Historic Oddity Headline: November 12, 1846 - A Race of Giants
Herald of the Times and Rhode Islander
November 12, 1846
“A Race of Giants.”
We published some time ago the particulars of a human skeleton in Tennessee, of gigantic height, which was generally disbelieved, but it seems that evidence of its truth increases, and there is a possibility of its being true. Although we deem it most extraordinary, we may as well detail particulars. The story runs thus: A Mr. Shumale was boring for water near his residence, upon a hill of considerable extent and eminence, situated in a rocky, mountainous section of the country in Tennessee, where the bones were discovered about 60 feet below the surface. They were immediately exhumed, and were found embedded in a strata of the hardest kind of clay, which had apparently filled an extensive cavern or opening in the rock near the position of the skeleton. The bones are not all petrified, as is the case with most of the skeleton monsters of animals which have been discovered in this country, but are nevertheless in a perfect state of preservation, and weigh in the aggregate about 1500 pounds!
No doubt rests in the minds of any who have seen or examined them, that these bones belong to the genus homo. All the largest and characteristic bones are entire and the skull, arms and thigh bones, knee-pans, shoulders sockets and collar bones, remove all skepticism as to humanity. The whole skeleton, we are informed, is about 18 feet high, and must have stood 19 feet. The bones of the thigh and leg measure 6 feet 6 inches. The skull is described as being about two thirds the size of a flour barrel, and capable of holding in its cavities near two bushels; a coffee cup of good size could be put into the eye sockets, and the jaw teeth, which are all perfect, even to the enamel, would weigh from 3 1/2 to 6 pounds. Some of the smaller ones which were loose have been weighed; the front teeth are missing. These teeth bear the evidence of extreme age, from their cavities and apparent diminution from use in wearing away. If this discovery be veritable it will create a sensation in every part of the world. - N.Y. Sun
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