT IT WAS TRANSPORTED ON THE WATER-COURSES FROM THE SEA-BOARD.
Although there are still intelligent advocates of the petrifaction theory, the preponderating weight of opinion supports the view that the giant wonder is a work of art. We understand all the scientific gentlemen, who have been permitted to make thorough examination, to be agreed in this decision. The next question is, How did it come to be where it was discovered? There is very little probability that it was carved on the spot where it was recently exhumed; the stone for that purpose was not li
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WHEN WAS THE STATUE PUT WHERE IT WAS FOUND?
WHEN WAS THE STATUE PUT WHERE IT WAS FOUND?
To the Editor of the Syracuse Journal:— If it would not be asking too much, I would beg leave to say a few words through the columns of your paper. In Saturday's issue of the Standard I notice a letter written by "Skeptic," which that paper calls "silly," and charges the writer with being "lacking in the upper story." This is a misfortune, truly; but I have taken some trouble to investigate these reports and find them vouched for by highly respectable parties. There are, to my mind, several reas
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OF WHAT SCHOOL OF ART IS THIS STATUE?
OF WHAT SCHOOL OF ART IS THIS STATUE?
To the Editor of the Syracuse Journal:— In the discussions relating to the "Giant," I find there are many who favor the Grecian and Roman school of sculpture. The Greeks and Romans excelled the early Egyptians in one thing only, that is representing the human hair. Their male statues have flowing and bushy locks and a beard. On the Egyptian statue, the hair looks more like a skull cap on the back of the head, than hair, with no indication of beard. They had been so afflicted with plagues through
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CUT OF THE GIANT.
CUT OF THE GIANT.
We herewith present a wood cut of the Giant. We have waited for an engraving from a photograph, in order to insure in every part of the pamphlet the utmost accuracy. The taking the photographs having been delayed, we present a sketch until their completion. The owners of the Giant furnish this publication alone with photographic copies—which will appear promptly on completion. [[Wood cut here of giant and spectators]]...
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A MITE IN THE SCALE.
A MITE IN THE SCALE.
To the Editor of the Syracuse Journal:— Clark's "History of Onondaga," Vol. 1, page 43, near the bottom, says:—"The Quis-quis, or great hog, was another monster which gave the Onondagas great trouble, as did also the great bear, the horned water-serpent, the stone giants, and many other equally fabulous inventions, bordering so closely upon the truly marvelous, that the truth would suffer wrongfully if related in full; but nevertheless are found among the wild and unseemly traditions of the race
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LETTER FROM PROF. WARD.
LETTER FROM PROF. WARD.
The following letter from Prof. Henry A. Ward appears in the Rochester Democrat, and will be found to be well worthy of perusal. Prof. Ward takes high rank among the scientific men of the country, and an opinion from him is certainly entitled to respectful consideration:— EDITOR DEMOCRAT—I have just returned from a hasty visit to the colossal statue, or "Fossil Giant," as many have called it, which is now causing so great an excitement in our sister city, Syracuse, and in all the country for man
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LETTER PROM GEN. E. W. LEAVENWORTH.
LETTER PROM GEN. E. W. LEAVENWORTH.
To the editor of the Syracuse Journal:— This subject does not seem, even yet, to be exhausted, much as has been written in regard to it. Having spent an hour yesterday in the inspection of the great mystery, permit me hastily to give you the results of my observations. For the benefit of the large number who will not be able to visit the locality, it may be well to define more fully and precisely the exact spot in which it was found. It is near the west line of the town of Lafayette, in the uppe
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TO THE GIANT OF ONONDAGA.
TO THE GIANT OF ONONDAGA.
Speak out, O Giant! stiff, and stark, and grim, Open thy lips of stone, thy story tell; And by the wondering crowd who pay thee court In thy cold bed, and gaze with curious eyes On thy prone form so huge, and still so human, Let now again be heard, that voice which once Through all old Onondaga's hills and vales Proclaimed thy lineage from a Giant race, And claimed as subjects, all who trembling hear Art thou a son of old Polyphemus, Or brother to the Sphinx, now turned to stone— The mystery and
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